Green Couch Counseling, LLC

If you are the parent of a teen or have spent even 10 minutes around a teen, you know that they present with some unique strengths and challenges. While many therapists chose not to work with the teen population, the therapists at Green Couch Counseling have a passion for working with teens and their families.

There are a number of things that make the teenage years unique and sometimes difficult. Some of those things include their technology use, peer pressures they experience, developmental changes, school pressures, and their fight for autonomy. At one point or another, most parents experience challenges with or develop concerns for their teenager. Therapy can be a great resource for teens and their families as they learn to navigate the choppy waters of adolescents.

Green Couch Counseling works with both families and with teenagers alone. With the family unit, the goals is to rebuild and strengthen communication; negotiate rules, expectations, and consequences; explore healthy boundaries and how they might change as the teen gets older; and help the family move through this developmental phase in a way that promotes a balance between dependence and the teen's growing autonomy.

With teens, the therapists work to provide a safe space which allows for them to explore themselves and their decisions without fear of judgement or criticism. The therapists work to help them build a sense of self worth and esteem, manage anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, negotiate peer relationships, develop skills that will assist them in reaching future goals, and learn healthy decision making skills.

Teens may not always be able to communicate when they need a little extra help. So, keep your eye open for signs and symptoms that show that therapy might be the right next step to help your adolescent.

Signs your teen may need to see a therapist:
Withdrawal from the family
Isolation from peers
Drop in grades
Increased risk taking behavior
Increased anxiety
Self harming behavior

Drastic change in appearance and/or behavior
Anger outbursts
Withdrawal from activities
Poor decision making
Defiance

Is your child shutting themselves in their room everyday? Have they stopped talking to you about what is going on in their life? Are they going through a difficult change or transition? Are you worried about how they are feeling, coping, and/or managing? If any of these things ring true for you, then connecting your child with a therapist may be the answer.

While family therapy can be a great resource for parents and children to work together to improve communication, reconnect, and rebuild their relationships with each other, some families are simply looking for a safe space for their child to talk. While parent involvement is always encouraged and valued, the focus of child therapy is your child and most therapy sessions will occur with just your child and your child's therapist.

Therapists with Green Couch Counseling strongly value providing a safe place for children to be able to express themselves openly about challenges they may be facing at home and/or school. Child therapy is also a place for your child to learn healthy coping skills, explore pros and cons of making various choices, learn how to navigate peer relationships, and develop a healthy sense of self. We strive to create a safe, warm, and trusting environment that allows your child to feel comfortable opening up so that they feel able to get the support they need to be happy and healthy.

Common issues addressed in child therapy:
Peer issues
Self esteem
Anxiety
Depression
Self harm
Life transitions (i.e. change in schools, divorce)
School stress
Grief and loss
Anger management
Family Issue

Is your family approaching a significant transition like the birth of a child or the emptying of the nest? Are relationships at home tense and communication poor? Are you and your partner struggling with parenting decisions? If any of these things resonate with you, then family therapy is a great resource to help you and your family address these concerns.

Family therapy provides a place for all family members to voice their feelings and concerns in a safe space. It allows for everyone to work together collaboratively to find the best solution for the family. Family therapy helps families strengthen relationships, gain insight into each other's lives, develop strategies and skills to handle transitions and challenges, and strengthen boundaries, rules, and communication.

As Marriage and Family Therapists, the therapists with Green Couch Counseling have extensive experience helping families at all developmental stages to reach their goals. The therapists work to create a safe space for you and your family to express your feelings and needs and find new ways to connect.


Common issues addressed in family therapy:
Parenting/Co-Parenting
Child issues that affect the family
Sibling Relationships
Illness
Family Conflict
Separation/Divorce
Adoption
Life Cycle Transitions (birth, school, adolescence, launching, loss)