Being a teen is beyond difficult. Navigating relationships, coming out journeys, getting good grades, and staying focused when the pressure is on, is so hard! Rooted Acorn Counseling therapist, Sharon, previously worked as a school-based therapist, and gets what teens today are going through. Together in therapy, we will help your teen find their way through the maze of adolescence. We will explore those things that are important to your teen, which are often those things that usually get lost in the noise of school, sports, conflicts, you name it! For parents of teens, Sharon works collaboratively with you to support your teen.

Sharon, our Denver teen therapist, provides teen therapy in person as well as online therapy for teens aged 15 years and older. Sharon is skilled in co-creating a space with teens for focusing on topics that matter the most to teens and that come up during high school and preparation for what comes next after graduation. 

If you are coming to therapy with goals and changes you want to make in your life…great! If not, this is where we will focus first. Together, we will talk about how you can use therapy to begin to determine and explore therapy goals. Think of therapy goals as a map. They help you to know where you’re heading and to get the most out of therapy. You and your therapist will use your therapy goals to determine if you are heading where you want in your life as well as in therapy. It’s not uncommon for therapy goals to change throughout therapy. When your goals change, therapy will be adjusted accordingly, so again you can get the most out of therapy.

As a parent, it can be tough to know when your teen needs counseling. Sometimes it can feel like they're just going through a rough patch, and other times, the signs may be more alarming. One of the first things to consider is, if your teen is struggling with their mental health. Are they often feeling anxious or down? Do they seem to have low self-esteem, negative thoughts, or are they withdrawing from activities they previously enjoyed? Another warning sign may be a sudden change in sleep or drop in grades. And if there's any indication of substance abuse, it's time to seek help. Counseling can be incredibly beneficial in addressing any of these issues, whether it's individual therapy or even family therapy. The most important thing is to listen to your teen and trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, it's always better to err on the side of caution and seek out support.

If you're a teenager who's struggling with anxiety, depression, or any other mental health issue, rest assured that teen counseling services are both confidential and supportive. At Rooted Acorn Counseling, we follow federal and state laws to protect confidentiality, which means, what you tell us in session is private. Some exceptions to those rules are when there are safety concerns which we’ll cover below.

We believe that therapy is most effective when there is a trusting relationship between the therapist and client. It is important for adolescent clients to have a level of privacy around the therapy.  It is the policy of Rooted Acorn Counseling to encourage parents to respect the privacy of their child’s therapy. This does not mean parents are not involved. We also believe that parents can be important supports to helping teens reach their therapy goals, and this, in part, often may involve parents and caregivers being provided with general therapy information.

Parents can also rest assured, if your child is at risk of suicide, is experiencing abuse or neglect or has experienced abuse or neglect, is at risk of harming others, we will work with your teen, and ideally have your teen be a part of communications with you, to collaborate with you to get your teen the support needed to keep them or someone else safe.

For parents of teenagers, you may be wondering what you can do to support them in their journey. The good news is that there are plenty of ways you can be involved and helpful. For starters, you can collaborate with your teen's therapist by attending meetings and asking for updates on their progress. Additionally, you can offer your teen a listening ear and create a safe, open environment for them to share their feelings and thoughts with you. Don't forget to celebrate their successes, no matter how small, and remind them that seeking help is a sign of strength. There are many teens who benefit from teen counseling in Denver, and with your love and support, your child can become one of them. If you're looking for teen therapists in Denver, we've got you covered!