Junior High can be a really challenging time for kids.
You are searching for answers. Your junior higher is starting to change and you’re worried they may need some extra support. Are you afraid they’re being bullied? They’re glued to their phone and their happiness is measured by “likes” from Instagram. They seem insecure. Your Junior Higher is changing and it’s hard as a parent to watch. You’ve done all you can, but you’re not sure what to do next.
You just want to make sure they have a safe person to talk to and help give them tools to make good choices for their life today, and for their future.
We get it. That’s why we’re here!
The benefits your Junior Higher will see from doing therapy at Inspire:
– Your teen will learn about their feelings
– Your teen will have strategies for dealing with unpleasant feelings
– Your teen will understand what “triggers” some of their feelings and have different tools for those situations
– Your teen will learn how to calm themselves in arguments
– Your teen will learn how to advocate for themselves, with confidence and kindness
– Your teen will learn healthy and positive relationships with friends, siblings, parents – Your teen will start to feel control of their impulses and behavior
– Your teen will be able to be more present and focused
– Your teen will learn healthy ways to communicate their feelings
– Your child will start to feel more confident
– Your child will feel happier
– Your child’s relationships with you & your family will improve
Get Started Now!
Our therapists work closely with parents, families, Social Workers, psychiatrists, or whoever is in each child’s life to ensure therapy is most effective.
Inspire also offers support for everyone in the family (parenting, families, couples, etc.) to provide the best outcome for each child and their family system.
We love seeing our clients gain confidence, manage the obstacles their facing and begin to live their best life — even during the challenges of adolescents.
What does the adolescent counseling process look like?
The counseling process is designed to help empower you as a parent and support your teen to live their best life. Together, with your support at home and the therapist’s support in sessions, your child will learn tools to help them thrive at home, with friends, and in school.
The first session will be approximately 60 minutes. Ideally, one or both parents/caregivers attend the first session with your child. Prior to this appointment, you will have the opportunity to talk with the therapist to voice your concerns and address what you’d like to see improved with your child.
In the first session, the therapist will introduce themselves, explain the counseling process and then ask you, the parent, a couple of questions. First, why is your child amazing? Second, what do you hope to see for your child as a result of counseling? These questions are designed to create a positive experience for your child. If you have negative feelings or concerns, you will have the opportunity to discuss those on the phone with the therapist prior to the session. We find counseling is more effective if kids feel good about themselves and focus on the positive results of the therapy process. This lasts about 10-15 minutes.
Then the parent is asked to have a seat in the waiting room, while the therapist continues with the child. If the child or parent is not comfortable with that, the parent is welcome to stay the entire session.
The therapist will go through new client questions with your child to get to know them, their history, and their present situation. The second session is our unique formula for goal-setting. In this session, your child will connect the desires of your goals with their heart and deeper desires in life.
The remainder of the sessions will then be primarily just your child and their therapist. They will work on skills and tools to address challenges and live their best life.
As the parent/caregiver, you can talk with your child’s therapist to learn ways you can be supporting your child at home. You will also have the opportunity to attend sessions with your child or attend sessions individually with the therapist to focus on parenting support.
![Did you catch my last post on how to make new friends as an adult woman?
I’ll be the first to admit, talking to new people can be nerve-wracking, so I came up with a few easy icebreakers to get the conversation started:
🧊"I noticed your [bag/shirt/shoes, etc.]. That's really cute! Where did you get it?"
🧊"My child is starting at this school/daycare next week. Where does your child go?"
🧊"I've been looking for something new to read. Do you have any recommendations?"
🧊"Have you tried any new restaurants or coffee shops in the area lately? I'm always looking for new places to check out."
🧊“I’m prioritizing staying healthy right now. What kind of exercise do you do?”
🧊“What shows are you loving right now? Mine are [tell them your favorite shows].”
🧊“Do you listen to podcasts? Which ones are your favorite?”
🧊“Do you have any interesting hobbies?”
“Where are you vacationing this summer?”
🧊“I’m interested in volunteering, do you have any organizations you can recommend?”
Remember, icebreakers are meant to be light conversation starters - a good place to start is to simply introduce yourself, shake hands, and smile. For best results, always try to choose an icebreaker that has some context to the situations you’re in.
Finally, it’s 100% normal to feel awkward and you can rest assured that most people feel the same when they’re meeting someone new. Embrace whatever feelings you’re having and just be yourself.
#mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #therapist #relationshippodcast #icebreakers](https://inspirecounselingcenter.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)