The teenage years can feel overwhelming for teen and parent due to being a challenging developmental stage with psychological and physical change. It is a time where the teen is not a child anymore yet not an adult. Feelings of loss, confusion and anxiety can arise, and they can be more vulnerable to stress.
The Teenage Brain
In adolescence, the growth and development of the brain is significant. The ‘pruning’ process takes place at the back part of the brain first and then the front of the brain, where the prefrontal cortex is located and reshaped last. It is the part of the brain that is responsible for decision-making, enabling planning and thinking about consequences and controls impulses. Therefore, teenagers may rely more on the amygdala, the main function of emotions including impulsivity, aggression and instinctive behaviour until the prefrontal cortex is shaped.
If your teenager seems to be unhappy, anxious, low mood or withdrawn, if they are self-harming, behaving erratically or embarking on risky behaviour. I can offer them a safe confidential space in which to talk about and work through their concerns that they may have.