A Letter to Parents of Teens

Dear Parents,

As you may remember from your own life, being a teenager is really hard. In fact, being a teen today is even harder than it was when we were young. Smartphones, social media, and the endless expanses of the internet have created a new world to grow up in, one that moves at break-neck speed. It opens up teens to more challenges, stress, demands, and pressures than we had to deal with. It's important to remember that although your teen may be struggling, they they are doing the best they can with the tools they have. It is hard to be a parent of a teen, especially if your teen is struggling. As you support your teen, be sure to get support yourself. Life is not easy these days.

At the end of the day, being a teenager and having a teenager are hard. They appreciate you looking out for them, checking in on them, and validating your love for them. Although they may not show it often,they feel the same way about you. They just hope that with careful consideration and a lot of patience, you try to understand their daily lives. Remember, the high school you were in is nothing like the high school that they are in.

I am not only the parent of two teens, but I have worked with your teenagers and their friends and peers for decades. My hope is for you and your teen to get along more easily and for the adolescent years to go as well as possible.  Being a parent to a teenager is hard for everyone. So please know you are not alone.

All the best, Melissa Higgins, LCSW

At the Center for Therapy & Counseling Services we believe that adolescence is the single time of endless possibilities and growth. Our team of caring professionals work with families struggling with issues in nurturing, healing environments. We build teens up; we never break them down. We build on each young person’s strengths, interests and aspirations. Our goal is to help create free thinking, psychologically and emotionally productive young people who are more capable and prepared to achieve their full potential.

If your teen is struggling, please reach out to us. Call (732)254-0600 to schedule an appointment or email us info@centerfortherapy.net

The Center for Therapy & Counseling Services offers individual, couple and family therapy in East Brunswick, NJ and in Edison, NJ. We also offer Tele-Counseling via online video to residents of New Jersey.

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