teens

Our kids are growing up in an extremely challenging cultural climate. 

Time magazine recently published an article entitled “The Kids are Not All Right.”  The article outlined in detail the alarming rise of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among teens.  It is real, it is on the rise, and we should be alarmed.  Our kids our suffering.   In fact, a contributor to the article wrote, “If you wanted to create an environment to churn out really angsty people, we’ve done it.” 

Our kids are searching for authentic self-worth and belonging. 

Our kids are believing that their worth is entirely contingent upon two things: 1) performance (school, grades, athletics, extracurricular activities) and 2) peer group acceptance.  This preoccupation with performance and acceptance often leads to kids that are empty/needy, anxious, and depressed on the inside even if they perform well on the outside. As parents, our desire for our kids should be "fullness" on the inside (good self-esteem, spiritual depth, maturity, and character) so that ultimately "full" behavior flows from the inside out.  

I have outlined just a few of the many challenges our youth are facing.  We cannot immediately create a better world for our kids to live in, however we can teach them how to overcome the world in Christ.  While the vulnerability of this generation may make them susceptible to anxiety, depression, and self-harm, it also makes them knowingly or unknowingly desperate for God’s intervention. 

Discipleship counseling can help your student pursue and live an abundant life in Christ – overcoming sadness, anxiety, fear, body image issues, low self-esteem, etc. – as they learn their incredible identity as a child of God.  Discipleship counseling can also strengthen the family support system to help your student survive and thrive during adolescence and young adulthood.