Teen Counseling in Missouri
Our teen therapists help teenagers put together the puzzle of who they are and make sense of their lives with counseling offices in Lee’s Summit & Columbia as well as with online counseling throughout Missouri
The teen years are difficult. You’re old enough to have your own thoughts, values, opinions, and emotions. Yet, you still need your parents for a lot of things and generally have to live by their rules. It's almost like you’re just stuck in this cycle of negativity and feeling worried all the time. You may feel like life is overwhelming. At times, the pressure to have everything figured out almost feels like too much.
Your relationships (with friends, significant others, parents, etc.) are constantly evolving, and you’re expected to make major life decisions and yet you’re treated like a kid. In the midst of all this, you’re expected to figure out “who you are.” How does a person even do that?
Sometimes life just sucks. The pressure just starts to feel like too much to manage. Perhaps right now, is one of those times. Add in a little depression, the loss of a loved one, anxiety, bullying at school, something happening that’s completely out of your control or just about any other unexpected complication. It is no wonder teens start to feel overwhelmed sometimes. You don’t have to face all of these challenges and emotions alone.
A Note to Teenagers Considering Therapy
Some teens ask their parents for a counselor because they're ready to face something big and not sure where to start. Other times, an adult in your life doesn’t like how you’re handling something or is worried about the long term consequences of your current coping skills and recommends you go to therapy. In this case, you just don’t know if counseling is worth the time and effort. What’s the point of even talking to someone?
Regardless, our teen therapists see countless teens and help them find new ways of seeing the stressful situations in their life. Ultimately, we can help you become more confident through your time in therapy. If you're ready to commit to "process" and find a teen therapist who is a good fit, counseling for teens truly can help.
A Note to Parents Looking into Teen Therapy at Aspire Counseling
As a parent, you want to protect your child from the “real” world as long as you can. If your child opens up to you, you try to be there and offer them a safe haven. You try to give them everything they need. Yet, your teen may be struggling and sometimes you’re not even sure how to be helpful. Often, when you try to offer some encouragement or advice it somehow ends up feeling like you just made the situation worse. Or maybe you helped a little bit, but it’s not enough. The bottom line is, you’re worried about your teenager’s wellbeing right now. If any of this sounds familiar, you’ve come to the right place.
Teenagers are old enough to develop strong opinions and are old enough to have a feel for what kind of people they get along with. You may insist that your teen needs counseling, but we strongly encourage you to involve your teen in the process of choosing a mental health provider. We know from research that your son or daughter will get more out of therapy if they feel a connection with the counselor. They need to feel like their therapist “gets” what they’re going through, that they have something to offer them and that the therapist cares about their wellbeing.
If you are looking for a counselor for your teenager, I encourage you to show them websites and profiles of potential therapists and/or make a list of things they think would make a good teen therapist. Teenagers often find it helpful to watch a video of a potential teen therapist like the ones on our therapist’s individual pages. This gives them a good idea of the counselor’s personality before they even come in. Involving them in the process of choosing their own teen counselor can help ensure that they find someone they feel comfortable opening up to and getting down to the real “work” of therapy more quickly.
Privacy and Therapy for Teenagers
When working with a counselor for teenagers in Missouri, it's important to realize that part of the therapy relationship works best when people feel safe. In order for the process to work, we need to make sure that we allow the relationship to build where your child feels comfortable disclosing what is happening in their life.
Our therapists want you to have open communication with your child and feel like you know what's going on. And we will work with you and your teenager to help develop a healthier, more open relationship if that’s part of the goal. However, the therapy process won’t work as well if your asking your thearpist for information about counseling sessions with your teen. If they feel like their therapist is telling them what they say, your teen is unlikely to get to the “real” issues they need to face. Therefore, they’re less likely to make solid improvements in their mental wellbeing. If you want to talk to your child that is between you and them. If you want to know more information, please know that in order for your child to grow, we need to create that safe space from the therapeutic side and the parental side. Allow them space to grow and know they will let you in when they are ready.
Your teen’s therapist will tell you general information about what they’re working on or what treatment goals look like. And often, they will involve you in family counseling sessions. However, please know that you may not get the kind of specific information you wish you had about what your teenager is saying in counseling sessions as their privacy is critical to the therapeutic process.
Being a teenager isn’t easy.
