As your child grows into a tween or teen and enters the adolescent years, their job is to separate from you and become their own person. During adolescence, tweens and teens need to learn to manage their own emotions. But what do you do when you see them struggling and they won’t talk to you? Your happy-go lucky child is sullen, depressed, lonely, silent, cold, or off in their own world. You have tried to cajole them into talking to you; you drive them to and from their friends’ houses or after-school activities, but nothing has worked. know there is a problem, but you don’t know how to reach them. Worse yet, you can relate to some of what they are going through; you too had a challenging time as a tween/teen. Adolescence can be a challenging time of transition. Some tweens/teens land on their feet and others go down a rabbit hole. Your job as a parent is to bit only understand them, but to know when your child needs help.
Tweens & Teen Therapists in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville
Signs your Child, Tween or Teen is going down a rabbit hole and might benefit from therapy (Philadelphia, PA; Ocean City, NJ; Santa Fe, NM; & Mechanicsville, VA)
Significant changes in their sleep or eating patterns
Drop in grades, not completing or turning in assignments
Decreased interest in school activities or interests (sports, clubs, band)
Lying, skipping school, not returning by curfew, unaccounted for time
Increased isolation from their peer group
Increased complaints of somatic issues, such as headaches, nausea, or physical aches.
Decreased hygiene
Increased perfectionistic behaviors or sensitivity to criticism
Sharing lots of negative emotions (hopelessness, grief, emptiness, loneliness, anger, etc.)
Withdrawal and not sharing any emotions
Dramatic changes in peer relationships
Sharing that they are having suicidal or homicidal ideations
Play Therapists in Philadelphia, Ocean City & Mechanicsville: These play therapists specialize in working with children age 4-10
Unsure of how to help your child, tween or teen? Not sure what steps to take?
You know something is wrong, but you aren’t quite sure what steps to take or even how to evaluate the situation. We know you want what is best for your tween or teen. You want them to open up and talk to you about their fears, concerns, and hopes. You want to be the one to help them design a future that will allow them to be emotionally fulfilled and financially secured; you want them to know that they are loved and accepted for simply being themselves. Adolescence is a challenging period. Adolescents often reject loving behaviors that are deemed to be juvenile, restrictive or uniformed. From the parents’ perspective, it might feel like they are rejecting your love. Your child is testing their limits, asserting themself, and making sense of the world around them. Tweens and teens are also hyper-aware of their peer group; as a result, your influence begins to wane. You have moved down on your tween or teen’s list of confidants, whereas, their friends and other adults have bumped to the top of that list.
Even if your child does turn to you, you aren’t always able to make the issue go away. You finally are beginning to realize what people meant all those years ago when they said, “Little children, little problems. Big children, big problems.” For the typical parent, the struggle has shifted from the child’s physical care to psychological care. Children, tweens, and teens need your emotional guidance more than ever. Sometimes this is a few gentle nudges and sometimes it’s a knock-down fight where you simply set a boundary and force the child into a situation where help is available. In all scenarios, your child or adolescent needs a safe space to explore and be free of pressure, judgment, or influence. And your job is to foster this space for them. Sometimes that means making yourself available to talk with them, and other times it means encouraging your children to reach out to the other adults in their life and asking for support.
Change and Growth is Possible. Child, Tweens & Teen Therapy in Philadelphia, PA; Ocean City, NJ; Providence, RI & Santa Fe, NM; & Mechanicsville, VA
Help is available through individual therapy, teen support groups, family therapy and/or self help articles geared directly towards the adolescent as well as the parenAs the parent, you get to choose what the best path is for not only your child, tween, and teen, but for your family. Your job as the parent is to balance the needs of each person that makes up your child’s family structure.
Individual therapy, support groups and family therapy can help your child develop the skills needed to emotionally regulate themselves and and develop language to express their thoughts, feelings, needs, hopes and desires. Expressing one’s inner desires takes courage. Parenting is a continual balancing act of honoring your child’s wishes and setting boundaries so that they can safely grow. When they launch, they will have all the tools needed to safely navigate this world.
