What is counselling for adolescents?
Adolescence brings changes in how a young person sees themselves, builds relationships and finds their place in the world. Sometimes feelings are hard to explain, and talking with the people closest to you is not easy.
Counselling offers a space where an adolescent can talk about what weighs on them, explore their reactions and develop ways to cope with challenges. Goals are agreed with attention to their age, needs and readiness.
When to consider counselling?
- Worry, sadness or irritability make everyday life harder.
- Schoolwork and expectations create a lot of pressure.
- They withdraw from friends or have difficulties with peers.
- Conflicts at home become frequent and talking gets harder.
- There is insecurity, self-criticism or low self-esteem.
- The young person is facing bullying, loss or a significant change.
- They want to talk to someone outside the family and their circle of friends.
What does counselling include?
- Talking about emotions, thoughts and everyday experiences.
- Recognising sources of stress and personal needs.
- Developing skills to cope with strong emotions.
- Working on self-esteem, communication and personal boundaries.
- Support in relationships with peers and family.
- Agreeing how parents are involved when appropriate.
What can counselling bring?
Counselling can help a young person understand themselves better, express their needs more easily and develop more helpful ways of coping with difficult situations.
Changes are individual and build up gradually. Together we follow what is helpful and whether another kind of support is needed.
Types of support
What support are you looking for?
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF
Emotions and self-esteem
Support with insecurity, self-criticism, worry and difficulties expressing feelings.
Talk about what weighs on you →DUTIES AND EXPECTATIONS
School and pressure
Talking about stress around grades, motivation, fear of failure and expectations of yourself and others.
Ask for support with school stress →RELATIONSHIPS AND BELONGING
Peers and family
Support with conflicts, feeling rejected, peer pressure and difficulties communicating at home.
Talk about relationships →The first visit
What to expect?
First contact
When you call or write, we briefly discuss the reason for getting in touch. We arrange the appointment and explain who should attend the first meeting.
Getting to know each other
The professional gets to know the adolescent and the topics that matter to them. The way of working, the privacy of the conversations and the role of the parents are explained.
Agreeing on next steps
Initial goals are set together and the next steps are discussed. If further assessment or another kind of professional support is needed, a suitable referral is discussed.
Approach
Conversations that respect the young person
- An approach adapted to age and individual needs.
- A space to talk without judgement.
- Recognising and understanding emotions.
- Developing communication and stress-management skills.
- Setting goals together.
- Involving the family according to needs, age and the agreed way of working.
Questions
Before your first visit
Does the parent attend the conversations?
How the parent is involved depends on the age, needs and purpose of the meeting. There may be a joint conversation, an individual conversation with the adolescent or a separate conversation with the parent.
Are the conversations confidential?
Privacy is an important part of counselling. At the start we explain what stays confidential, what information may be shared with parents and where the limits of confidentiality are, including situations where safety is at risk.
What if I don't know what to say?
You don't need to prepare an explanation or know where to start. You can say what is hard for you right now, or simply that you are not sure how you feel. The conversation develops gradually.
What if my child doesn't want to come?
You can first ask for advice on how to bring up the topic. It is important to present counselling as a chance for support, with room for the adolescent to ask questions and share their concerns.
Do you need a diagnosis to ask for counselling?
No. A reason to talk can also be a specific dilemma, a stressful situation or the wish to better understand your own feelings and relationships.
How long is a meeting and what does it cost?
For the duration, booking conditions and current price, call +389 72 232 363. At first contact you will also get information about involving a parent or guardian.