Do You Feel Stressed, Lost, Tired of Arguing with Your Parents or Overwhelmed? The stress each teenager faces is slightly different. Yet, as counselors and therapists who work with teenagers, there are certainly some themes that we hear a lot. Do any of the following sound familiar?
You feel like you don’t have the confidence to be yourself or perhaps you aren’t even sure who “you” really are.
School feels overwhelming between the schoolwork and friends.
Communicating with your parents seems like a futile effort.
You are often anxious and maybe worry or anxiety is holding you back from doing things you want to do or feel like you “should” do.
There is always something going on in your friendships.
You’re trying to figure out where you fit in with friends.
Maybe you are dealing with big life changes.
The “coping skills” that used to work just aren’t helping anymore.
It just doesn’t feel like you belong.
You’re feeling symptoms of depression.
Thinking about the future feels like a little too much right now.
You put a LOT of pressure on yourself and never seem to live up to your own expectations.
You’ve found ways to cope with stress, but others in your life don’t approve.
Maybe you’re in the process of discovering your gender identity.
All of these are common things our thearpists here teenagers talk about all the time. And, our teen counselors want to provide a space where you can open up about what you’re really going through. Aspire Counseling provides a non-judgmental space for you to talk freely about what’s bothering you. Just because you’re a teenager, it doesn’t mean your feelings don’t matter, you deserve to be heard!
Counseling for Teens at Aspire Counseling
Teenagers come to counseling for all kinds of reasons. And everyone's situation is just a little bit different. But we're here because we believe in the power of counseling to help you grow through stressful moments in your life. Aspire Counseling has seen teens from the very start because we believe every teen deserves a safe space where they feel accepted and supported. Our teen therapists try to provide that space and empower you to be who you want to be. It’s possible to feel better. Imagine a life where you could…
Feel confident in living fully as YOU.
Spend more time feeling at peace or excited about things.
Control how you respond to anxious thoughts.
Shift into a more positive and hopeful outlook on life.
Figure out who you are and what direction to go in next.
Improve your relationship with yourself and those you choose to share yourself with.
Online counseling in Columbia, MO is becoming much more relevant especially now. Teenagers respond well to online counseling. In fact, most of our teen therapists are able to offer therapy sessions online. There are many benefits of online counseling. For example, teenagers have spent much of their life connecting to others using technology whether it’s FaceTime, while playing video games, or other methods. So, they’re often very comfortable meeting with a therapist through our secure video platform. Furthermore, it’s nice for them not to have to rely on a parent to get to their session, it is available right in the comfort of their own space. Unsure how online counseling in Missouri works?
Well, if you live in the state of Missouri, I can work with you. So even if you’re in Kirksville, St. Joseph, Rolla, or another area of the state where our office isn’t very convenient, we can still work with your teen for online counseling in Missouri, if we decided working together would be helpful. It’s worth noting there may be times where the online therapist in Missouri wants to visit with the teen in person for the initial assessment. In fact, some issues are better addressed in person. However, with all the craziness now, we may be able to do some online counseling work for this stage.
Online Counseling for Teens
Aspire Counseling’s Approach to Counseling Teens
At Aspire Counseling in Columbia MO, we see a lot of middle school and high school students, but our approach might be a little different than some other therapists you’ve seen. You are the expert on yourself, and a counselor understands that. We believe that you deserve respect and to be treated as an equal in the therapy process. This isn’t to say that we don’t talk to your parents, because we do. However, we consider you the expert on your own needs/goals and we listen closely to your take on things.
Your teen therapist will treat you with respect and as a partner in the counseling process. We work with teenagers every day and very little you can say will shock us. A therapist isn’t here to judge you or tell you what to do. Through counseling for teenagers in Columbia, MO, you will become more confident in who you are as a person and learn new ways to cope with strong negative emotions. Research shows that Teen counseling can positively change your thinking, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors. It can help you let go of what’s holding you back. So let’s get started today with your initial intake assessment!
Evidence-Based Teen Counseling Treatment Methods That Really Work
Aspire Counseling therapists use evidence-based treatment methods that really work. Each of our teen counselors are trained in techniques like CBT for a variety of concerns, EMDR, DBT for suicidality and self harm, TF-CBT for PTSD or trauma, ERP for OCD and others that are shown by research to help teenagers. BUT that's not why teenagers should come to Aspire Counseling. They should come because we care. And we know that for counseling to truly work, they have to partner WITH their counselor. They need to feel supported by their counselor. Because true evidence based counseling involves not only using these research based interventions, but also taking into account the unique needs of the specific teenager we’re talking to and the experience/knowledge/personality of the individual therapist.
