When your teen is struggling with trauma, the free time of summer can feel like more of a burden than a benefit. Make the most of this summer by starting intensive EMDR therapy.

Parents are a crucial part of teen college prep, teaching your teen crucial life skills for young adults that will help them thrive even after they move out.

Parenting teens isn’t easy, but setting clear expectations, trying to understand what they’re going through, and keeping them involved in the family can help you, and your teen, make it through adolescence. 

Beyond the options to overcome your teen’s “whatever”, you’re not the only one in your teen’s life who can help motivate them! Consider who your teen already connects with. Do they have another family member they especially enjoy, or a friend, perhaps a teacher or coach? If you can facilitate them spending time together, or include them when you’re trying to motivate your teen, you’ll go even further in encouraging your teen.

The communication gap between you and your teen can be bridged with the careful construction of a respectful, interested connection. You can improve your communication with your teen by keeping calm, being persistent and consistent, respecting your teen as a whole person, and reaching out as often as possible so your teen knows you truly care.

An open and supportive environment is the bedrock of emotional well-being for teens—and, to be truthful, that applies to adults and relationships. Create a nonjudgmental space where your teens feel comfortable expressing their feelings without fear of judgment or criticism.

You probably remember what it was like to be a teenager struggling with an irritable mood that swings high and low or maybe even the painful experience of being left out of the group. You’ve come a long way since then, and found your voice, but what happens when it's your child who's pulling away from their peers, shutting down, and acting entirely unlike themselves?

Navigating difficult conversations with teens is a necessary step for families developing healthy communication styles. Learn more about our Florida-based treatment services.

This month, Alexa wrote a guest blog for Bayview Therapy where she discussed the challenges of being a teenager today, the behavioral and emotional consequences created by the high expectations teenagers are currently dealing with, and how things have changed over the years…

Teens are on the receiving end of some harmful stereotypes such as laziness, entitlement, and immaturity. Learn more about how Haven Family Therapy works to destigmatize adolescence and advocate for teen mental health.

Therapy for teens and their families calls attention to all these differences by naming them, embracing them, and encouraging change within them. The goal is for all to find in each piece, worthiness, and purpose to ensure a healthy and happy family.

As parents, we’re learning to let go, to trust our teen’s inner resiliency, and to believe that they’re going to be okay. Despite ourselves, we can’t help but wonder what kind of toll this past year is going to have on them? How will they be different, and how can we help them find their way back to normal?

Read to learn 7 tips to help your teen have a balanced summer!