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Adolescent Counselling

Does my adolescent need counselling?

Here are a few pointers that will help you as a parent understand when counselling would benefit your adolescent’s moods, behaviour, and relationships.

Have you noticed unusual changes in your adolescent?

Has there been a distinct change in your adolescent’s environment in the past 6 months before your adolescent’s mood, attitude or behaviour started diverting from his/her norm?

Tell tale signs to look for in your adolescent

Your adolescent has begun to show poor functioning in a life area such as:

Physical: Energy level, not wanting to get up, sleeping changes, dropping out of hobbies, dramatic increase / decrease in physical exercise.
Academic: Shows significant grades change, not keeping up with homework and assignments.
Social: Not wanting to hang out with regular friends, trouble making new friends, changing to new group of friends, wanting to be alone.
Family relationships: Not wanting to be with family members normally close to, showing aggression to family members.
Communication: Your adolescent has “shut down”- doesn’t want to talk to you anymore.
General Observations: Your adolescent’s overall disposition or attitude has shown a noticeable change lately.

There are times when parents may feel like they have tried what they know to do to help relieve their adolescent’s problems, and they just don’t know what else to do. This can be a frustrating time for a parent or guardian when they know their adolescent needs more than they can give. This is the time to contact a counsellor to discuss your concerns.

Young people can also refer themselves for counselling, however if the young person is under sixteen the parent or guardian will need to consent before counselling can commence.

The EPICentre counsellors specialise in counselling young people between the ages of 12 to 25.

What Is Counselling?

Many young people have issues that worry them. Think of a confusing jigsaw when all the pieces are difficult to fit together. Talking over a problem is like sorting out the pieces so they can begin to build a picture that makes sense.

Sometimes it is difficult for your adolescent to talk to those they are close to about things that make them anxious. A counsellor is someone your adolescent can to talk to in a different way. Someone who will listen, who will not judge, but will guide them to a positive outcome.

Counselling therapy is about helping your adolescent to work things out for themselves, making decisions and choices and helping them to look at things differently.

Counselling is a confidential conversation between the counsellor and the client.

Young people seek counselling for:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Anger
  • Addictions
  • Relationship Stress
  • Abuse
  • Alcohol and drug abuse
  • Bullying
  • Sexual identity
  • Parental separation
  • Grief & Loss
  • Suicide
  • Self-Esteem
  • Peer Pressure
  • Trauma

Life skills:

  • Organisation skills
  • Self regulation  
  • Friendships
  • Time management  
  • Conflict issues
  • School Transition

Family counselling:

  • Relationship building
  • Step families
  • Separation and divorce
  • Support groups
  • Workshops
  • Other

To make an appointment contact us today at (03) 6228 5535, or click here to book an appointment online.