Therapy for children, tweens, and teens can be fun. Our highly specialized therapists use tools designed specifically for their age. Young children engage in play therapy, tweens toggle between play therapy, art therapy, role playing and game, and adolescents toggle between art therapy, role playing and talk therapy.
Call today and request a consultation to help you make the best decision for your child and family.
Common Child, Tween or Adolescent Therapy Topics
Behavioral Issues
Puberty
Back Talk, Rudeness
Testing Limits: Rule Breaking, Defiant
Bullying: Being Mean
Not Working Towards Ones Full Academic Potential
High stress: High Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Worry
OCD, Skin Picking, Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
Depression: Sadness, Low Self Esteem
Loneliness: Isolation
Body Dysmorphia, Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, Eating Disorders
Neuro diversity; ADHD, Autism, Aspergers Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Tourettes
Parental Separation/Divorce
Emotional Trauma: Sexual Trauma
Relationships: Dating: Friendships
Breakups: Endings: Loss
Parent with a mental or medical illness
Loss of a parent: Loss of a friend, Loss of a Sibling
Covid
Gaming, Social Media, General Internet Dependence, Cell Phones or Problematic Behaviors,
Preparing for college: Switching Schools
Transitioning schools: Transitioning Neighborhoods
Friendships
Choosing a grade school & middle school, high school or college
Transitions (parental separation, divorce, death, change of schools, moving)
Trauma
Navigating Sexuality, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Issues
Navigating Peer Pressure with Alcohol and Drugs
One of the benefits of seeing a child, teen or adolescent therapist at a large practice is that your child can try out more than one therapist free of charge. Chemistry matters.
To locate a child, teen, or adolescent therapist call 215 922 5683 and locate a therapist near Philadelphia, PA; Mechanicsville, VA; Ocean City, NJ; or Santa Fe, NM. We can help you decide which therapist is right for you. With multiple therapists on staff that have specialized training in working with children and adolescents within specified treatment modalities, we are confident that we can serve you in the best way possible! Please specify if you have a preference for your child’s therapist to be of a specific gender, age, race, religion and/or area of specialization.
As an adult, you too might benefit from working with a teen therapist. You might benefit from learning about how to talk to a child with an eating disorder, or even how to talk to your child about baby loss. The list is endless.
Our Philadelphia, Ocean City, Providence and Mechanicsville child, tween, teen and adolescent therapists are passionate and knowledgeable about the work that we do!
Therapy for children and adolescents differs from adult therapy, and it’s important to find therapists with the knowledge needed to properly treat children, tween, and teen-related issues.Children, tweens and teens are more vulnerable than adults, as they have less control over their environments at home and at school. Children, tweens, and teens also have less control over their own impulses, as they are still getting to know themselves and testing their limits. If your child, tween, or teen is struggling to regulate their emotions, seeing a therapist can help them develop healthy coping skills that they can carry with them into adulthood.
Why Should My Child, Tween, or Teen seek therapy now?
With advances in technology and the accessibility of social media, comparison culture is at an all-time high. Many children, tweens, and teens are suffering from self-esteem issues, depression, and anxiety. Children, tweens, and teens are feeling more pressure to be perfect now more than ever, with an internet audience judging their performance. Being a tween or teen has always had its challenges in regards to grappling with identity issues, emerging sexuality, feeling connected, and managing relationships. However, more than ever, children, tweens, and teens are experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression that interferes with their daily functioning. If your child or adolescent is having a hard time in their day-to-day life, it might be time to find a qualified child and adolescent therapist.
Philadelphia PA, Providence RI, Ocean City NJ and Mechanicsville, VA Trauma Therapy for Children, Tween and Teens
Instances of parental divorce, bullying, community violence, COVID, racism, and loss can feel traumatic to a teenager. Teens are more susceptible to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after experiencing trauma or an overwhelming life event. This is because they are still figuring out how to make sense of their world and how to cope with strong emotions. They are still building their resources to manage life’s challenges. If your teenager is experiencing sleep disturbances, fearfulness, worry, or if you notice behavioral changes, substance use or mood disturbances after a difficult event takes place, they might need extra support to process what happened and build healthy coping skills. This is crucial as young people are in the process of forming their identity. Therapy can increase resilience and reduce the impact that a traumatic event has on a teen’s life. Early intervention is the key to helping a teen recover from traumatic circumstances.