Improve Your Relationships
At Aspire Counseling, we understand how hard it can be to navigate complicated friendships, romantic relationships, and tricky family dynamics. Our therapists are trained in evidence-based treatment methods that can help you learn how to improve your relationships and have healthy interactions with others. We are here to provide you with the support and guidance you need to make positive changes in your life. Depending on the specific therapist you’re working with and your unique situation, this might mean using CBT techniques or worksheets to help you reframe how you think about a situation, teaching you DBT interpersonal effectiveness skills to use to improve your interactions with others, discussing boundary setting or very small homework assignments to try to help you feel more connected to others in a real, genuine way.
Overcome Negative Thinking Patterns
Many teenagers fall into negative thinking traps that can cause anxiety, panic attacks and depression. Honestly, we all have moments where we fall into these negative thinking spirals. But sometimes, it’s harder to get out of them than others and the teen years are often where you start to learn those skills about how to respond when these thoughts come up. Our therapists are here to help you learn new, effective ways to interact with those thoughts and break free from the negative spiral. We will work with you to create a plan that will help you overcome your negative thinking and move forward with your life. We may draw from several different treatment methods to do this such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), facing negative beliefs through EMDR or teaching you self validation skills.
Heal from Trauma
At Aspire Counseling, we understand that big things can happen to teenagers that are not their fault. Yet, you’re stuck picking up the pieces and trying to figure out who you are now and what comes next for you. We are here to provide you with the support and guidance you need to heal from trauma and move forward with your life. Every single one of our Missouri teen therapists are trained in evidence-based treatment methods for trauma that can help you learn how to cope with the trauma and find peace in your life. The specific treatment methods vary and involve a lot of different letters (TF-CBT, CPT or EMDR are the most common for teens at our practice), but they are well researched and we’ve seen them work with many, many teenagers at our practice.
Begin Teen Counseling in Missouri
At Aspire Counseling, we have several therapists who specialize in working with teens & young adults. In fact, for several of our therapists teenager are their favorite population to work with. And, we’re lucky enough to have Missouri teen therapists offering counseling services in person at our counseling office in Lee’s Summit as well as our office in Columbia. Furthermore, with online counseling we can help teenagers throughout the state of Missouri. We recognize the unique challenges this time of life bring and can help your teen navigate these stressful years.
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Reach out to Aspire Counseling
First, you’ll speak to a member of our Client Care team who will ask you a few question about who you are looking for and take the time to match you with a caring therapist we think will be a great fit.
2.
Meet with a Teen Therapist
Because we know how important it is to find someone you feel comfortable with, all of our therapists offer a free 30 minute consultation where you can ask as many questions as you’d like.
3.
Begin Counseling
Your teen will begin learning new ways to cope with the world around them, identify the things most important in their life and begin to find healing.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
– Gandhi
FAQs About Teen Counseling
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At Aspire Counseling, we’re able to see a wide range of ages. Several of our therapists really specialize in working with older teens ages 15-18. At each practice, we do have at least one therapist working with kids in the 8-14 range. And in Lee’s Summit we have one therapst with specialized training for kids and caretakers ages birth-5 years old.
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Honestly, it’s always good to find a mental health clinician who both specializes in working with teenagers AND who specializes in the issues your teen is struggling with. But some issues require a specialist more than others.
We recommend you focus on finding a teen therapist that your teen feels like they can connect with and you as a parent feel like you can trust and just ask them about what specialized training and experience they have around the issue(s) bringing your teen or family to therapy.
That said, some mental health issues need more specialized care than others. For example, if your teen as been through something traumatic, you really do want a teen therapist who is trained in an evidence based trauma therapy for that age group such as TF-CBT or EMDR. Also, eating disorders, substance abuse and OCD are all issues where it’s important your teenager’s therapist has specialized training.
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The cost of a therapy session in Missouri can vary significantly based on several factors. When considering therapy, especially for teenagers, it's important to understand that the investment goes beyond financial aspects—it's about the value and quality of care your teen will receive. This value is often reflected in the varying rates set by different therapists, which can depend on their licensure level, specialized training, experience, and other unique expertise.
