Many parents of teenagers are concerned about where their kids are headed. When I was a teen, I was fortunate to have mentors who invested time in me and provided guidance. Unfortunately, not everyone has that kind of support. I pray my kids will have similar mentors when they get older.

Mental health for teens is a growing concern, and for good reason. Authors like Jonathan Haidt and Carol Dweck have been sounding the alarm on the negative effects of smartphones and social media.

Besides those struggling with anxiety disorders, adolescents make up the second-largest group in my caseload. Some struggle with anxiety, but many simply need someone relatable to talk to — someone who can help them clarify their goals, think critically about their future, and process their relationships. In my experience, mental health for teenager clients often centers around connection, clarity, and a safe space to talk things through.

As Dr. David Yeager explains in his book 10 to 25, teen brains are constantly scanning the world for ways to gain status and respect. He writes, “Young people deploy their considerable cognitive resources to attend to and protect their immediate social status and respect. If the information they get from adults threatens their social survival by robbing them of the status and respect they crave, they’ll likely tune it out. This isn’t because they’re immature. It’s because it’s part of learning how to survive.”

My goal is to gently guide the teenagers in my care toward healthy ways of gaining status and respect that fit their personality and interests. I often assist with career guidance, social skills, anxiety, or simply offer general mentorship. I counsel with both the teenagers and the parents in mind, hoping to make a positive impact that helps teens succeed and helps parents worry less about their teenager’s future.