Change is at the heart of everything we do at Trinity Teen. We firmly believe that people can truly change and make lasting, positive changes in their lives and behavior. Over the years, we have had the great opportunity of witnessing this and all of us will attest to the fact that anybody, no matter who they are or what they have done, can improve themselves with some hard work and determination. […]
Almost all adult addicts report that they began using drugs or alcohol during their teenage years, when the risk for addiction is higher. Many people think that experimentation with substances is an unavoidable, harmless part of adolescence, but the risks associated with drug and alcohol use during this time are higher than at any other [...]
So. Your daughter is dating. Now what? Every parents nightmare. Despite knowing what it was like when you were their age, and that dating is a normal rite of passage, you fret and worry. It’s a normal instinct. Your child, who was once just a tiny baby, is now old enough to be forming these intense relationships with other people. You want to pull them in close and protect them from everything. We all know that we can’t protect them from everything forever. The best that you can do is try to prepare them, and remain a loving and supportive parent. […]
One of the largest issues that a parent will face with their teenage daughter, is the issue of confidence and self image. As a parent, you want your child to be happy. To thrive. To succeed. It’s hard to watch them go through something difficult, especially when it’s something like self-doubt, because you know their worth and wish you could somehow help them see themselves the way that you see them. Often, these efforts come a little late. We try to instill confidence in your teenage daughter once she is already down and not feeling great about herself. It’s never too late, but as a parent, you should do your best to encourage confidence in your teen daughter as early as possible, before she starts displaying symptoms of low self-esteem. […]
Depression is a common problem today, affecting more than 10% of adults and 6-8% of teens. Teenage girls are especially vulnerable to depression, with roughly ¼ of young women displaying symptoms of depression at some point in the teen years. Although many people downplay depression to “the common cold of mental health,” the truth is that depression can lead to many harmful behaviors in teen girls, and can be equally distressing for parents and family members who don’t know how to help. Here are a few things to understand about depression in teen girls: […]
When we’re children, our whole world is at home. Our parents are our favorite people, and everything we need is taken care of in the house where we live. However, as we grow older, that changes. Once we become teenagers, our lives take place more outside of home than in it. […]
College is a stressful time for anyone, but it can be especially so for freshmen, who are experiencing living away from home for the first time. The stresses of college and heightened expectations can all contribute to deteriorating mental health among college students. Living with your parents up to this point has made it a little bit easier for you to take care of your health, both mental and physical. But now that you’re going to college, probably away from your family, you’ll need to take care of yourself and prioritize your mental health for yourself. […]
If your child is a senior in High School, you’re surely no stranger to admission anxiety. The worry starts during junior year, when college fairs and SAT scores set the groundwork for your child’s collegiate ambitions. Early action applicants will send in their applications during the fall season of senior year. Everyone else usually submits what’s needed by the New Year. Around March and April, responses start flooding in from universities, sending the senior class into a flurry of nerves and worry. […]
As the parent of a teenager, your child getting involved with drugs might well be your worst nightmare. We know it’s a dangerous path to go down, and sometimes our minds automatically shortcut to imagine all the worst-case scenarios. However, the journey through teen substance abuse and addiction is usually different from what you imagine. […]
As a parent, all you really want for your child is for them to be happy and successful. While promoting their happiness and success seems like a simple task, it’s something that gets difficult as your child gets older. As your teen starts making more decisions, being more independent, and having life experiences, many parents struggle letting them make those decisions and have those experiences. There’s a compulsive desire to direct them past the difficult parts of life, in order to protect them. And as parents, we often jump to conclusions. Again, it’s a compulsion rooted in love. If your child is sad, you jump in with offers of things to help them be happier. From the years 2005-2014, the prevalence of depression in teens increased significantly. It can be hard to differentiate between whether your teen is being moody, or if there are underlying depressive issues that need to be addressed. […]
