It's very common for adolescent, teens and preteens to struggle with their feelings. They may exhibit moodiness, irritability, anxiety, sadness, anger, isolation, loneliness or stress? Is your son or daughter engaging in concerning behaviors? Do their moods change suddenly without warning? For teen boys and girls, it can be scary and stressful to not fully understand their own changing bodies, moods and feelings. Sometimes, their moods can change when their parents are fighting, in the process of separation or divorce, or during the post-divorce time when they begin time-sharing with each parent in different houses. Teens need support outside of parents, friends or family. Therapy and counseling allow teens to safely share feelings about their moods in a non-judgmental setting.  Let Erica Help.

Self-esteem is impacted by a teen's perception of their body, social standing, academic performance, and parental approval. Peer pressure is an intense and powerful influence on teenagers - which often conflicts with messages being given by schools and parents. It’s no secret that societal norms tell teen boys and men that seeking help for life’s problems is a sign of weakness. When teen boys exhibit behavior changes or mood changes, they are frequently labeled as “problem boys.” Conversely, when teen girls have similar issues, they are frequently associated with an overwhelming emotional overload that is understandable and typical. Such inconsistent messages from parents, schools and society can become internalized and compromise the self-worth and confidence of teen boys as they work to find their voice in an increasingly complicated world. Research shows that 75% of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities like cutting, bullying, or disordered eating. This compares to 25% of girls with high self-esteem. Research also shows that 7 in 10 girls believe that they are not good enough or don’t measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with friends and family members.  Let Erica Help.

The relationships between parents and children creates a bond that can never be truly broken. It's common for young boys to gravitate and be attached to their mothers when they are young. As they get older, that relationship changes as boys tend to connect more with dad or another male figure in their life. On paper, there may be no closer relationship in the world than that of a mother and her daughter. The relationships between parents and children alone create a bond that can never be truly broken, but mothers and daughters typically have an even closer bond to each other. Unfortunately, with that strong bond, can come even stronger conflicts and challenges. As daughters grow from childhood into their teen years, they often stop relying on mom for everything as they find their own place into their developing womanhood. Sometimes, these patterns work in reverse. In either case, for parents, this shift in connection can be understood intellectually, but emotionally, it is often a very different story. During the teen years, moms and dads of teens tend to struggle as they feel their 'motherhood,' 'fatherhood' and guidance is no longer welcome, or, in some cases, rejected by their 'rebellious' teen. Let Erica Help Restore That Bond.