Needs of Teens Today
Being a teenager today can be one of the most challenging times in a young persons’ life. Being the parent of a teenager can sometimes feel like riding a rollercoaster that never seems to stop fluctuating as the tides of their teens changing identity ebbs and flows as it evolves forward into adulthood. Everyone in the family goes through it together. The transition from boy or girl to man or woman can be fraught with anxiety, confusion, pressure & angst as both parents and teens in their humanness can struggle with ongoing battles for control, power, and freedom, making family life feel disruptive. Everyone at times can wonder how they will make it through to more harmonious and better times ahead. There is hope!
Often the presence and support of a skilled therapist can help and assist in mediating the dilemma at hand, and create an environment that allows both parents and teens to more clearly communicate with each other in honest, working, loving, and respectful ways. Confusion creates the way to discover clarity. Power Struggles open to successful negotiation around limits, responsibility and freedom, & family wars and conflicts open to reveal deeper hungers and longings from both parents and teens so that they can be finally addressed, met, and resolved.
Experience Working With Teens
Since 1988 I have been a strong supporter and advocate of an open forum where both parents and teens can address their heartfelt concerns and human challenges creatively and together. I have found that there is no client group in more need and responsive to the resources parents, teachers and other mentors can provide to support their developmental road to healthy and satisfying adult lives and relationships.
My strong commitment to support these roads being available to those in need has taken me to collaborate with and guide teens as a valued radio show talk host of ‘A Safe Place,’ and ‘Keep Talking’, to provide safety and art therapy to troubled adolescent boys at Charis Youth Center in Hayward, to provide therapy to parents at risk of abusing their children at The San Francisco Child Council – TalkLine Family Support Center, to provide therapy to high school students in Marin County dealing with issues of drug and alcohol abuse, and to provide therapy to Middle school students dealing with drug and alcohol issues and social, racial, and family concerns. Additionally I have co-facilitated an introductory ten week group with graduating high school seniors called ‘Beginning to Meditate.’
Issues Addressed
Some of the issues that bring challenged teens and their parents into counseling might be:
What To Expect
- Acting Out ~ Behavioral Issues
- Academic and School Issues
- Blended Families
- Body Image ~ Eating Issues
- Divorcing or Separating Families
- Grief & Loss Issues
- Life Passages
- Parenting Issues
- Rites of Passage
- Sexuality Concerns
- Sibling Issues or Abuse
- Shoplifting Issues
- Transitions
- Trauma
Once setting up an initial meeting, we’ll meet to develop and co-create together a full picture and understanding of the presenting issue(s). When the counseling is primarily with the teen, additional sessions with parents may be appropriate.
Joanna Intara Zim, M.A.
email:
joanna@joannaintarazim.org
San Francisco Office - 2282 Union Street
San Francisco, CA ~ 415.923.0481
Sonoma Office - 24 Western Avenue, Suite 313, Petaluma, CA 94952 ~ 707.781.9231
