5 Reasons Why Your Teen Should be in therapy This Summer.

Young lives are marked by summer vacations.

Even a mention of a certain summer can take you right back to where you were, who you were with, and what you were doing that memorable year.

For teenagers summer breaks act as a bookmark in life.

Milestones marking monumental changes in friend groups, relationships, development, and their sense of self.

As parents, it is sometimes difficult to know how to best support your teen over the summer: wanting to help them find a balance between structure and relaxation.

Want to help your teen have a memorable summer they’ll never forget?

the 5 reasons why your teen should be in therapy this summer :

1. Trusted Adult

   During the school year your teen is surrounded by teachers, school staff, coaches, and other adults checking in with them on a regular basis. They are able to access a support system of trusted adults, other than their parents or family. Having these relationships helps teenagers develop their own perspectives and values. The confidentiality of the therapist-client relationship is incredibly valuable in adolescent development, as youth create their own identity separate from their parents for the first time. Having regular sessions with a therapist over the summer encourages teens to process the big choices and changes that accompany the memories of summer. It is a great way to lower your stress and worry about what choices your teen may be making over the summer, knowing they have the support of a trusted adult to help them.

2. Space

Teens undergo a great deal of social stress during the school year from peers and friends. Most of the teens I work with share that they look forward to summer as a chance to get away from that ongoing pressure of trying to measure up. Summer vacation offers a break from the heavy weight of social and academic stress, and it frees up emotional and mental space. Having a break from these stresses offers a valuable opportunity for reflection, insight, and growth for teens. Social development is crucial during this stage, and a primary topic for most teens in therapy. Many teens feel safer processing social issues over the summer months, because they know they have a break from the ongoing social stresses they feel at school

3. Start Strong

Any therapist who work with kids, youth, and families would tell you that their phones and emails start to ping like clockwork at two times a year: a month or so after school starts and around the holiday season. These tend to be the most stressful times for families. People most often seek therapy when their problems have gotten too difficult to manage. They have most often tried everything within their own power before reaching out to someone else to ask for help. But, there is unbelievable value in seeking support on issues before they get out of control. Teens who seek therapy proactively feel more in control in their sessions, and have motivation towards achieving progress towards their goals. Asking for help while the problem is still manageable also models excellent regulation for your teen. This shows teens the valuable lesson that proactively managing a small issue can prevent it from becoming a bigger one. Encourage your teen to take the time to slow down and invest in change that will last longer than the summer.

4. Routine

Most teens spend the summer sleeping until noon, and eliminating all memory of the rigid routines they abide by during the school year. As parents, we try to provide and encourage a delicate balance of unstructured structure to our teens over the summer. Weekly therapy appointments can offer that minimal consistency that teens thrive off of over the summer months. Many therapists have more flexible availability during the summer, ask if twice weekly sessions are possible to be able to meet goals twice as fast. Empower Family Therapy offers home, office, and community-based therapy sessions; encouraging teens to be outside in the nice weather with walk-and-talk therapy. Our convenient office location allows responsible teens to be in charge of their own transportation to and from sessions- by bus, bike, or walking. These small routines encourage teens to be invested in their treatment and see their own capabilities to make change a reality in their lives.

5. Skills

School issues are one of the main reasons why teens seek therapy. The pace of the academic year doesn’t allow much time for teens to learn new skills to help them exceed academically. Many times students struggle to keep up with the academic material while they are learning the valuable skills of time management, study skills, and balance. These invaluable skills are a necessary part of teen development, but they are often rushed through in an effort to not fall behind academically. It’s common for teens and parents to disregard these concerns over the summer months, when the lack of school structure tends to shift the focus. But, when they present again next school year there is often not enough time to find support before the ‘falling behind’ pattern begins again. Teens who prioritize learning, practicing, and building these life skills over the summer are better prepared for the upcoming school year with renewed confidence.

If you’re interested in counseling for your teen or family this summer, reach out and schedule your free consultation call with us today.

