I have plenty of experience in providing counselling in Havering and online for young people going through a range of problems. That path from childhood to adulthood is hardly ever smooth; so much changes so quickly, and the whole process can feel overwhelming at times. Often, young people may struggle to communicate how they are feeling to parents or friends, but counselling gives them a dedicated space in which to feel seen, heard, and understood. 

There are a range of problems that young people often face. This blog post walks you through some of the main ones that I see when working with teenagers and young adults. 

Low Self-Esteem

The environment young people find themselves in, both at school and outside it, can be particularly vicious at times, leading to many struggling with their confidence. There is a tendency to compare oneself to others, whether it’s with appearance, accomplishments, or social standing. As a result, many young people believe that they “aren’t good enough” in some way, which is reinforced by the ubiquitous presence of social media, as this further causes people to judge themselves in relation to others. 

Stress and Anxiety

There are so many pressures on young people, whether it’s at school or in social circles. They have to perform academically and socially, often putting up a front in order to “fit in”, which only increases their levels of stress and anxiety. Young people experience all kinds of anxiety, such as phobias, panic attacks, or generalised anxiety disorder, but a particularly common one is social anxiety - the fear of being around other people and the stress that comes up in social occasions. Young people struggle with their place in the world, unsure about their relationships with others, and that can cause high levels of stress and anxiety. 

Eating Disorders/Body Dysphoria 

Many teenagers live with eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, or body dysmorphia - particularly girls, who are subjected to extremely unhealthy beauty standards through social media and popular culture, which paints the ideal woman as perfectly skinny, with clear skin, luscious hair, etc. That sense of dissatisfaction with one’s body is reinforced by so many factors, leading to people constantly worrying about being “too fat”, or imperfect in some other way. They feel inadequate, unappealing, and as such have no confidence or belief in themselves as individuals, which can lead to further complex problems like depression, anxiety, or addiction. 

Depression

Depression affects between eight and 10 percent of people at some point in their adolescence, making it the most common mental health issue among young people. Teenagers, as you may know, have a tendency to suppress difficult feelings and push them to the back of their minds, which is precisely how depression develops over time - we quite literally ‘depress’ our feelings and they show up again further down the line in the form of sadness, anger, or fatigue. 

If you are a young person, or a parent with a teenage child, and feel like counselling would be beneficial, I am here to provide completely confidential, friendly, personalised counselling in Havering and online. Feel free to give me a call whenever you like.