At Aspire Counseling, our Missouri therapists strive to offer a range of options to suit different needs and budgets. Our rates reflect the high level of specialized care we provide. For instance, you might find a newly graduated, provisionally licensed clinician under close supervision available for as low as $90 per session. These Missouri therapists are an excellent choice if you're seeking quality care at a more accessible price point. On the other end, we have highly experienced therapists, particularly in Kansas City and Columbia, MO, who charge up to $155 per session. These therapists often have additional specialized training and expertise in areas critical for teen counseling, such as trauma therapy or anxiety management. For example, a therapist in Columbia, MO, at our practice might have specialized training in treating OCD using Exposure and Response Prevention, a highly effective therapy method for this condition.
It’s also worth noting that at Aspire Counseling, we do use a billing system that can make it easy to get reimbursed for part of therapy from your insurance company using your out of network benefits. You can read more about using out of network insurance benefits at Aspire here.
When looking for a teen therapist in Missouri, remember that the investment in therapy is not just about the session rate. It's about finding a professional who can provide your teen with the support, guidance, and specialized care they need. Whether you’re looking for a therapist in Kansas City, a therapist in Columbia, MO or anywhere else in the state, you want to make sure you’re finding therapist that will truly help your teen feel better. At Aspire Counseling, we're committed to ensuring that each family receives the highest quality of care, tailored to their teen's unique needs, making every session a valuable step toward wellness and growth.
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Absolutely, seeking counseling for your teenager can be incredibly worthwhile. Adolescence is a pivotal time in life, filled with rapid changes and unique challenges. Counseling offers a supportive space for teenagers to navigate these complexities, learn healthy coping strategies, and gain insights into their emotions and behaviors. It's an investment in their mental health and personal growth.
At Aspire Counseling, we believe in finding the best fit for each individual. If you're searching for the "best counselor for teenage girl near me," you'll find that our therapists specialize in connecting with teenagers in a real, down to earth way that shows deep respect while using evidence based counseling tremtment ethods Our approach is tailored to the unique needs of each teen, whether they're dealing with anxiety, depression, or just the stresses of growing up. With the right counselor, your teenager can develop resilience, improve self-esteem, and lay a foundation for a healthier, happier adulthood. The benefits of counseling at this stage can last a lifetime, making it a truly worthwhile endeavor for any parent considering it for their teenager.
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It's a common and concerning reality that many teenagers struggle with anxiety. While some level of anxiety is a normal part of growing up, the intensity and frequency of these feelings can vary significantly. For a considerable number of teens, anxiety goes beyond typical worries and can significantly impact their daily lives, necessitating professional support.
Recent studies indicate that anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health issues in adolescents. Reports suggest that about 1 in 3 teens, by the age of 18, will have experienced an anxiety disorder. This statistic underlines the importance of recognizing when anxiety becomes a barrier to a teen's well-being and development. It's crucial to differentiate between normal developmental anxiety and anxiety disorders that can impair a teen's functioning.
In Missouri, the need for specialized "teen counseling in Missouri" is evident as many young people face these challenges. For parents seeking the "best counselor for teenage girl near me", it's essential to understand that professional counseling can offer significant benefits. An experienced therapist can provide a safe space for your teen to explore their feelings, develop coping strategies, and work through the anxiety that hinders their everyday life. Early intervention and support can make a profound difference in helping teens manage their anxiety effectively.
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When considering the frequency of therapy for a teenager, it's important to understand that therapy once a month is typically not sufficient for initiating treatment or making substantial progress toward treatment goals. Regular, more frequent sessions are often necessary to foster a strong therapeutic relationship, which is a crucial element for effective therapy. Research indicates that a solid connection between the teen and their therapist is essential for the therapy's impact.
In most cases, weekly sessions are recommended, especially in the initial stages of therapy. This frequency allows the therapist to better understand the teen's concerns, work intensively on developing coping strategies, and address any acute issues in real-time. It's not just about the number of sessions but the quality and depth of therapeutic work that can be achieved with consistent and frequent meetings.
However, therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The "right" frequency can vary based on the severity of the teen's struggles, the type of treatment being administered, and their specific mental health goals. In some cases, more than one session per week may be beneficial. For instance, a teen might need individual therapy and a separate family session or group therapy in the same week. Some evidence-based treatments may even require a more intensive schedule initially. Ultimately, the goal is to provide the most effective treatment to help the teen make real progress. At Aspire Counseling, our therapists work collaboratively with teens and their families to determine the best approach, always focusing on what will best support the teen in reaching their therapeutic goals.
