Suzanne Waters, LCSW

Whether you’re a teenager or raising one, adolescence is no joke. Our children are becoming more independent — and often that means they don't share as much about what's important to them or what struggles they have.  As parents, we may have a sense that something is wrong, but when we try to talk about it, we may be met with resistance. Efforts to communicate and be supportive can turn into arguments or even worse: silence. We may be left feeling hurt or defensive and not really be sure why. Possibly we remember what it was like to be a teen but find ourselves confused and uncertain about the complexities of parenting a teen today. We might begin to doubt ourselves, creating stress that seeps into other areas and relationships in our life.   Common concerns of my teenage clients are thoughts like, “I feel like something is wrong with me” and “I don’t want to feel like this anymore but I don’t know what to do.” These thoughts can be scary and overwhelming. It can feel unsafe to be vulnerable and share with others. Very often, teenagers believe they have to protect the people they care about from their emotional pain, because they don't want to be a burden or fear that speaking up will turn into an argument so, they start keeping everything inside.   Maybe your child has asked to talk to a therapist or you think it could be helpful and you want to recommend it to them. As a therapist and a parent, I recognize and respect the vulnerability it takes to allow a stranger into the personal world of your family and more specifically, the relationship between you and your child. I prioritize being a safe space for both of you. What to expect with sessions? When working with teen clients, I encourage them to decide what role they want their parents to have in sessions. If it is determined that they want to focus solely on themselves, I recommend including parents about once every 6 sessions, to ask questions, share observations or offer support. If communication or relationship dynamics between the teen and parents are primary goals, we may have family sessions at least once a month to work toward positive changes. Since 2019, I have been privileged and honored to assist teens and parents finding their way back to each other and themselves and I am hopeful to be able to do that with you too. If you are interested in taking this path together, you may contact me at 405-252-0515 or through the link below.