Philadelphia, PA, Providence RI, Ocean City, NJ & Mechanicsville VA Neurodiversity child, tween and teen therapy (and Virtual services)
Prior to receiving a diagnosis of ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Turner Syndrome or Tourettes, children are often blamed for not functioning the way other children do. Tics are frequently misperceived as purposeful inappropriate behavior and children are blamed for not stopping their unwanted vocal sounds or physical movements. Children with ADHD are frequently described as distracted, disengaged, or lazy. Sometimes children experiencing trauma are misdiagnosed as ADHD. Children with autism can be described as uncaring when they simply mistake emotional cues. Children with undiagnosed dyslexia can be seen as not bright because they struggle to express their ideas in writing.
When children (and adults) receive a diagnosis of ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia or Tourettes, it can be a huge relief. Instead of being dumb, lazy, disrespectful, or unaware, there is an explanation as to why they are responding differently to their teacher, parent, friend, or environment. These children, tweens, and teens require a specific skill building tool approach as well as emotional support to help them realize that their greatest weakness is also their most powerful tool. Because of their neuro divirseity, they don’t think like other children, which in turn makes them see the world differently. They are able to create solutions in ways that others will perceive as unusual, creative, or original. Thinking outside the box enables you to create solutions outside the box. Getting to know your child's learning style is a key step that you can take to help them help themselves. Once you know your child's style, then applying specific strategies like social stories, auditory, or kinetic learning is key.
The goal of teen therapy when dealing with ADHD, Autism, Dyselxia, and Tourettes is to learn how to embrace their own style, become their own advocate, and to accept themselves as they are. Everyone in life will make mistakes. The issue is, not whether you will you make mistakes, but how one can grow from them. Frequently children with differences as adults are the most resilient because they have gotten really good at failing and learned at an early age not to give up. The key to success in life is learning from mistakes. Giving oneself to permission to be curious and unafraid of trying new things is an approach that can benefit everyone.
Loneliness and Child, Tween, Teen Therapy in Philadelphia, PA; Providence, RI; Ocean City, NJ; Santa Fe, NM; & Mechanicsville, VA
Children, tweens, and teens are the hardest hit by loneliness during the COVID pandemic. Adolescence is a time of exploration, a time of friendships, and of increased independence. Instead of independence, COVID adolescents have been asked to isolate. Children, tweens, and teens have been engaged in extended lockdowns, remote schooling, and canceled sports. On top of the loss of seeing friends at school or during after-school activities, parents have had less emotional energy to care for their children. Parents have faced their own set of crises. Many parents lost their jobs or were forced to quit to take care of their children that are now home. “Lucky” parents had flexible jobs, allowing them to work safely from home, but now those parents are struggling to meet the demands of helping a child with online learning while working their regular job. And of course, many children have lost a family member or a loved one due to COVID. To adapt to the changing realities, children have spent many more hours online. While the Internet has been wonderful at connecting us with others, too much internet usage due to the loss of touch/human contact increases feelings of loneliness. Social isolation has had a devastating impact on tweens and teen development.
Anxiety & Depression Child, Tween & Teen Therapy in Philadelphia, PA; Ocean City, NJ; Providence, RI; Santa Fe, NM; & Mechanicsville, VA
As a result of COVID, rates of depression and anxiety in children, tweens, and teens have increased. The pandemic has affected the ways children can socialize, as well as their family structure. Children’s sense of safety has decreased. Now, children who are able to go to school worry they might bring home an illness that could kill an immunocompromised family member. Additionally, many parents don’t have the emotional availability they once had. Between 2019 and 2021, teen suicide has doubled.