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At Aspire Counseling, we believe that counseling can be beneficial at any age, as long as it is tailored to meet the unique needs of the individual. Whether it's young children, adolescents, or older teens, each age group can significantly benefit from therapy when facing emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges. Our therapists specialize in working with a diverse age range, from the tender years of early childhood through the complex teenage years. We have professionals trained specifically to work with children as young as birth to 5 years old in our Lee’s Summit office, and therapists skilled in addressing the concerns of kids in the 8-14 age range. For older teens between 15-18, our therapists are adept at navigating the unique challenges they face. It's never too early or too late to seek help; what's important is recognizing the need and finding the right support at the right time.
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Yes, therapy is a highly effective approach for treating depression, especially in teenagers. At Aspire Counseling, we use evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which are proven to be effective in treating depression for teenagers. These methods focus on understanding and changing negative thought patterns, developing coping strategies, and building skills to manage emotions and stress.
Each teen's experience with depression is unique, and our therapists are skilled in creating personalized treatment plans. We understand that starting therapy can be daunting, especially when dealing with depression. This is why we offer flexibility, including the option of online counseling for teens who might find it challenging to attend in-person sessions due to the severity of their depression or other barriers.
A key aspect of successful therapy for depression is the therapeutic relationship. It's crucial for teens to connect with a therapist they feel comfortable with and can trust. This relationship fosters open communication, not just with the teen, but also with parents and caregivers, ensuring a supportive and comprehensive approach to treatment.
Remember, treating depression is a journey that takes time and patience. Therapy provides a safe space for teens to explore their feelings, understand their experiences, and develop tools to navigate their world more effectively. While depression can be a challenging condition to overcome, with the right support and intervention, significant improvements and recovery are very much possible.
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Deciding on the "best therapist in Kansas City" for your teen often goes beyond considering the age of the therapist. While it's natural to wonder if a younger therapist is better suited to connect with your teenager, it's essential to recognize the unique benefits they bring to therapy. Younger therapists, especially those freshly graduated and professionally licensed as PLPCs or LMSWs in Missouri, come to the field brimming with energy, enthusiasm, and the latest academic knowledge in mental health care. Their fresh perspective can be incredibly refreshing and relatable for teens navigating the complexities of adolescence. At Aspire Counseling, we ensure these promising new therapists are closely supervised by our most experienced clinicians, providing an added layer of expertise and insight. This rigorous supervision includes case discussions, note reviews, and sometimes even session video reviews, ensuring your teen receives the highest quality care.
On the other hand, experienced therapists bring their years of nuanced understanding and a breadth of experience in dealing with a wide range of teenage mental health issues. Their depth of experience can offer a reassuring presence to both parents and teens alike. However, it's crucial to remember that the effectiveness of a therapist isn't solely determined by their age or years in the field. At Aspire Counseling, whether you're seeking the best therapist in Kansas City for your teen, it's the quality of the therapeutic relationship, the therapist's understanding of teen-specific issues, and their ability to tailor approaches to fit your teen's unique needs that truly matter. We pride ourselves on providing a diverse team of therapists who, regardless of their years of experience, are all deeply committed to offering empathetic, evidence-based care that meets your teen where they are.
Blog Posts About Teen Mental Health
Other Mental Health Services & Counseling Support for Your Whole Family in Missouri
We know life is complicated and you may be struggling with more than one issue. Maybe more than one member of your family needs some support. Our online therapists offer other services than teen therapy. And often, it can be helpful for more than one member of the family to be seen at our practice as our clinicians are able to work together while still completely respecting your privacy. It’s not uncommon for different children in the family to be seen by different therapists (it’s typically best if they each have their own) and one or both parents also to have their own safe space. While each person has “their” therapist to speak to, your therapists are able to consult one another occasionally if that’s beneficial to your family. That said, we take client privacy extremely seriously and that’s part of the reason we strongly prefer two members of the same family not see the same therapist when it is practical to avoid that. Additionally, we can offer family counseling sessions when appropriate.
Because each therapist at Aspire Counseling specializes in something slightly different, our therapists are able to offer a wide range of mental health services at our counseling office in Columbia, our Lee’s Summit counseling office or online anywhere in Missouri. Some of our specialties include depression counseling, trauma therapy/PTSD treatment, counseling for caregiver stress, anxiety treatment, LGBTQ affirming counseling, support during chronic illness and more! We’re here to help support teenagers, their parents & the entire family system.