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Counseling for Your Teen

Table of Contents


Overview

If your teen is in counseling, it means they're getting mental health treatment from a trained counselor. Teens go to counseling for help with issues in life. These may be things like stress, anxiety, or grief. Teens also go for help with certain health conditions. For example, they may go for depression, an eating disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Or they may go because they want to stop vaping or using drugs.

Teens see their counselor on a regular basis. They may meet weekly, every few weeks, or monthly. How long they're in counseling is different for each teen. But it may be for several months or longer.

There are different types of counseling. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type. CBT focuses on changing certain thoughts and behaviors. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is another type. DBT teaches healthy ways to manage feelings.

Supporting your teen

Here are some ways you can support your teen while they are in counseling.

Where to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

If your teen talks about suicide, self-harm, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, get help right away. You can:

Consider saving these numbers in your phone.

Go to 988lifeline.org for more information or to chat online.


Credits for Counseling for Your Teen

Current as of: June 24, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
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