Child and Adolescent Grief Therapy
Children and adolescence struggle just as much as adults do with grief and loss. Children and adolescents typically have very little control over their worlds. They don't get to choose their home, their school or even what foods they get to eat. Losing a parent or a sibling can be devastating and isolating. Every child responds differently. Suggested readings: how to talk to a child about baby loss
Don’t let your child become a statistic. Help is available in Philadelphia, PA; Ocean City, NJ; Providence, RI; Santa Fe, NM; & Mechanicsville, VA
The day-to-day pressures that adolescents face can feel crushing. The world of COVID has made it even harder. Childhood is a time where adolescents should be making mistakes and learning from them. However, when there are too many setbacks, adolescents can become overwhelmed and shut down. This process leads to panic attacks and depression. With caring, involved parents, teachers and neighbors many children never fully shut down. Adolescents are resilient. However, some children need that extra support. Therapy gives teens the space to talk. In therapy teens not only have an opportunity to hear themselves, but they also will develop the much needed tools, such as mindfulness, accountability, use of self that will help them achieve happiness and get the most out of life.
Some teens don't want therapy. They simply want their friends and wish their parents would do all the changing "and get with the program". To help those teens we also have parenting classes, where you will learn how to parent the distant child, how to avoid punishment through the use of natural consequences, getting kids to be invested in themselves, creating order, dating and teens just to name a few of the issues that come up in our parenting class discussions.
Child Trauma Therapy in Philadelphia, PA; Ocean City, NJ; Providence RI, Santa Fe, NM; & Mechanicsville, VA
Trauma can happen at any age. With the right support, healing is possible. Our focus is on the child, tween, or teen’s emotional needs, relationships, and surroundings. Our trauma therapists are trained to spot triggers in a child's environment and seek ways to minimize them while teaching the child how to have more control over their environment. Children by definition are dependent upon others – our job is to help children develop the necessary tools to be able to successfully navigate life’s obstacles. We will work closely with you and your child to help foster an environment that your child will experience as nurturing. Some examples of the benefit of therapy includes decrease sleep anxiety, increased self assurance, self advocacy skills. Depending on the age when trauma occurs, your child may or may not have memories of the event as an adult adult memories. How you frame their traumatic experiences may have a significant impact on their healing process.
Recovery from trauma is challenging at any age. Recovery from trauma at an early age requires a lot of love and support. While parents play the most influential overall role in raising their child, a little help from others can speed the healing journey. Sometimes it’s easier for children to receive feedback from people who aren’t their primary caregivers.
Divorce-Related Mental Health Issues for children, tweens & teens (divorce therapy in Philadelphia, PA; Ocean City, NJ; Mechanicsville, VA; Providence RI & Santa Fe, NM)
Divorce can be an especially difficult experience for children, tweens, and teens to go through because their brains are still forming. They are still learning to reason and understand abstract concepts. Children, tweens, and teens of divorce often need extra support to process the unresolvable differences they witnessed between their parents. This shift in life circumstances can negatively influence their sense of security – who will be there for them and how do they fit into the world? The lack of stability in their home environment can make them susceptible to feeling distrustful of others and abandoned by those closest to them, causing them to feel confusion about their own identities.
It is common for substance abuse and mental health issues to surface during adolescence. Both sets of issues are strongly affected by stress. Divorce is often experienced as very stressful for children, tweens, and teens and emerging symptoms can be exasperated. The stress from divorce can last for many years after separation has occurred. Oftentimes after divorce, children, tweens, and teens become pawns or are forced to act as the “peace-maker” between two feuding parents. Children, tweens, and teens are frequently left to advocate for themselves.
Additionally, children, tweens, and teens who experience divorce may struggle in school and with friendships. Children, tweens and teens crave a sense of belonging and an understanding for what their role is in the world. As their home environment crumbles, and parents become emotionally preoccupied, children can feel anxious and alone. However, divorce is not necessarily a bad event and may be extremely beneficial to the mental health of each parent, but it can be a significant stressor that triggers underlying issues in children. * Despite the negative effects of divorce on children, staying in an unhealthy marriage can be equally problematic for children. The point is not to encourage parents to stay together for the sake of the child, but rather to understand the unique needs of children, tweens, and teens as their parents divorce.
