Child and Teen Therapy in Tampa - TBAC Group Counseling Tampa Bay Area Counseling

Child and Teen Therapy

Is Your Child or Teen Acting Out And You Don’t Know How To Respond?

Parents, has your child started isolating themselves and spending days at a time alone in their room? Have you noticed a change in their group of friends? Perhaps you’ve heard them make offhand remarks that suggest low self-esteem. Or maybe you’ve observed a loss of interest in hobbies they once loved.

Teens, are you finding it harder to control your temper lately? Do you want a better relationship with your parent(s) but worry they just wouldn’t understand what you’re going through? Maybe you’re afraid of what they might think if they knew how frustrated, anxious, or sad you’ve been feeling. Talking about mental health is hard—especially when you’re not sure where to begin.

Young people today face many challenges that can sometimes feel insurmountable. If you’re a teen, some days you may feel connected to your caring, loving parents, while on other days, you might feel upset because you don’t feel seen or heard. You might also struggle with a health condition like ADHD, autism, or OCD, which adds another layer of difficulty during your formative years. And if you’re a teen exploring your identity as an LGBTQ youth, you may have developed symptoms of anxiety as a result.

Parents, if you sense your teenager withdrawing or struggling, teen therapy can empower them to find their voice and rebuild confidence.

Teens, therapy offers you a safe, supportive space to work through challenges and strengthen connections with your parents.

The Hidden Stress Young People Carry

It’s during our formative years that we first learn to cope with stressful situations—and we’ve all experienced that sense of angst. With more than seven percent of children aged 3 to 17 experiencing anxiety, it’s essential that we take preventive measures to address stress before it deeply impacts teens.

Stress can be the root cause of many challenges young people face—challenges that can be difficult to navigate alone. These stressors may include family conflict, school-related pressures, bullying, health conditions (such as ADHD, OCD, or autism), and emotional struggles, to name a few. In truth, stressors can come from almost anywhere.

The world constantly tells children what they should be, what they should look like, and who they’re not. ‘Do this as a child to become a successful adult.’ ‘Wear makeup like the ads in Teen Vogue.’ ‘These are the kids who matter—not you.’ As a result, children and adolescents often place unrealistic expectations on themselves, striving to find the perfect group of friends or emulate their favorite social media influencers—only to become overwhelmed by anxiety when faced with ideals that are impossible to attain.

As parents, we may unintentionally add to our children’s stress by placing unrealistic expectations on them—without any guarantee of who they will become. Perhaps we overpraise a younger sibling, not realizing the impact it may have on another child.

And when our children are on the verge of breaking, they may not turn to a teen therapist— to us. Instead, they might retreat into silence, withdraw from loved ones, or seek comfort in peers who seem to understand them. In the worst-case scenario, they may resort to self-harm or substance use.

However, working with a teen therapist can help your child process emotions, navigate health concerns, and cope with the challenges they’re facing.

Helping Your Child Overcome Challenges and Thrive

Many people assume that young individuals don’t experience intense or debilitating emotions. But in reality, children and teens can feel anxiety and depression just as deeply as adults.

As child and teen therapists, we recognize how valuable therapy can be in helping young people navigate personal challenges and build a strong foundation for adulthood. Teen therapy is a specialized branch of counseling designed to meet the unique needs of adolescents. Our goal is to create a warm, supportive environment where teens feel safe to express themselves and share their struggles with someone who truly listens. We also work with children of all ages.

During the initial intake, we ask both the parent and child to be present so we can gain both perspectives and better understand the presenting issues. After this first session, the child is asked to attend sessions individually. Parents are encouraged to remain involved through sessions focused on developing specific parenting skills to provide ongoing support.

Throughout the ongoing sessions, we’ll explore the issues contributing to your current situation. These may include family and social challenges, emotional difficulties, suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem, eating disorders, trauma, self-injury, depression, anxiety to name a few.

Our approach to child and teen therapy may draw from various evidence-based modalities to help you work through life’s challenges. Different modalities work better in different circumstances.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), for example, teaches you how to replace negative thoughts with positive ones to improve your response to difficult situations. We may also use Person-Centered Therapy (PCT), which focuses on your individual perspective. In PCT, the therapist acts as a guide to help you make your own breakthroughs.

Guiding Teens with Compassionate Therapy for Lasting Growth

Moreover, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can be a powerful tool for overcoming repetitive behaviors. ERP involves exposing you to a stressor and then reframing your response to gradually change your behavior. Behavioral Activation (BA) is another effective treatment for depression in teens—it counters increased isolation and withdrawal with activities that promote engagement with the outside world. Two other notable approaches we may also draw from are mindfulness and parent coaching.

As therapists with more than 50 years of combined experience, we’ve helped many young people work through their difficulties. Therapy can help teens build the skills to navigate challenging experiences, cultivate a more positive outlook on life, and forge stronger bonds with their parents.

Your Concerns About Teen Therapy Are Valid—Let’s Address Them

“As a parent, we fear you’ll forget about us if we’re not participating in every therapy session.”

You may not be present in all of your child’s sessions, but we understand the foundational role you play in their healing. That’s why we are committed to keeping lines of communication open and keeping you informed of their progress. We won’t leave you out of the loop, because we recognize that counseling can strengthen your child’s relationship with you just as much as it can help them grow individually. You are a vital link in the child therapy process.

“As a child or teen, will everything I say in therapy stay private?”

As tough as it may be for your parents to let you—their child—work with a therapist without their direct involvement, they likely understand the importance of allowing you to heal independently. Therapy is a space where you’ll work with us one-on-one to address your concerns. You have a right to your privacy. That’s why our online sessions are HIPAA-compliant, and your parents understand that what you share with us will remain confidential—unless we believe there’s a concern for your safety.

“How can I be sure of your credibility?”

We have over 50 years of combined experience working with teens and children—a demographic that has relatively few therapists trained to address their specific needs. In addition, we work closely with local pediatricians, many of whom refer their patients to us for support with mental health and other life challenges. As the largest Private Counseling Psychology Group in the Tampa Bay area, we have served thousands of young clients.

Are You Ready To Help Your Teen Make A Positive Change?

Therapy can give your teen the help they need to work through their unique difficulties with someone who can help them work through their problems in a healthy way. If you’re ready to get started, we invite you to call us at 727-732-4305 or contact us via email at info@tbacgroup.com. From there, we can learn more about your teen’s challenges and match them with a therapist who is the best fit.