How much you'll be involved in your teen's therapy depends on what kind of treatment they need, how old they are, and what issues they're working through. Sometimes we might suggest sessions where you and your teen are together, or separate sessions just for parents, but we usually recommend teens have their own individual therapy sessions.

Even when you're not in the therapy room, your support really matters. This could mean using the therapist's suggestions at home, helping your teen practice their new coping skills, or just being there to listen and encourage them.

Working through tough issues isn't easy. Your teen might feel uncomfortable in the first few sessions as they start talking about difficult feelings they've been avoiding. As therapy continues and they learn new ways to cope with strong emotions, most teens begin to feel better and get better at handling the problems they're facing.

Many teens don't want to go to therapy at first. We understand this is normal, so we take extra time to build trust and connect with them. We let teens know they can go at their own pace and only share when they're ready. When we respect their boundaries from the start, we find most teens eventually feel comfortable enough to open up.

Ultimately, our goal is to equip your teen with the tools and strategies they need to manage their emotions and challenges effectively on their own so that they no longer need to come to therapy. The timeline for how long it will take is different for each teen. Some might find that a few months of therapy can make a significant difference, while others might benefit from a longer-term approach over several months or even years. Therapy is a process, and it may be important to take the time needed to support your teen’s mental health and well-being.

It's often hard to tell if therapy is helping because changes usually happen slowly and you might not notice them right away. You might see your teen starting to feel better, doing better in school, getting along better with family and friends, arguing less, or talking more about their feelings. They might also handle tough situations better. However, it’s important to keep communication open with your teen and their therapist to understand the progress being made.

We believe it's important for your teen to have privacy during therapy so they can build trust with their therapist and feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings.

However, your teen's safety is our top priority. If anything comes up that suggests your teen, or someone else, could be at risk or harm, we will let you know right away. We will also give you general tips and strategies you can use at home to support your teen's progress, including ways to keep communication open. We've found that dialogue that is respectful of your teen’s comfort level can improve their mental health and create a more peaceful home environment.