And most importantly… enjoy this summer.

teens aren’t the only ones that get to have memorable summers.

make summer 2019 the best summer yet, for you!

What Your Teen Wants to Know About Suicide & What You, as a Parent, Should Say

If you have a middle or high school student in Oak Park or nearby schools, chances are that they have had suicide prevention training at school.

Due to a nationwide push to increase awareness of suicidality in teens, most schools incorporate multiple strategies to address suicide and mental health concerns. September is National Suicide Prevention month, and many high schools offered presentations on suicide warning signs, and resources available in the area. These increases in curriculum at the high schools youth increase awareness, provide powerful knowledge, encourage communication, and diminish stigma and isolation.

Much of the curriculum presented offers our youth with a better understanding of warning signs of suicidal ideation and depression. Teens who suffer from suicidal thoughts know trusted adults to reach out to, and that they are not alone.

But, the curriculum rarely offers other youth the support in how to be peer advocates to friends that express suicidal thoughts. Teens with suicidal thoughts will often share these thoughts and feelings with a close friend prior to reaching out to a trusted adult, and it is crucial that we are equipping youth with an understanding of what to do in this situation. Not only teenagers, but also their parents.

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people between 10 to 24. ”

— National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The 3 things you and your teen need to know about suicide:

1. Break the Trust

Often times suicidal youth don’t know who to tell that they are having these thoughts, and end up telling their closest friends. They may follow up the disclosure with a stinging “but.. Please don’t tell anyone!”  That friend is then stuck deciding between getting help from an adult or breaking the trust.

Tell your teen that trust needs to be broken in this situation- it’s vital that they share this information to keep their friend safe. The trust doesn’t need to be completely shattered though- they can express their concern without having to break all trust of the friendship.

2. Involve Trusted & Trained Adults

Instruct your child to notify a trusted adult ASAP! Tell them to wake you up if you’re asleep or call you if you’re not together. It’s ok if you don’t know exactly what to do in that moment: but praise your child for involving an adult and advocating for their friend. If you know the child in crisis’ parent’s information contact them with your concerns. When in doubt contact the police or the local crisis line for support. These trusted and trained adults can help provide the youth with the follow-up support they need through a therapist or a school social worker.

It’s critical we convey this message to youth and parents: no one expects you to be a trained crisis counselor, or even when it’s ‘necessary’ to involve one. Instead, your role is to simply pass along your concerns to a professional who can more fully assess the risk and offer appropriate levels of care.

3. Answer The Cry

Myth: Talking about suicide increases the likelihood of that person having or acting upon suicidal thoughts. Fact: Talking about suicide is crucial in managing stigma and increasing awareness of resources and sports available. Talking openly about suicide shows others you can be trusted with these very difficult thoughts and emotions.

Myth: People who have suicidal thoughts don’t tell anyone these thoughts. Fact: People experiencing suicidal thoughts often feel stigmatized and nervous disclosing these thoughts. But, when they do share these thoughts with people they trust, it is a cry for help - even if they’re not directly asking for help.

It may be difficult to determine if there is a true threat or if it is a cry for attention. Even though you or your child may not believe this youth is truly at risk, and they may be just doing it for attention it is vital that they are offered the support. Regardless of if it is a cry for attention or a cry for help, it is important that the cry be answered. You are not expected to determine the validity of the statements, rather your role is crucial to linking to the professionals who can better assess the risk. It’s best to take every statement seriously, and have a trained professional determine the true risk.

Encourage your youth to reach out to that person posting the cryptic Snapchat post that may or may not be suicidal. Encourage them to check in with them and offer support, rather than thinking someone closer to them will do it. This is the small yet mighty way that we can all  become better advocates for mental health- don’t shy away.

Make a plan with your teen regarding what they should do, and what you will do to help them.

Having the conversation ahead of time can eliminate the stigma and concern that may keep them silent.

