Teen Issues
Understanding the intense emotional and identity shifts of adolescence, for teens and the adults who love them.
Understanding it
Adolescence involves one of the most dramatic periods of brain development after infancy. The emotional centers of the brain mature years before the prefrontal cortex, which handles judgment, impulse control, and long-term thinking. This mismatch means teens genuinely feel emotions more intensely and are neurologically less equipped to regulate them, which is why small conflicts can escalate quickly and why teens are not simply choosing to be dramatic or difficult.
Unlock this with a plan, or enter your client access code if your therapist gave you one.
When to reach for more support
If a teen talks about wanting to die, self-harms, shows signs of substance misuse, or withdraws severely from all relationships, contact 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or a pediatric mental health provider without delay; in an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.