Childhood and adolescence are important times in human development. This is because the experiences we have during those times play a role in who we become as adults. We learn key things during this time about ourselves, other people, the world, and how to navigate through life. It is at this time that children and teens are developing coping skills and resilience. When youth aren’t able to cope with the stressors in their lives, counseling may be helpful.
Physiologically and neurobiologically, there is also a lot going on for teens at this time. While they may come across as mature for their age, teen’s brains are still developing and will be until their mid-20s. That means that they may be ruled by their emotions and impulses more than by logic. In the following video, I provide an overview of what’s happening to the brain during adolescence to help you better understand what’s going on for teens at this time.
Mental Health Concerns Your Child May Be Dealing With
In addition to the regular challenges of growing up, today’s youth are grappling with even more. Their social environment is full of sensory stimulation and mixed or unrealistic messages about themselves and life. This can cause them to feel anxious, depressed, or confused about who they are, who they want to be, and who they could be. Troubles at home or with peers can amplify such feelings. If this describes your child, they might benefit from teen counseling.
Recognizing the Need for Teen Counseling
It can be hard to admit that your child needs help. Here are some things that suggest that your child could use some outside help:
- They are showing signs of depression, such as lack of energy, low motivation, and social withdrawal that won’t seem to go away
- They appear to have unmanageable anxiety that may manifest in cutting, panic attacks, or unexplainable fear
- They’re expressing suicidal ideation or a desire to be dead or to kill themselves. If this is an acute need, contact the Colorado Crisis Line. You can call them at 1-844-493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255.
The following are additional things that your teen may be dealing with. Some of these things might be apparent to you, while others might not be. However, they can all contribute to an increased need for your child to seek counseling.
Sense of Identity
Explore and Examine Self-Identity
Our sense of identity is forming during childhood and adolescence. For some teens this can include exploring and examining their gender and/or sexual identities. In families or settings where this isn’t accepted, this can cause mental distress for those who don’t feel safe in being able to express those parts of themselves.
As well, adolescence is a time of learning how to become one’s own person. Teens’ sense of identity is informed by their friend groups. They may also experiment with their appearance and try on different styles. Sometimes these things can lead to the need for outside help.
In situations like these, child and teen counseling may be helpful.
Coping With the Pressure to Be Perfect
Manage Expectations
It’s good to have high expectations for oneself, but some teens may have unrealistically high expectations. This can be due to expectations placed on them by other people, like parents, teachers, or peers, or it can be due to pressure they put on themselves.
In our instant gratification world, it can be easy to expect that everything will work out perfectly the first time we try it. However, that isn’t realistic. In order to succeed, we have to be willing to make mistakes and learn from them. That means learning how to work with our expectations.
As well, it involves being able to take a flexible view of things. Rigid thinking can keep us stuck – teens and adults alike.
Teen counseling can help kids learn these skills.
Their Unique Neurological Wiring
Understanding How They're Wired
Some teens are simply wired differently and have to navigate a world that isn’t necessarily designed for how they process information. They may be autistic or have ADHD. With this, they may have sensory needs or sensory processing challenges that can lead to frustration when they can’t understand or express what’s going on.
Because of these things they may feel like something is “wrong” with them or that something about them needs to be “fixed.” However, the reality is that there is nothing “wrong” with them to be “fixed.” They may just need some support in understanding how they’re wired so that they can learn to work to their strengths.
Teen counseling can provide that support.
Teen Counseling With SoundWell Music Therapy
Research shows that kids need adults in their lives whom they can trust and feel safe talking to. Teen counseling or music therapy can provide that opportunity and space. Common mental health concerns that SoundWell Music Therapy addresses with teens are:
- Anxiety and depression
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma
- Identity issues
Ways That SoundWell Music Therapy Can Help Teens
Below are specific ways in which the teen counseling and music therapy services we provide can help your teen.
Improve Communication
Engage in Self-Expression
We all have something to say and we all want to be understood. Yet sometimes it can be difficult to pinpoint what is bothering us or to identify what we want to say. This is especially true for teens who may be dealing with mental health challenges. Through music, teens can learn new ways of expressing themselves and interacting with others.
Develop Coping Skills
Learn How To Self-Regulate and Manage Stress
Life isn’t easy and we all face challenges that we need to overcome. To do so requires the ability to self-regulate and manage the feelings of stress that can arise when we feel overwhelmed or upset. This means that we need to develop coping skills and the awareness of what we need to feel regulated.
