Counseling Teenagers

One of the most rewarding careers one can choose is a career in counseling. With a counseling degree, you can choose to work with any group of people. If the problems of adolescents and teens in today's world are of particular concern to you, you might think about becoming a counselor for troubled youth. Among the problems parents face while raising teens are the issues of running away, delinquency, and substance abuse.

Adolescents go through a number of changes, physically and emotionally. Their worlds center around being popular, looking good, and making an impression on their peers. They go through many emotions that cause them to lose their self-confidence and act out in negative ways. Teenagers who enter counseling may be able to talk out their problems, instead of acting them out in negative ways.

Counselors can help teenagers get through these tough times and make the transition from child to adult easier. Counseling involves using a number of different techniques that are as individual as teenagers themselves. Teens may participate in a group counseling setting, where they can share their problems with others of the same age group.

Even when an adolescent's home environment is ideal, children at this age still exhibit signs of stress and go through a gamut of emotions as they struggle to leave their childhood behind and become well-adjusted adults. Self-image and peer pressure are two areas where even the most stable teen may suffer.

Counselors also help those teenagers who are more academically advanced than their peers. These teens may be experiencing tension trying to live up to the image that school or their families may have of them. They may tire easily of studying for hours or skipping leisure activities to ensure they receive top grades. This is a lot for them to handle. Counselors can help them devise ways to organize their time so that they can spend time with their friends and still stay ahead of the game academically.

On the other end of the academic scale are those teens who struggle in class and fail to get passing grades in school. Counselors help teens find out if they have certain learning disabilities that prevent them from concentrating in class or understanding the material teachers give them. Often, these professionals can spot students with dyslexia or students who are intelligent but are lousy test-takers.

When a teen's home life is troubling, whether it is because of a parent's alcohol or drug problem or the family's financial situation, counselors can help him or her find ways to cope with the problems associated with these family issues. Spending time talking about problems with an outsider is sometimes all it takes for teenagers to feel better about themselves, while growing up in a less than ideal or hostile situation.

Counselors who specialize in dealing with teens and teenage problems will find that they can make a huge difference in the lives of these kids. To enter this profession, you can earn an accredited degree by enrolling in online college for counseling. While challenging, a career in counseling teens will enable you to offer solutions to troubled youth, who otherwise may rebel and find themselves in serious trouble.