What to Expect: Teen Therapy Orlando
Orlando Therapist Shares What to Expect During Teen Counseling
Bringing your teen to counseling for the first time can be an overwhelming experience. If this is your first time going to a therapist as well, maybe you are unaware of what to expect or what will happen during the first session. You may have found a great counselor for your teen in Orlando, but what should you expect to happen during the first sessions?
As an Orlando Therapist who specializes in teen counseling, I have seen both parents and teens feel uneasy during their first session because they don’t know what to expect from counseling. To take the mystery out of what to expect in counseling for your teen, I have outlined below some common questions that I have received about the counseling process.
What to Expect in Teen Counseling
First Teen Counseling Session
During the first teen counseling session, teens should expect that parents accompany them for the initial part of their first session. While your parents are in the initial session with you, your counselor will start off your session by explaining confidentiality and policies specific to our practice. Your counselor will discuss confidentiality in the counseling session, exceptions to confidentiality, and address any questions that you or your parents may have.
The Importance of Confidentiality in Teen Counseling
Confidentiality for your counseling sessions is taken very seriously. Confidentiality means that what you tell your counselor stays between the two of you, with a few exceptions. These exceptions are: if you are in danger of harming yourself, in danger of harming someone else, or if a child or elderly abuse is disclosed. These rules are in place to keep everyone safe, especially you! Your counselor can address questions that you may have about confidentiality in counseling.
After explaining confidentiality, your counselor will ask your parents to share their reasons for bringing you to counseling, goals for counseling, as well as any other relevant information that your counselor needs to know. After your parent leaves the session, you and your counselor will discuss what you feel brings you to counseling and discuss goals you would like to accomplish in counseling.
Exploring the Problem
In your first session, you and your counselor will review assessments that you have completed ahead of time, to further discuss symptoms you may be experiencing. Your counselor may have additional questions for you as well, such as how long you have been experiencing these difficulties, how it impacts you at school and home, and what you typically do to cope with distressing emotions.
At the end of your first session, your counselor will ask if you have any questions about counseling or anything else discussed in your first session. Throughout your first sessions, your counselor will be getting to know all about you by asking about your history, interests, family life, friends, school, etc. This will help your counselor be able to better understand you and help you achieve your goals for counseling.
Providing Helpful Tools
During these initial counseling sessions, your counselor will also be teaching you different skills to manage your symptoms. These skills will help you feel more in control of your emotions and more able to calm down. Because you’ll be learning something new, your counselor will frequently ask you to practice these skills outside of the session. The more you practice a skill, the easier it becomes to use over time. By using these skills outside of the session, it can also help your counselor learn what skills help you the most.
The goals that you want to accomplish will determine what to expect in future sessions. In general, you can expect that your counselor will continue to teach you new techniques to practice outside of session, identify the root cause of your symptoms, and help you improve relationships with friends and family.
What to Expect in Teen Counseling (for the parents)
Parents should expect to be present during the initial part of their teen's first session to provide any relevant information that the counselor may need. You will be asked to share what brings your teen into counseling, what changes you are hoping to see, and provide any other relevant information that you feel is important for your teen’s counselor to know.
During the following sessions, the counselor will spend most of the session with your teen. Building the therapeutic relationship is a key part of the counseling process and is critical to creating a place where your teen feels comfortable sharing their struggles with their therapist. It is important in these early sessions for the counselor to get to know your teen in order to create safety and build a connection with them.
How often will we meet together as a family during teen counseling?
Generally, you will meet as a family every 5th session during counseling. At this time, we meet as a group to discuss progress in counseling as well as any concerns that need to be addressed. Depending on the specific issues that your teen is coming to counseling for, this may be more frequent and is based on your counselor’s recommendation. For example, if your teen has a high amount of conflict and communication difficulties with one parent, in particular, that parent may be asked to come into counseling more frequently to improve communication and the overall relationship.
What should be expected during the family session?
During family sessions, the counselor will ask parents to share any observations they have had about their teen outside of the session. This can include how your teen is interacting with others at home, any concerns or improvements at school or home, and any significant changes or progress that you feel your teen has made. Your teens’ counselor values your honest feedback about how you feel your teen has been doing outside of the session. At this time, the counselor will also discuss progress towards counseling goals with you and your teen and get input from both of you about whether or not you feel progress is being made.
Ready to schedule teen therapy Orlando?
After reading these questions, I hope that you and your teen feel more calm and comfortable going into your first therapy session. If you have any additional questions about the counseling process or therapy at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando, feel free to call us at 407-579-3779 or contact us here. We are happy to help you find the right teen therapist in Orlando, whether with us or with another teen counselor in Orlando.
Additional Resources for Teen Therapy Orlando
Teen Counseling Orlando Resources
What to Know About Teenager Counseling
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Chambers, LMHC is an Orlando therapist at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando. Elizabeth specializes in working with adults and teens struggling with anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, and depression. As an EMDR Therapist, Elizabeth utilizes EMDR and mindfulness practices to help clients move beyond anxiety and depression so they can feel confident and in control again.
As a teen therapist in Orlando, Elizabeth enjoys helping teens work through anxiety and self-esteem issues, as well as helping teens and their families rebuild their relationships.
Mindful Living Counseling Orlando is a trauma healing center. Our Orlando Therapy Services include anxiety therapy, trauma counseling, eating disorder recovery, teen counseling, and healing from toxic relationships. At Mindful Living Counseling Orlando, we use a down-to-earth approach infused with cutting-edge therapies that go beyond traditional talk therapy so clients can heal at the root level and experience lasting change. Feel free to access one of our Guided Meditations to help you feel settled and calm now.