Heart and Soul Counseling

Counseling can help teens to experience their teenage years as a positive, interesting and expanding journey of self-discovery:

• A time to really explore who they are from the inside out,  
• A chance to discover their wisdom, strengths, talents and personal values, 
• A time to develop a vision of how they plan to move forward with a broader understanding of who they are!

The teenage years can be experienced as some of the most expanding and exciting years in a person's life.  They can also be some of the most challenging years.  Not just for the teen, but for parents and other family members, too.

Teenagers are experiencing changes in their bodies, relationships with peers, special relationships and in their relationships with their parents. 

For some, all of this can be a litte more challenging than it needs to be. 

Types of challenges that teens deal with:

• depression, withdrawal  
• anxiety, panic, phobias
• obsessions, compulsions
• low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence 
• minimal motivation for academics or chores at home
• school performance is lower than ability
• adjustment to separation, divorce, new school, loss
• ongoing family conflict
• acting out anger
• physical or verbal aggression
• irritability, moodiness
• refusal to be involved with the family
• challenges getting along with friends or family members
• challenges getting along with teachers or coaches
• self-destructive behaviors (alcohol/drug use, excessive sexuality, cutting)

At Heart and Soul Counseling, our therapist(s) have had many years of experience with teens.  We recognize teens prefer to be doing something other than sitting in a room with an adult.  It can be difficult to trust an adult, any adult.

We have experience in helping teens who don't think they need help or who don't want help.  That is why we incorporate a variety of other approaches that can be more interesting and engaging for the teen.  See:  Counseling Approaches

Call 614-569-8205 or email us  for more information.  

But, your teen says, "I don't need counseling!"  or "There's nothing wrong with me!" or, "People will think I'm crazy if they find out I am going to counseling!" 

Now what?

"I don't need counseling"

Answers: 

- Give it three chances, then we can talk more about this.

- It is a chance for you to have a safe, private place to talk about anything you want.

"There is nothing wrong with me!"

Answer:

- You are right!

"People will think I am crazy if they find out I am going to counseling!"

Answers:

- Counseling is private and confidential. 

- It will be up to you to talk about whether you are in counseling or not.   

Parents, if your teen will not come to counseling, schedule the appointment anyway. 

Yes!  and let your teen know that you are going to go to counseling with or without them and that you are going to be discussing them. 

Our experience has often been that teenagers who have refused to go change their minds when they realize their parents are going without them and their absence is not keeping the conversations about them from taking place.  It only means that they will not be included in that conversation. 

Many teens would rather be in the room if they know they are the topic of discussion.

If they don't come the first time, schedule again, and let your teen know you are still going even without them.