Being a teenager can be stressful. It may feel like everyone else is having fun and you are the only one that is lonely and struggling. There may be times when you feel lost or confused about how to handle situations with friends, school, family or your own identity. You may be having a hard time managing family and peer relationships, making decisions about everyday life and your future.
It’s OK to ask for help and learn the skills to handle all types of issues. Whether you’re dealing with peer pressures, parental expectations, school or personal issues, you don’t have to do it alone. I would like to help.
Adolescents are often reluctant to come for help. They sometimes think that needing help is a sign of weakness. But accepting help is actually proactive. It is the first step to overcoming your problems. It shows courage and strength.
Teens sometimes avoid coming for help because they feel that they will be criticized. When working with me you can be sure that you will be heard, understood and never judged. The teens I work with open up and talk in ways in which they often have never been able to do before. Together, we will work as a team to identify your difficulties, set goals and make the changes in your life to move you from where you are to where you want to be.
I help adolescents with such areas as:
- Anxiety
- Confidence, Self Esteem and Body image
- Communication, Assertiveness and Social skills
- Depression
- Disordered Eating
- Emotional Regulation
- Family Dynamics
- Grief and Loss
- Handling stress (including coping with the pressures of family and parental expectations)
- Life transitions (parental separation and divorce, remarriage, step families, blended families, adoption, moving, new jobs, new schools, living with illness, death of a loved one, pregnancy and life with a new baby)
- Making and Keeping friends
- Questioning Sexuality and Sexual identity
- Resiliency and Bouncing back when things go wrong
- Resolving Conflicts (family/peer)
- Relationship Difficulties (family/peer)
- School/Work/Social/Family/Life balance
- Standing up to bullying and peer pressure
- Study skills and school related issues (improving organization, note taking, studying, test and exam completion; course selection and identifying educational options for high school and post secondary students; advocating for students and families in the educational system