Parent & Teen Therapy

“I’m never going to be like my parents.”

It’s so cliché. But most of us said it at least once growing up.

Or we made an internal vow to be better parents when it was our turn.

Yet, somehow, we repeat them… almost verbatim! We say the same things with the same tone and inflection… and do the same things, too – especially when it comes to discipline or correction.

Without learning new ways of engagement, setting healthy expectations, and disciplining effectively, we revert to what we experienced as children.

We’re all someone’s child.

Our parents and childhood experiences vary, but that’s one of the many things we all have in common.

You might not realize that, regardless of when you become a parent, you’ll approach your kids based on your childhood experience. In other words, you’ll likely parent from a child’s perspective.

That’s because we often want our kids to repeat our wonderful childhood or avoid the pains and pitfalls we had if our upbringing wasn’t so wonderful.

You have to question how far that is to your child(ren).

This isn’t a blame game.

Rather, it’s about broadening your perspective.

In therapy, you’ll have the opportunity to walk through the pain and adversity you faced as a child.

Doing this teaches you to regulate your emotions in ways you never developed as a child.

This is particularly important during those challenging parenting moments.

Something was “off” with Keith*.

His energy seemed different. He didn’t seem as interested in family activities as he used to be. And he retreated to his room as soon as he walked through the door.

One day, his mom gathered his dirty clothes for the wash and discovered a vape pen, a condom, and an empty Ziploc bag.

She approached him, but he became extremely defensive, offended that she went through his stuff.

A family firm in its faith, she ramped up the consequences, taking away his devices. But that only made things worse.

So, she contacted a clergy member and a therapist for guidance.

From our perspective and experience…

The obstacle in this and similar scenarios is most parents respond in a reactionary way based on their observations of their child’s behaviors.

Parents have unspoken expectations for who their children should be or how they should act. When those unspoken expectations are not met, they react adversely. Those reactions are often grounded in their pain.

This leads to attempts to change their behavior rather than understanding what may have led to it in the first place.

We help you help your teen.

Many adults aren’t aware of how their childhood experiences affect their parenting. In therapy, we’ll explore that connection, helping you work through those issues, so they don’t affect your parenting during those difficult moments.

You’ll learn to regulate your emotions… and help your child do the same. You’ll see how this, more than anything, will help them change their behavior and face the many challenges of being a teen in today’s world.

If you’ve ever heard how important it is to “put on your oxygen mask before helping others with theirs,” you can probably see how that approach applies here.

If you think about it…

So much of mental health centers on repairing childhood wounds.

Let’s work through yours so that you can establish a strong foundation for your family. You can get through the tough times and celebrate the victories… together.

Stopping the pain is how you’ll make a lasting impact on your family and generations to come.

Your family needs you. Call us now to start your journey with a free consultation: (512) 831-7676.

*Name(s) and stories are composite narratives and do not reflect actual clients.