The teenage years are a time when a lot of physical and emotional changes take place as young people make the transition from childhood to adulthood. Teens often face peer pressure as they navigate their way through friendships and romantic relationships. Some teens develop mental health conditions, such asdepressionoranxiety disorders. Counseling for adolescents can help.
This article discusses online and in-person counseling for adolescents, including how it works, whom it helps, and what the benefits are.
AzmanL / Getty Images
How Teen Counseling Works
The frequency of counseling sessions will vary based on your teens' needs. However, in the beginning, sessions are typically held weekly. These sessions can be in person or online.
Parental involvement can be helpful, but some degree of privacy and autonomy are also important for teenagers. A therapist used to working with teenagers should be familiar with an appropriate balance—legally, ethically, and clinically. State laws vary concerning consent and assent.
Often, uncertainty about parental involvement/privacy is a barrier for teens to engage in therapy. It’s important for the therapist to set expectations upfront about when they will or will not share information with a parent so everyone is aligned.
Who Needs It?
The teenage years bring many emotional challenges—often referred to as teenage angst—and it might be difficult to tell whether your teen’smood swingsand behavior are “normal” or a sign of something more serious.
In addition to mood swings, there are other behaviors that can indicate your teen is struggling and could benefit from a mental health evaluation and possibly counseling. These can include:
Suicidal Threats
Online Counseling vs. In-Person Counseling
Counseling services were traditionally performed in person. However, with advances in technology, these services can now often be delivered online. There are benefits and potential drawbacks to both types of counseling.
Online Counseling
There are also disadvantages of online counseling. Internet connection issues can disrupt the flow of a session. Communicating over the Internet also comes with security risks, which can interfere with confidentiality.
In-Person Counseling
Finding a Therapist
Finding an online therapist can be a bit more risky. It’s important to do your research and make sure they are a licensed mental health professional, qualified to work with your teen.
Choosing the Right Therapist
Summary
The teenage years are full of changes and challenges as a person transitions from childhood to adulthood. Counseling can provide teens with support and teach coping skills to improve their quality of life. Counseling can be online or in person, each having its own benefits.
Consult your insurance company to see if both in-person and online mental health services are covered. They can help you find a covered provider who is a good fit for you and your teen.
A Word From Verywell
Supporting an adolescent during the teenage years can be very stressful. Finding a counselor can help relieve that burden and give your teen a trusted third-party confidant to discuss their thoughts and feelings with. Counseling provides support to your teen and can help your teen learn new coping skills, which can significantly improve their quality of life.
What Is Family Therapy?
Frequently Asked Questions
The topics discussed in therapy are limitless. Teen counseling could include topics such as peer pressure, self-esteem, relationships, and family struggles.
Not all online therapists are licensed. It’s important to do your research before choosing an online counselor.
“Counseling” and “therapy"are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Counselors provide coaching advice to clients, while psychotherapists generally have more formal education and qualifications to treat mental health conditions.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mental Health America.Types of mental health professionals.Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr. 2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9Johns Hopkins Medicine.Teen suicide.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Finding a mental health professional.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mental Health America.Types of mental health professionals.Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr. 2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9Johns Hopkins Medicine.Teen suicide.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Finding a mental health professional.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mental Health America.Types of mental health professionals.Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr. 2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9Johns Hopkins Medicine.Teen suicide.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Finding a mental health professional.
Mental Health America.Types of mental health professionals.
Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr. 2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Teen suicide.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Finding a mental health professional.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