If you need further support on how to best support your teen or if you’re interested in having Tina come talk to you or a group about assessing for and preventing teen suicide, please contact us.

What to Expect from Your First Call & First Therapy Session

Reaching out to a therapist is scary.

Not knowing what will happen at your first scheduled appointment is even scarier.

We know that starting therapy can feel like a big step, and for many people, the uncertainty of what to expect holds them back from reaching out. So, let’s take some of that mystery out of the process! Here’s a simple breakdown of what happens during your first phone call and therapy session with us—or with most therapists, really.

The First Phone Call: What to Expect

Every therapist has their own way of doing things, but at Empower Family Therapy, here’s how we get started:

1. Reaching Out

When you call, you’ll likely get our voicemail because we’re often in sessions. But don’t worry! Just leave a message, send an email, or even shoot us a text. Let us know you're interested, and we’ll set up a time for a brief phone consultation.

2. The Phone Consultation

Since it can be tough to catch people at the right moment, we schedule these calls ahead of time. That way, we can both set aside a quiet moment to chat.

During this 15-minute call, we’ll ask a few key questions:

• What’s bringing you to therapy?

• Why now?

• What changes are you hoping to see?

• Who would you like involved in your therapy journey?

And one of our most frequently asked questions: Do you have any questions for us? Seriously, ask anything! There are no dumb questions in therapy.

3. Logistics & Next Steps

We’ll talk about things like payment options, our home-based therapy services, and scheduling. If you’re ready to book a session right then, we’ll get it on the calendar. If you need more time to think it over or discuss with a partner or family member, that’s totally fine. Just reach out when you're ready.

Once we schedule, we’ll send you an email confirming the appointment and attaching consent forms. We like to send these ahead of time so you can review them at your own pace and bring up any questions—no surprises!

Your First Therapy Session: What to Expect

1. No Need to Clean for Us!

If we’re meeting at your home, don’t stress about tidying up. Seriously, we’re not here to judge your housekeeping skills.

When we arrive, we usually knock instead of ringing the doorbell (because, you know, sleeping kids). We’ll introduce ourselves, ask if we should take off our shoes, and check in on how your day is going. Then we’ll find a comfortable place to talk—the living room, kitchen table, wherever feels best for you.

2. Quick Paperwork Review

Since you’ve already had a chance to look over the consent forms, we’ll just go over any lingering questions and key points. This keeps things smooth and saves time so we can focus on what really matters.

3. Diving In

From there, we’ll jump into what brought you to therapy. This first session builds on our phone consultation, but we’ll go more in-depth.

No pressure, though. You can share at your own pace.

Our goal is to help you define what you want to change and figure out how we can make that change happen. Therapy is about you and your goals, and we’re here to help you get there.

4. Wrapping Up

Our sessions typically run about 50 minutes, with the last 10 minutes dedicated to wrapping up and scheduling future appointments. At the end of our session, we’ll ask if you want to book another session.

And just so you know, there’s no pressure.

If you’re unsure, it’s totally fine to wait and decide later. Think of it like a hair appointment or a dentist visit—you can schedule on the spot, or you can hold off. We’d rather you be sure than feel obligated.

5. Good Fit Matters

Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. The most important factor in therapy success is the therapeutic relationship—not the specific type of therapy, not the years of training, but the connection between client and therapist. If one of us isn’t the right fit for you, that’s totally okay! Our priority is making sure you get the support you need, even if that means referring you to someone else.

6. Payment & Next Steps

Before we leave, we’ll confirm payment and any upcoming sessions. And then? You might find yourself saying, Wow, that wasn’t so bad! Maybe we’ll meet again next week, in two weeks, or maybe not at all. Either way, you’re in control of your therapy journey.

Starting therapy doesn’t have to be scary. Our goal is to make this process as comfortable and accessible as possible. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at info@empowerfamilytherapy.com.

We’re happy to chat and help you figure out if therapy is right for you!

Thanks for stopping by,

The Empower Family Therapy Team