WHEN GROWING UP FEELS OVERWHELMING

• Is your child or teen not acting like themselves anymore?

• Are emotions bigger, moods harder, or stress levels higher than they used to be?

• Are you worried — but unsure how to help without making things worse?

• For tweens, teens, and college-aged young adults, life can feel intense, confusing, and overwhelming. Counseling offers a safe, supportive space to sort through what’s going on — without judgment, pressure, or “having it all figured out.”
  
   

DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?

😔 “Something feels off.”

You may have noticed:

• Sudden mood changes or emotional outbursts

• Withdrawal from family or friends

• Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy

• Irritability, sadness, or frequent frustration

• A sense that they’re carrying something heavy but won’t talk about it

Sometimes young people don’t have the words to explain what they’re feeling — they just know it doesn’t feel good.

 

🧠 “They’re overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed.”

Tweens, teens, and college students often struggle with:

• Anxiety, worry, or panic

• Academic pressure or fear of failure

• Perfectionism or constant self-criticism

• Difficulty sleeping or relaxing

• Feeling like they’re never doing “enough”

The pressure to keep up — socially, academically, and emotionally — can feel nonstop.

 

💬 “Communication feels harder than it used to.”

You might notice:

• Frequent arguments or power struggles

• Silence, shutting down, or “I’m fine” responses

• Difficulty expressing emotions without anger or tears

• Feeling like you’re walking on eggshells

• A growing gap between you and your child

Counseling can give them a space to talk openly — and help rebuild understanding at home.


 

🌱 “They’re trying to figure out who they are.”

This stage of life often includes:

• Identity questions and self-esteem struggles

• Social pressure or fear of not fitting in

• Friendships that feel complicated or painful

• Dating, breakups, or peer conflict

• Questions around independence, boundaries, and values

For college-aged clients, this can also include adjusting to adulthood, new responsibilities, and big life decisions.


 

💔 “There’s been a big change or painful experience.”

Many young people seek counseling after:

• Family changes (divorce, remarriage, moving)

• Loss, grief, or illness

• Trauma or bullying

• Academic or social setbacks

• Transitions like starting middle school, high school, or college

Even positive changes can feel overwhelming without support.


 

WHAT BRINGS ADOLESCENTS & COLLEGE STUDENTS TO COUNSELING?

Parents and caregivers often say:

• “They’re not themselves, and I’m worried.”

• “We don’t know how to help anymore.”

• “They’re struggling, but won’t open up to us.”
   

• Young people often say:

• “I feel overwhelmed all the time.”

• “I don’t know who I’m supposed to be.”

• “I’m trying to keep it together, but it’s exhausting.”

Counseling meets both families and young people where they are.


 

WHEN FAMILIES REACH OUT...

Many families seek support when:

• Emotions feel bigger or harder to manage

• Anxiety or stress starts interfering with daily life

• School, friendships, or family relationships are suffering

• Confidence and self-esteem are declining

• A major transition or loss has occurred

• They don’t want things to get worse

• Reaching out early can make a meaningful difference.

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WE HELP ADOLESCENTS & COLLEGED-AGED CLIENTS WITH

Our Counseling helps tweens, teens, and college-aged clients:

• Understand and manage emotions

• Reduce anxiety and stress

• Build coping skills and resilience

• Improve communication and relationships

• Strengthen self-esteem and confidence

• Navigate peer pressure and social challenges

• Process life changes, grief, or difficult experiences

• Feel more grounded, supported, and understood

• Navigate friendships, social pressures, body and sexual issues
   

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HOW POSITIVE ENERGY'S ADOLESCENT THERAPISTS ARE DIFFERENT
Our adolescent specialists have the unique combination of being very experienced while also being youthful, relatable, and easy to connect with 

Young people need an expert who truly knows how to relate to and work with their specific age group.  

• Teens, tweens, and college-aged people are not small adults-  their development, age, interests, needs and concerns are unique and they require specialists who specifically know how to help. 

• We have therapists who are actual Adolescent Specialists that are experts at connecting with and helping young people. 

• Our unique approach not only builds easy, comfortable rapport with young people, but also teaches them the actual tools and skills to regulate their emotions; heal anxiety, negativity, and depression; become more interpersonally effective and able to manage social media and social pressures; increase self-esteem; gain clarity about who they are what they desire; and create a lifetime of happiness.

• We  also do WAY more than just provide compassionate listening-young people need to learn the skills and tools that create change, and we show them how to think, feel, and be happier.
   

CAN PARENTS BE INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILD'S COUNSELING?

•  We use a very unique protocol that enables parents to be a valuable part of their child's therapy while still building trust and confidentiality with their child.  

• Some therapists won't allow parents to be a part of their child's counseling at all, while others allow parents to be so involved that their child loses trust in the process.  This can be "too little" or "too much" parent involvement.

• "Just the right amount".  We consider parents to be an incredibly important ally in their child's counseling AND we also know how vital it is that adolescents have their own space to fully trust the therapeutic alliance.  

• That's why we use our unique process that engages the wisdom and insight of parents while also assuring adolescents that their confidentiality is #1.

• In this process, we also arrange regular family sessions to track progress, flesh out mutual goals, build healthy communication, and break through barriers to create connection. 

 

🤍 A Safe, Supportive Space to Be Heard

• Counseling offers a space where young people can talk freely, feel respected, and be themselves — without fear of judgment or pressure.

• Whether your child is struggling quietly or feeling overwhelmed out loud, they don’t have to navigate this season alone. Support is available — and help can start now!​​​​​