Coincidence or fate

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been asked by a mother to help her teenager, namely, the importance of attending classes with a psychologist... Having started to study this topic, we realized that in fact it is very relevant... adolescence is a "zone of turbulence"... and then the war... everything fell apart
A teenager during the war resembles a picture of a person crossing a stormy waterfall on a wooden bridge, someone with a stick keeps his balance, someone is tied to a rope, someone is holding the railing... so is a teenager.... 

Teenage years are very stressful in themselves. There are dramatic changes in the body, hormonal changes, etc.

This is an allegory that shows how someone "goes through the war". Some children "grow up/get involved" with a clear understanding of what to do, where to go, and responsibility becomes the norm. They join social and business projects, discover new opportunities for themselves and their talents. 

For others, it is important to understand that they are not alone, that there are people around them, an environment, a society called "everything will be fine!" They do not go into details so that it does not happen that everything is not as good as they imagine... they are not ready for reality... they are not ready for change... they have one day off - everything will be fine. It is important for them not to take off their rose-colored glasses. Thanks to this, they will go this way.

Other children simply "shut down" - this is the most difficult category. Fear is a super hero. There is anger, distrust, strong aggression, deliberate damage to their bodies... they also hurt others... with the understanding that they are not alone in the "country of fear". Some abuse alcohol ... some drugs ... it's a reality.

Having talked to teenagers, most of them are looking for support, looking for books, videos ... recommended by children they know, asking what they read and listen to, and what the consequences will be. Others are ready to communicate anonymously with a psychologist.   

We signed a memorandum of cooperation with other organizations and began to provide anonymous counseling to teenagers. It can be via video or in person.  

Those who do not have children may think that it is much more difficult to deal with "adult problems", so the qualifications of an adult specialist should be higher. In fact, working with childhood trauma requires much more experience and knowledge. Such work is really beyond the power of many specialists. Therefore, you need to choose a psychologist for your child much more carefully and meticulously. It is important to make sure that he or she really has the relevant experience, has undergone specialized training, and has the necessary qualifications. Only such a psychologist can help a child cope with a difficult emotional situation. By the way, you can choose just such a child psychologist on the free Ukrainian platform "No Small Things".

Is it possible to cope with teenage problems without a psychologist?

Of course, your support will be the best way to help your child through a difficult period in his or her life. It is important to talk to your teenager, take an interest in his or her life, but do not insist if he or she does not want to talk right now.

Start a tradition of doing something together: going to the movies or fishing on weekends (if you live in a relatively safe place), cooking in the kitchen, watching football, or even making tik-toks together (why not? :) This will help your teenager feel like a friend again and talk about what is bothering him or her. It's very important not to keep problems to yourself.

But if you notice that you are not coping, you should not rely solely on your strength. Don't be afraid to ask for help. A good adolescent psychologist will help you and your child cope with both teenage stress and wartime challenges.

Teenage years are very stressful in themselves. There are dramatic changes in the body, hormonal levels change, etc. And when there is also a war outside the window, it is much more difficult to cope with emotions. Nowadays, psychological assistance to teenagers and children is perhaps the main task for all Ukrainian parents and teachers. So we have prepared tips and answers for you on how to support a teenager in a difficult emotional situation, and how a teenage psychologist can help you with this.

How do you know if your child needs a psychologist?

In general, there are several loud "bells and whistles" that suggest a visit to a specialist:

• the child's mood changes constantly (several times a day);
• the child does not have the strength and desire to do things that he or she used to do easily and with pleasure;
• the child has difficulties with learning;
• the child distances himself/herself from his/her friends and withdraws from communication with parents.

In addition, in adolescence, stability and predictability of the environment are important. And in the context of war, a teenager can constantly experience traumatic situations, such as seeing military operations or being under fire. And where in peacetime parents could support their child on their own, it is still important to involve professionals. High-quality psychological assistance to adolescents during the war is very important.