I help teens sort through the noise
and find their true selves
The transition between childhood and adulthood is often filled by peer issues, family conflict, academic pressure and heart break. All of these make every day problems all the more stressful and overwhelming. This stage of life can be a balancing act as teens are learning who they are, all while trying to make their friends, family and teachers happy. During this transitional time of becoming a teenager, teens often lose sense of who they are, what their self-worth is, and where they are heading.
The teenage years can be challenging for everyone involved. During this time, the family dynamic can change dramatically. Teenagers begin to fight for their independence and parents fight to maintain control.
When going through these changes, it is important to let your child know you are there to support them. However, they may not feel confident or comfortable discussing all of their personal issues with you. It is normal for both you and your child to feel overwhelmed during this time of growth and learning.
As a teen, your child is certain to face countless challenges, the greatest of which may be making it through their adolescent years with their self-esteem intact. Girls and boys are bombarded with conflicting messages that tell them to be something or someone that they are not – to look a certain way, to speak a certain way, to perform a certain way. Girls are told to be nice and expected to be “pretty.” Girls are told to act demure, never too loud or too “big.” Boys are often taught to be tough and not to show or express their emotions. They are expected to be athletic and aggressive. All of these pressures cause boys and girls to become disconnected from who they really are, and what they really want. As they approach and move through adolescence, it is essential that that they develop a sense of who they are and who they want to be in the world, and are able to use their confident voices in a variety of forms and forums.