The goal of therapy for children, tweens, and teens whose parents are divorcing is to help them process their own feelings and thoughts about this challenging life transition. Children do not often have the skills to articulate all their big emotions, and instead may simply say “I hate you” or get into physical fights with their siblings or peers. Additionally, children may have concerns about when or how they will see one of their parents. The therapist is an adult who is focused on the needs of the child. Parents during this time are often too distracted by their own emotions to be fully present to their child. In addition to working directly with the children, we can work with parents on parenting skills. Unfortunately, parenting doesn’t come with a rule book. Parents usually learn by trial and error or by talking to a more seasoned parent.
Play Therapy for Children & Tweens. Play Therapy in Philadelphia, PA; Ocean City, NJ; Providence, RI; Santa Fe, NM; & Mechanicsville, VA)
What is play therapy? Play. We use play therapy to work with children because play is recognized for children as a primary learning tool. Play taps into children’s imagination, curiosity, and wonder. It is through play that they learn to express their own emotions and interact with others.
We believe that through play therapy, children’s self esteem and self-acceptance can improve. Play therapy can help children make meaning of their experiences, explore ways of expressing themselves, and learn how to cope with difficult situations. Traditionally, play therapy involves sand trays, art, music, puppets, and story-telling. At the heart of play therapy is a space where any object can become a toy and any emotion, gesture, or sound can be a form of communication. Play therapists use play as a way of reaching children on their level and working with them in a safe environment that will enable healing.
Traditional Psychotherapy for Tweens & Teens. Tweens and Teen Therapy in Philadelphia, PA; Ocean City, NJ; Santa Fe, NM; Providence, RI & Mechanicsville, VA
Psychotherapy for tweens and teens is the same as therapy for adults. However, the therapist has specialized training in adolescent development. This knowledge shifts the dialogue between the child / tween / teen and the therapist. Adolescents who are between the ages of 9 and11 begin developing best friends, seeing the perspectives of others, and becoming more aware of peer pressure. Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 14 are increasingly independent from their parents and more dependent upon their peers for approval. Due to hormones, they may experience increased moodiness and seek out more privacy. Teens between the ages of 15 and 17 tend to be more interested in dating and sexuality. They often spend even more time with friends, and their ability to frameshift and empathize with others is much more developed.
Art Therapy for Children, Tweens and Teens in Philadelphia, Providence, Mechanicsville, Ocean City
Art therapy helps children, tweens, and teens connect to their emotions in non-verbal ways. It helps people express their inner selves, bypassing verbal language. Art is a completely different medium for expressing energy and emotion. Art therapy helps children, tweens, and teens manage feelings of stress. It teaches a form of mindfulness and a way to release feelings, thoughts, and energy. Art therapy accesses a person’s creativity and critical thinking skills in a way that is different from traditional talk therapy.
Art therapy is especially useful for children, tweens, and teens who don’t feel comfortable talking. It gives them something to do and a focused way of directing their energy. As this process is occurring, an art therapist is able to help the client connect to themselves in a grounded way.
Sex Therapy for Teens and adolescents
(Philadelphia Teen Sex Therapy, Ocean City Teen Sex Therapy, Santa Fee Teen Sex Therapy)
While most people don’t want to admit their tween, teen, or college-aged child is having sex, sex is happening. In fact, prior to COVID, the average age of children being exposed to online nudity was 7 years old. Now with having lived in lock-down on-and-off for several years, the age is even younger, and children have even less social skills. Why? Because children have been stuck in the house without friends. During COVID there was a major cultural shift – teens during quarantine were suddenly allowed to have their significant other’s sleep over their own house. Historically parent’s rarely gave permission for children to have sex in their house. Teens were only allowed to have sex after graduation, or if they were at college, but certainly not sharing a bedroom at home. Why? Because parents were more focused on limiting the number of people their children were in contact with.
