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.  

In order to see lasting results, a commitment of at least 8 weekly sessions is best. We are flexible and can work with different situations. However, to make an impact, it is important to recognize that change of any kind, requires attention and time. After your child’s 8 sessions, you can work with your therapist to determine the next steps (reducing therapy to biweekly/monthly or terminating).

Why Inspire Counseling Center is the right place for your adolescent’s therapy 

At Inspire, we don’t just focus on clinical symptoms–we focus on results. If there is something holding your teen back (anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship troubles, etc.), we have clinical tools to help. BUT, we don’t stop there. We want to INSPIRE your child to live their best life. Our goal is that every client leaves a better person. 

Why? We believe your child is a gift to this world. We believe that inspiring one person to live their greatest life, will inspire another person. We believe the world will change with love, connection, and inspiration. One person at a time. Your role in this process is vital. When you get support for yourself or your family, you are doing your part in this community and world to spark change. 

Our adolescent therapists know the North Shore, know trends, Instagram, Snapchat, the school systems, but are also able to provide a safe and supportive environment with tools for them to work through life’s challenges–today and for their future adult life.  

Your teen will learn tools to use for the rest of their lives. The lessons they learn today will carry into future relationships, workplaces, and in their adult life.

We will work closely with you, caregivers, family members, Social Workers, pediatricians, psychiatrists, etc. to ensure a unified and effective plan for your child.

Counseling is an investment in your child’s future. Give them tools they can carry through school and into their adult life.