Adolescence is typically considered to be the developmental stage between 13 and 18 years of age, where individuals are most commonly called teenagers.

There are immense changes during this period of time, socially, emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally, making counseling these teens and supporting their parents especially important.

Common Issues for Teens

This is the primary age for issues surrounding identity and one’s peer group to be at the forefront, which can appear to cause anxiety or depressive symptoms. The most severe of these symptoms result due to the teen’s increased capacity for actions, due to their age, with the continued emotional instability from younger years. This can result in significant behaviors such as running away, cutting or self-harming, suicidal thoughts or attempts, and truancy or violence.

While these actions can occur at any age, they are most concerning in adolescence due to the teen’s increased physical abilities, freedom, and reliance on their peer group. 

Treatments in Teen Counseling

Although most counseling theories or practices can have some efficacy for working with teens, the therapies that generally work best are ones that focus on strategies that change the nature of decision-making.

Reality Therapy, or the method by addressing decisions through a more practical system, has been shown to be one of the most effective therapies with teens. This approach challenges the teen in what they are hoping to achieve through their actions, and seek alternative measures to fulfill that need without additional harm to the teen or their environment.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) or other cognitive-based therapies have also shown to be effective in addressing the underlying emotions and thoughts of teenagers, to help them resolve underlying emotional strife and choose different behaviors.

Green Mountain Counseling accepts the following major insurance carriers:

• Aetna
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• ComPsych
• Humana
• Optum
• UnitedHealthcare

Sliding Scale Information

Green Mountain Counseling also offers therapy discounts to accommodate individuals who are experiencing financial difficulties. These reduced rate sessions are on a case-by-case basis and are limited. If you are interested in therapy discounts, please inform the clinician when you schedule an appointment. 

We also provide our therapy services at affordable rates for clients on out-of-network plans or those who wish to self-pay. Fees for services typically range from $100 to $150, depending on the length and type of the session.