Resiliency & Insight in our Teens

Teenagers often don't receive the recognition they deserve. We frequently hear about the negative aspects of adolescence, such as middle school drama, excessive phone use, and risky behaviors. However, we don't hear enough about their remarkable insight, creativity, and potential for resilience. My clients continually impress me with these and other wonderful qualities.

I'd like to discuss resilience. This week, I went for a walk with my client, Anna (names have been changed for privacy). When I first started seeing Anna a year ago, she was struggling in school, failing to submit assignments, and frequently arguing with her parents. Her self-esteem and body image were low. On our walk this week, Anna excitedly shared the classes she chose for next year—all honors classes! When the school year began last fall, she decided she wanted to succeed, and she did! Anna also realized that her poor school performance was partly due to spending time with friends who didn't prioritize academics, which influenced her own priorities.

In a recent session with Anna, I was so impressed by her improved self-esteem, body image, and ability to navigate friendships that I asked her to provide advice to a younger client, Bella, who was facing similar challenges. This simple request allowed me to show Anna how proud I was of her hard work and gave her the opportunity to engage in another confidence-boosting activity—helping others. This also showed Bella that she's not alone in her struggles and that improvement is possible. BOOM!

One of the last things that really stood out to me in my most recent session with Anna was another incredibly thoughtful statement. She told me that she chose a particular elective because she enjoyed the teacher's teaching style. Previously, she felt engaged and truly enjoyed being in his class. I sensed such insight and self-awareness from Anna as she explained her reasoning.

I'm not sure if I've been instrumental in Anna's journey or just along for the ride, but it has been incredibly rewarding to be part of it.