Adolescent Issues

Due to the ever-changing nature of modern society, each generation deals with a new set of societal guidelines and expectations. Developments in technology, financial landscape, ethics, etc. lead to unique or unusual adolescent issues. Today’s world looks very different than it did 30 years ago, and with it, so do the troubles of youth. My expertise is in helping adolescents explore themselves and deal with these issues so that they may lead successful lives.

Common counseling topics for today’s generation include:

• Peer influences and relationships
• Pressure from social media
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Video game dependency

Social Media and Peer Relationships

Experts extrapolate that the prevalence of social media and texting have exacerbated levels of anxiety and low self-esteem in teens. Growing up with social media is, in many ways, a completely different world that many parents struggle to comprehend. As such, it is very common to hear teens tell their parents that they just “don’t know what it’s like.” In such cases, these teens can benefit from having access to an outside source to talk to about their struggles with social media and peer pressure.

Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

As exploring gender identity and sexual orientation become more open-ended and accepted, the number of adolescents seeking guidance on such issues is growing. Children and teens struggling with these issues benefit immensely from a professional, safe space where they can open up and learn to become comfortable with their true selves without fear of judgment. Therapy for gender dysphoria helps transgender, gender-nonconforming, and questioning individuals accept themselves and learn to form healthy relationships in educational, social, and work environments.

Video Game Dependency

In the past, playing video games was seen as a strictly leisurely activity that one does for fun. Today, kids see it as a viable career option or means of making money. And who can blame them when they live in a world where a 15-year-old can earn 15 million dollars from winning a Fortnite tournament? Popular and accessible websites such as Youtube and Twitch lead teenagers to see gaming as a way of life—a concept that is understandably challenging for parents of a different generation to understand. An outside, relatable adult (such as a professional counselor) can often help raise awareness of how video game dependency can impact their ability to function and impede healthy living.