Counseling for Teens in Florida
Wesley Chapel, Tampa, Lutz, and Nearby Areas
“Why should I consider seeking Boundless Hope counseling for my teen?”
Decades ago, people only went to the doctor when they were sick. We now know that it is wise to take advantage of access to many forms of proactive medical care. Similarly, counseling for teens has been historically viewed as an option to consider if an adolescent is troubled and obviously struggling. What if quality, proactive mental health care is just like physical health care? What if counseling sessions for your teen could equip them with the mental health skills and exercises needed to face life’s inevitable challenges?
We offer Counseling for Teens to Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, and nearby areas, as well as online video counseling throughout the state of Florida. We are here for your teen if they are actively struggling with anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition. However, we would like to also ask you to consider the benefits of enriching, preventative mental health care for your teen. If you have a younger child, we are equipped to meet their mental health needs as well with a dedicated play therapy room at the Boundless Hope Lutz Office.
Parenting for Independence
Adolescence is hard. It is a time of transition, growth, and instability. It can be simultaneously exciting and scary for both the young person and their parents. As families negotiate the appropriate privileges and responsibilities for their teens, conflict is inevitable and even healthy. Since teens and their parents often have competing agendas, increased independence can typically be a shared goal to build upon.
Preparing your child for healthy independence is much like driving a car with a manual transmission. Parents of newborns are fully responsible for their infant’s well-being (left foot pressing the clutch to the floor) and the baby has zero responsibility (right foot hovering above the gas pedal). As the child learns and grows, their parents will gradually release responsibility (ease off the clutch) and the child will gradually assume responsibility for themselves (proportionally easing down on the gas). In order to successfully shift into first gear in an automobile, timing and balance are key. The same is true in parenting a teen.
Parenting for independence requires a gradual shifting from parental responsibility to personal responsibility - Teen Counseling at Boundless Hope Christian Counseling in Florida
What happens when your teen resists assuming personal responsibility? Their “car” doesn’t move. On the other hand, what happens when parental responsibility is released faster than the teen assumes personal responsibility? Their “car” stalls. That’s where we come in! Think of us as driving instructors in this analogy.
Empower Your Teen
Most teens, even those that resist assuming personal responsibility for their lives, have the desire for greater independence and privileges. Similarly, most parents are happy to agree to increased privileges when they see their teens growing in their personal responsibility.
“How can Boundless Hope help me equip my teen for greater personal responsibility?”
In therapy, your teen can be given the tools to grow in:
Recognizing their cognitive distortions, ways that our brains alter reality (stinking thinking)
Becoming aware of their inner dialogue and developing positive self-talk
Identifying the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Understanding the influence they have over their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Managing their time wisely to meet expectations: organizing, prioritizing and following a plan
Identifying healthy and unhealthy relationship patterns
Understanding and practicing conflict resolution skills
Communicating disagreement without disrespecting, devaluing, or demeaning
Making and maintaining quality friendships
Problem-solving and resilience
Regulating their emotions and self-soothing
Developing spiritual insight and conviction
Grieving life’s inevitable losses and disappointment
Adopting effective coping strategies and exercises to combat the stress of increased academic demands
Change the fruit by nurturing the root
Parents, we see you! You love your child and are doing your best to raise them well. We want you to know that we consider it an act of courage and humility to invite others to join you in equipping your teen for life. It is not a reflection of poor parenting to need or want professional mental health support for yourself or your family.
We’ve already asked you to think of us as driving instructors. Now, we’d like to ask you to think of us also as fellow gardeners. You are probably seeing some fruit in your child’s life that you’d like to prune. Sometimes the shears are warranted. Other times, the root needs nurturing.
For example, the growing realization that adulthood is on the horizon can generate anticipatory anxiety that manifests itself as a teen’s avoidance-fueled irresponsibility or explosive anger when confronted with boundaries. The fruit is irresponsible behavior and disrespect. However, the root is insecurity and anxiety. You can change the fruit by nurturing the root.
Counseling for Teens with Boundless Hope Christian Counseling in Florida
“I would like to learn more about counseling for my teen.”
We’re so happy you’re considering making this investment in your teens mental health. We know that parenting is a challenging endeavor. It is understandable that some parents dread the teen years, however we believe that they can be a time of connection and fun with your soon-to-be-adult child. Mitchell Zak and Jess Osborn counsel teen clients, whereas Jessica Jefferey, Sem Barnes and Brianna Brandon counsel both tweens and teens. You can reach out to them directly, email Boundless Hope, or call us to schedule a FREE 15-minute phone consultation. It would be our honor to join you in conveying hope for your teen and their future!