I’ll be honest with you, sometimes I find it hard to articulate the support I offer to teens and their families, and the difference it makes. Part of that is because it is not my journey, it is theirs, and it is not for me to always be privy to all the ins and outs of their daily lives, only what they choose to share with me. When the support ends, and the teen decides they are ready to manage with the tools and techniques we have developed together, we say goodbye, and I wish them well.
So, receiving a testimonial like the one below makes a huge difference to my own understanding of the impact my support and guidance has, and the difference it can make.
“We came to Clare when my teenage daughter’s mental health took a turn for the worse during lockdown. She was showing signs of anxiety and struggling to cope with a range of difficult feelings, which was coming out in her behaviour at home and school. My daughter started off with an intro session to ensure she got on with Clare, and they gained rapport and trust immediately. She really appreciated the calm and safe space Clare created through her very presence and in her therapeutic room. My daughter also appreciated the way Clare demystified what was happening in the teenage brain, and with anxiety, and made it accessible for her to understand. It gave us a common language to use back at home when my daughter was feeling overloaded. Very quickly my daughter implemented some simple strategies at home and school and our summer became a happier one. We cannot thank Clare enough for letting my daughter feel safe, heard and regain some of her sense of self and power.”
I don’t have all the answers, but I can demystify some of the challenging, difficult feelings and emotions our teens might be experiencing, and support them to move through them safely and more comfortably. The whole family also benefit as it gives them a new language, a new way of understanding each other, and this can make a real difference for everyone.
If you or your teen are struggling, I offer a phone call which you can book here (Support for Teenagers | Clare Cogan) for you to decide whether you or your child may benefit from some help and support.