The journey from childhood to adulthood is most treacherous during adolescence. It is a transitional period in life and the physical, physiological and emotional changes that occur can affect the personality of the teenager in different ways. As adolescents are easily influenced and are often victims of their own emotions, they can be somewhat difficult to deal with.
You may have done your best bringing them up. But some of them might still exhibit irrational behaviors which will not necessarily reflect on your parenting style. To ensure that your teenage son or daughter goes through this period and comes off as a more responsible and socially responsible adult, you can try adolescent counselling.
Is Counselling Not a Last Resort?
Admittedly only a handful of parents are receptive to the idea of counselling. The reason for this is that it is sometimes perceived as an admittance of failure on the part of the parent. But if you seek it, you soon learn that the benefits eclipse everything else. Counselling basically opens up channels where personal problems can be expressed. In case the adolescent is going through depression, anxiety or dealing with parent’s divorce, loneliness and self-esteem issues, counselling as well as mediation services can help them overcome these problems.
There are those instances where counselling is absolutely necessary. Certain obsessions and compulsions can be harmful while others, such as depression and substance abuse can greatly decrease their chances of becoming responsible adults. For these and other behaviors that may be of medical importance, you should actively seek out counselling services.
Adolescent Psychology
Counselling is conducted by trained professionals, and it often starts with the parents. They provide the canvas and the map so that the counsellor has a broad grasp of what might be wrong. This is followed by meetings with the adolescent. They get to open up about the issues they are struggling with. These sessions can be a few or many, depending on the reactivity of the adolescent and progress. They are confidential, so the details of the sessions don’t have to be shared with the parent. Family sessions can be conducted too if all parties mutually agree on the idea.
Counselling is especially recommended if you find the communication channels with your teenager breaking down. Similarly, if you notice some errant behaviors, like bad company, excessive secrecy or withdrawal, counselling is a good idea. It will help you rebuild your relationship and trust with your adolescent and improve their outcomes when they move on to young adulthood.
It is important to ensure that the counsellor you seek is qualified. Thankfully, there is no shortage of counsellors in Australia, so the search should be relatively easy.