We believe this training and specific expertise is paramount for ensuring effective and tailored care for your child. Our team provide the expertise necessary to engage children in therapy using age-appropriate techniques, fostering trust and rapport essential for progress.
Support Through Change and Growth
The teen years are a time of significant change and growing independence, and counseling can provide valuable support during this transitional period. As a parent, it’s not always easy to distinguish between “typical” developmental growing pains, adjustments to life changes, or deeper concerns like depression or anxiety.
Teenagers experience emotions just as intensely as adults, but they often lack the experience and tools to navigate complex feelings or relationships. On top of this, their brains are still developing. The prefrontal cortex—which governs planning, prioritizing, and impulse control—continues to mature into the mid- to late 20s. This developmental stage can make teens more likely to act impulsively and struggle with decision-making. Combined with natural mood fluctuations, these changes can feel overwhelming for both teens and their parents.
An objective, compassionate, and experienced therapist can help you and your teen navigate these challenges with greater understanding and confidence.
We offer teen counseling at our Minnetonka and Woodbury locations, as well as online for your convenience.
Do you have a teenager you’re concerned about? It’s natural to feel unsure when you notice changes in your teen’s behavior. Here are some questions to help you assess whether they might benefit from professional support:
If these questions resonate with you, teen counseling may provide the support and tools your teen needs to navigate these challenges.
Today’s teens face unique pressures that can contribute to heightened anxiety. They juggle in-person and virtual social relationships, with the nonstop nature of online interactions adding complexity to their lives. While anxiety is a normal emotion, it can become overwhelming when it occurs too frequently or intensely.
Signs your teen might be experiencing an anxiety disorder include:
If your teen struggles with these symptoms, counseling can help them develop healthy coping strategies and regain control over their emotions.
Teen depression often looks different than adult depression. Sadness, changes in sleeping or eating habits, and low energy are all common signs.
Depression in teens can also show up as:
Life events such as bullying, social exclusion, trauma, or significant changes can contribute to depression in teens. If you’ve noticed these behaviors lasting for more than two weeks, professional therapy can make a difference.
If your teen is struggling with anxiety, depression, or other challenges, know that help is available. At our practice, we provide compassionate, evidence-based teen counseling to help your adolescent overcome these hurdles and build resilience. Together, we can support your teen on their journey to a healthier, more balanced life.
Our trained and caring teen therapists are here to support your adolescent through life’s challenges. We help teens understand what’s happening emotionally and empower them to implement coping strategies for day-to-day struggles. In therapy, your teen will:
Many teenagers benefit from a combination of talk therapy and experiential or expressive therapies. At Cedar Mental Health, we are committed to creating a safe, nonjudgmental environment where your teen’s preferences and strengths are supported.
Sometimes it’s hard to put feelings into words. Creative and expressive therapies—such as art, play, or sand tray therapy—can offer teens a way to externalize difficult emotions and experiences. By witnessing these feelings outside of themselves, teens can begin to process them in a healthier way.
At Cedar Mental Health, we use creative modalities to help teens explore their emotions and gain deeper self-awareness. The act of creating art, guided by a therapist, can help uncover subconscious thoughts, address negative core beliefs, and even reveal inner strengths teens may not realize they have.
It’s normal for teenagers to feel hesitant about starting therapy. They might worry about being judged, blamed, or lectured. Our compassionate, nonjudgmental therapists are dedicated to building a collaborative relationship with your teen. We focus on what’s already working and gently address areas of concern.
Therapy can be a space where teens feel safe to explore their emotions, celebrate their strengths, and practice self-kindness. By incorporating creativity, humor, and collaboration, we make the process approachable and even enjoyable for adolescents.
At Cedar Mental Health, therapy is a collaborative process. Our skilled providers bring their expertise and experience, while you and your teen bring your unique perspectives and needs.
During the first session, we focus on getting to know your teen and family—exploring their strengths, challenges, symptoms, and hopes. From there, we’ll work together to identify goals and create a plan for progress.
Yes, teen therapy can make a meaningful difference! The developing teen brain has incredible plasticity, meaning it can learn, adapt, and grow. Through therapy, teens can:
Family relationships may also need extra attention. In these cases, we may incorporate family therapy to focus on improving communication and working through difficult shared experiences.
With the right support, teens can develop tools to navigate life’s challenges, build resilience, and thrive.
By selecting therapists with specific training and expertise, you’re prioritizing your child’s well-being and maximizing the potential for positive outcomes in their growth and development.
Cedar Mental Health is as private pay clinic. We do not accept insurance. Many of our services are customized based on individual client & family need.