Talking to children about sex is hard. What kind of books do you want to expose your children to? And at what age? What do you do when you realize your child is looking at porn? When should you teach them about birth control? At what age, if any, should they be allowed to start dating? Are you okay with your child using a tampon or do you prefer them to use pads? At what age should children of the opposite gender stop going into public restrooms with you? The list is endless.
Choosing Between Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Providence, Santa Fe InPerson Child, Teen, Adolescent Therapy and Virtual Child, Teen, Adolescent Therapy that can be done from the comfort of home.
Online therapy, also known as telehealth, may be appropriate for tweens and teens. The effectiveness of online therapy is truly dependent upon the skill set that your child needs to develop. In-person therapy is the gold standard for teaching children emotional connection with others. Only through face-to-face contact can the subtler skills of reading emotions be taught. Connecting through a computer is simply not the same as being in the room with another human being. Relationships, while powerful online, do not necessarily prepare a person for the realities of being in the same room with another person.
Therapy that is more skill-focused is easily transferable to online counseling. This is especially true for older children who can practice their skill in the real world and then report back to their therapist each week for deeper understanding. Similarly, family therapy lends itself to online therapy because the therapist literally becomes a voice who can guide the parent and child to connect with one another in new and different ways. The online therapist can coach the parent in real time to engage with their child, tween, or teen.
Sometimes, especially during COVID, online therapy is the only option.
Only under rare circumstances will we do online individual therapy for children between the ages of 3 and 9. We strongly believe that young children learn best through play. Children need less screen time and more in-person time. Again, there are exceptions to every rule, so call today for a free consultation with one of our child, tween, and teen therapists to discuss your child’s particular needs.
Lastly, How Long Will Therapy Last?
Each child is an individual with a unique set of circumstances. Exactly how long your child will be in treatment depends upon what symptoms they are presenting with. In general, we recommend treatment to follow the academic year. While this might be longer than many children need, we believe that it takes time to solidify new skills. As an adult, you want to make sure that the child has enough time to practice their new skill in a variety of situations.
With that being said, children change at a much faster rate than adults. The habits of children, tweens, and teens are less ingrained than they are in adults; adolescents are very flexible learners. Early intervention can shift a child's growth significantly and set them on a much healthier path. Children’s brains are not fully formed, which is why the impact of early intervention is so significant.
At the Center for Growth, our child, teen and adolescent therapists are passionate and knowledgeable about working with children and teens and adolescents.
Therapy for children differs from adult therapy. It’s important to find therapists with the knowledge needed to properly treat child and teen-related issues. Children, adolescents, and teenagers are more vulnerable than adults, as they have less control over their environments at home and at school. Children, adolescents, and teens also have less control over their impulses, as they are still getting to know themselves and testing their limits. If your child, adolescent, or teenager is struggling to regulate their emotions or cope with stress, seeing a therapist can help them develop healthy coping skills that they can carry with them into adulthood.
To schedule an appointment with a child, tween, teen therapist call 215 - 922 - 5683 x 100. We have 2 physical offices in Philadelphia, PA, Art Museum Office and Society Hill Office, and a physical office in Ocean City Office Ocean City NJ, Mechanicsville Office Mechanicsville VA, Providence Office Providence RI and Santa Fe Office in Santa Fe NM. We also offer virtual sessions in PA and virtual therapy in NJ, virtual therapy in VA and virtual therapy in NM, and virtual therapy in GA and virtual therapy in Fl and virtual therapy in Connecticut.
The Center for Growth Therapy Offices in PA, NJ, VA, RI, NM, DE, CT
- Ocean City Therapy Office
360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226 - Mechanicsville Therapy Office
9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116 - Providence Therapy Office
173 Waterman St. Providence, RI 02906 - Society Hill Therapy Office
233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106 - Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office
2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130 - Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505
- Telemedicine: We have therapists who are licensed to work in Delaware, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
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