Music can help in both of these ways. It can help teens to feel grounded in the moment so that they can identify what they’re feeling or needing. It can also be used as a coping skill for managing stress or other uncomfortable feelings. As well it can help develop resilience and perseverance.
Gain Personal Insight
Understand How Thoughts and Feelings Affect Actions
A connection exists between our bodies, hearts, and minds. Our emotions and how we feel in our bodies have an effect on our thoughts. This includes what we think and how we think. Likewise, what we think can affect our emotions or how we feel in our bodies. Because of this, our thoughts and feelings also impact our actions, including how we take care of ourselves and treat others.
Music can help teens better understand how their thoughts and feelings affect their actions by helping them to better understand their thoughts and feelings. It can also help foster healthy habits and behaviors that can enhance their quality of life as they get older.
Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Foster Curiosity and Discernment
Critical thinking skills are more important than ever. In our complex society, teens need to develop critical thinking skills in order to solve the problems they’ll face as adults. This requires curiosity about learning new things and understanding how or why things work. Discernment is also needed so that they can make the best decisions they can with the information available to them.
These skills can be fostered through music. Some ways in which this can be done is through active-listening to music, song-writing or composing music, and making music.
How Teen Counseling or Music Therapy Can Look
It’s understandable that you may still have some questions about how counseling or music therapy might work for your teen. Keep reading to learn more about the counseling and music therapy services SoundWell Music Therapy provides for teens.
Counseling and Music Therapy With Teens
With teens, the focus is on helping the teen understand who they are and who they want to be. Through this, they can learn coping skills that will help them to develop resilience. As a result, they can gain the confidence to be true to themselves.
In these ways, the use of music expands to include:
- Listening to music and gaining personal insight through talking about the lyrics
- Song-writing as a way to share their story, tap into their creativity, and work towards a goal
- Creating supportive playlists for managing stress, developing focus, and feeling motivated
In the following videos, I talk a bit more about music therapy with middle school-aged tweens and teenagers in high school.
FAQs About Our Counseling and Music Therapy Services For Teens
Music Therapy
How is music therapy different than my child taking music lessons?
Music therapy and music lessons have very different goals and focus. In therapy, the focus is on achieving specific therapeutic goals unrelated to music. Music serves as a tool, a vehicle for personal exploration, growth, and development.
On the other hand, the focus of music lessons is musical development. Although that isn’t to say that a person may not find lessons to be therapeutic. SoundWell provides adapted music lessons to those who may benefit from an adapted approach. See our Studio Policy for more information.
How will music make therapy more effective for my child?
Music can “amplify” the skills and insights gained from therapy. This is because music impacts us in many different, multifaceted ways. We are neurologically and physiologically hard-wired to respond to music. Moreover, music can connect us to unrecognized thoughts and feelings. At the same time while also serving as a means of communication and self-expression. We can create and investigate new ways of being by engaging with music.
Logistics About Therapy
How long does therapy take, and how much does it cost?
The length of therapy varies by person, dependent upon a variety of factors. Typically, there is a period of time where weekly therapy sessions are necessary. This is because we need to establish rapport and develop a treatment plan. However, after this foundational time, sessions can taper off to every two weeks to once a month.
Eventually, sessions will no longer be necessary. Although sometimes people find occasional check-ins to be helpful. While at other times, they find reward in transitioning to music lessons.
Generally, the more complicated a person’s situation is the more time that may be necessary.
Music therapy and counseling services are $100 an hour when provided in Longmont. They are $120 an hour when provided outside of Longmont. Through SonderMind, I also take insurance. I work with Aetna, Anthem (HMO and PPO), Bright Health, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Profile EAP. I am NOT a Medicaid-approved provider.
Reduced rate music therapy services are also available with a student music therapy intern. You can learn more about this here.
Do you offer groups?
Yes, SoundWell Music Therapy does offer community music therapy groups. Groups are currently offered in collaboration with schools and community mental health organizations. More information about the groups I offer can be found here.
Contact Me To Learn More
If you have further questions about the counseling and music therapy services offered by SoundWell Music Therapy, you can contact us by email. Otherwise, we offer a free 15-minute consultation by phone or online that you can schedule here. At this time, we’ll talk in more detail about your situation and how SoundWell Music Therapy might be able to help your child or teen.