Curious about the role of a teen therapist and how it can benefit your teenager and family? You're not alone! We've put together a list of frequently asked questions about teen therapy. Liz Morrison Therapy, based in New York and conveniently available online, specializes in therapy for teens, young adults, and families. We're here to provide support tailored to your needs, so we hope you find this info helpful in answering your questions.
Common Questions About Therapy for Teens
What is a therapist?
If you’re a teen parent and have never experienced counseling yourself, you might wonder, “What is a therapist, and what do they do?” Great question. A therapist is someone who’s trained in treating mental health concerns. This is a broad answer, but the various specialties of different therapists are just as broad. Some therapists have a specific niche. Such as trauma treatment, while others provide a wide range of treatments.
At Liz Morrison Therapy, we provide teen therapy, young adult therapy, and parent support. We specialize in treating anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, family therapy, and more.
Terminology: Therapist vs Psychologist and Counselor vs Therapist
The terms used to describe mental health practitioners can often lead to confusion. So what sets them apart, and does it really matter? "Therapist" serves as a broad category encompassing various mental health professionals. Such as mental health counselors, social workers, and psychologists. While these specialists may offer psychotherapy, not all of them do.
Therapist vs Psychologist
When comparing therapists and psychologists, it's important to note that therapists may have different levels of education. Whereas psychologists hold doctoral degrees in psychology, philosophy, or education. Psychologists may offer psychotherapy but may also work in other fields. These include research, teaching, or specialized areas like neuropsychological testing.
Counselor vs Therapist
Distinguishing between counselors and therapists can also be confusing. Typically, counselors offer short-term treatment targeting specific issues. While therapists engage in longer-term therapy, exploring underlying patterns and mental health concerns. However, the difference between a counselor vs therapist title might come down to the practitioner's preference. It may also involve differences in educational background and licensure.
In essence, navigating the diverse landscape of mental health practitioners can be perplexing. If you’re unsure about a therapist's background, specialties, or qualifications, don't hesitate to ask. At Liz Morrison Therapy, all of us are licensed social workers. This means we’ve completed training and obtained certification in diverse areas that influence mental health. Covering sociological, biological, and psychological factors.
What does a teen therapist do?
A teen therapist is trained in providing mental health support to teenagers.
We know how important it is to nurture healthy approaches. To understand and manage emotional well-being during the teenage years. This phase of life can be particularly intense for young people. As their brains and bodies are still developing, and they encounter numerous challenges both at home and in school that can impact their overall health. Skilled teen therapists play a crucial role in fostering growth, resilience, and empowerment during this critical developmental stage.
Our teen therapists specialize in:
Assessing and evaluating the mental health needs of teens through behavioral and emotional observations
Providing individual psychotherapy to address the root causes of anxiety, depression, anger, loneliness, trauma, and other mental health issues specific to teens.
Providing family therapy to address the family system and mend parent-child relationships
Teaching coping skills, problem-solving strategies, and emotion regulation techniques in areas such as communication, stress management, boundary setting, empathy, self-advocacy, social skills, and academics.
Supporting and intervening in crises, including instances of suicidal ideation or self-harm.
Recommending beneficial resources, support groups, and social networks for both the teen and their family.
Working together with other professionals. Such as physicians, teachers, or school administrators, to ensure holistic support.
What are child and teen therapy techniques?
Teen and child therapy techniques vary based on individual needs and symptom severity. Our approach incorporates the following techniques:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and addressing negative thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors. Techniques include cognitive restructuring, mindfulness exercises, relaxation techniques, behavior experiments, exposure therapy, and more.
Skill Building
We guide adolescents in acquiring crucial life skills. Like resilience, emotion regulation, communication, and self-care.
Family Therapy
We conduct parent and family therapy sessions to tackle challenging family dynamics and strengthen parent-child relationships.
Anxiety Therapy
We provide anxiety therapy to help children and teenagers manage anxiety, worries, and life stress.
Therapy is Unique to Everyone
Our approach is not one-size-fits-all. We offer all of the above techniques in our sessions. We also tailor our approach to each individual’s unique needs and circumstances. That means we may adjust session by session as necessary.
We believe in the importance of recognizing the diversity of experiences and challenges that each person brings to therapy. By taking a personalized and flexible approach, we hope to create a truly supportive therapeutic environment. Our goal is to foster meaningful progress and growth for everyone we see. We’re committed to helping you and your teen on your journey.
Ongoing Support for Your Teen or Family
If you’re looking for mental health support for your teenager, consider therapy. Our trained teen and family therapists are here to help your whole family thrive during difficult periods of life. Feel free to contact us to ask more questions or schedule a free consultation. Let’s start working toward a better future today.
Begin Therapy For Teens in New York City, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and anywhere else in New York!
If your teen is struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, or any other mental health issue, don't hesitate to seek professional help. Therapy for teens provides a safe space for your teen to explore their feelings, develop coping strategies, and regain a sense of control over their lives. Take the first step towards supporting your teen's well-being by reaching out to a qualified teen therapist at Liz Morrison Therapy. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
1. Contact us to schedule an appointment for Therapy for Teens
2. Begin meeting with a skilled teen therapist
3. Start finding support to manage your mental health!
Other Services Offered at Liz Morrison Therapy
At Liz Morrison Therapy, we offer services for the whole family. So in addition to helping your teen overcome and cope with their mental health struggles with therapy for teens, our services also include Parenting Support for those looking to create healthy relationships with their children to help them live their best lives, Young Adult Therapy for individuals looking for support, guidance, and real-world strategies to help them deal with their struggles, and Anxiety Therapy for those wanting to cope with their anxiety in healthy ways. For more about us check out our Blogs and FAQs.