Our counselors offer counseling for teens in Allentown, PA

My go-to approach for helping people in teen counseling, after building trust and rapport, is identifying and exploring how my teen client feels about themselves. Building self-esteem is a common issue and I work on this often with my teen clients.

I teach the following tools in teen counseling:

• Journaling can help teens learn how to be mindful of their thoughts and we can work together to identify negative or unhealthy thought patterns.
• Positive affirmations or mantras can help teens develop self-esteem, identify strengths, and help them learn to be gentle and compassionate with themselves.
• Teens love technology, so apps and online resources can help them learn mindfulness and how to meditate, which helps them regulate their emotions and self-soothe.
• Communication strategies help improve interactions and relationships, such as the use of “I feel” statements to initiate productive and solution-focused communication.

I know a client is making meaningful progress in teen counseling when they are getting along better with their friends and family, managing their emotions better, exploring new things, or have increased interest in their activities.

Clients can supplement their time in teen counseling with journaling, practicing self-soothing and relaxation techniques when feeling calm, and being mindful of their thoughts.

To prepare for their first teen counseling session, a teen can give themselves credit for reaching out for support. The stigma of mental illness has prevented many people from taking this first step. If you feel anxious or scared, recognize that it's normal to feel that way.