Teen Counseling in Boca Raton

John Puls, the licensed psychotherapist at South Florida Psychotherapy, is highly experienced with teens and young adults. Because adolescent therapy often requires specific therapeutic skills, John is commonly referred to by other providers. Most teens are not internally motivated to attend therapy, so a certain level of trust must be reached for teens to benefit from individual therapy. For this reason, teen counseling can pose difficulties for some clinicians. 

South Florida Psychotherapy deeply understands adolescents and adolescent behavior. Teens have a tendency to feel misunderstood, so it’s extremely important clinicians are able to help teens feel heard. Through this approach, teens can make significant progress even if they are initially apprehensive about therapy. 

At South Florida Psychotherapy, John Puls understands the stress that can come along when seeking help for your child. It’s also common for parents to blame themselves for their teen’s behavior, but it’s important to understand that regardless of parenting some teens develop behavioral problems or have underlying mental health conditions. Always speak with a professional if you are concerned about your child’s behavior. If you have any questions about your child, John offers free 15 minutes consultations. 

When A Teen Can Benefit From Psychotherapy

Because adolescent years can bring a wave of emotions, stress, and life experiences, psychotherapy can actually benefit any teen. That said, teens with behavioral problems may require treatment to some capacity. If you are wondering whether you child needs professional help, some questions to ask yourself are:

• Does my child have friends?
• Does my child talk to me about what’s going on in their life?
• Is my child consistently struggling at school?

Signs A Teen May Need Therapy

Signs of more severe behavioral problems or disorders include:

• Signs of depression (unable to sleep, unable to eat, oversleeping, low motivation)
• Running away
• Self-harm or cutting
• Rage or excessive outbursts
• Increasing defiance
• Drug or alcohol use
• Sexually acting out
• Illegal activity
• Failing school