Therapy for Teen Drug and Alcohol Use
Helping Teens Understand Substance Use
Exploring substance use with your teen can feel scary, complicated, and overwhelming. Many teens turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with stress, life transitions, social pressure, or painful emotions. Teens often worry about being judged, punished, or misunderstood when it comes to their substance use, so they may be secretive or dishonest about it. It’s also common for teens to present as unconcerned about their use and dismiss their loved ones’ concerns about the risks and consequences. This can be especially hard to navigate as a parent and family. If you are unsure how to begin the conversation, our article on how to talk to your teen about drug use may be a helpful place to start.
You might consider therapy if your teen:
While our therapists are not addiction specialists, we offer general counselling for teens who are using substances as a way to navigate life’s challenges. Our therapists show up with compassion and respect, helping teens to feel safe enough to be real about what’s going on for them. In therapy, we strive to create a non-judgmental space where teens can talk openly about their experiences – what they’re using, when, and why – without fear.
In therapy, we focus on understanding what’s underneath the substance use behaviour and helping teens build healthier ways to cope. We show up with curiosity and gently explore what purposes substances may be serving. We also provide education and information to help teens make safe, informed decisions. This insight building and information sharing helps teens make sense of why they are using substances and become more mindful of their patterns so they can make more intentional choices.
Therapy for substance use also strongly emphasizes skill-building. Teens learn practical ways to manage what they’re going through, such as:
Sometimes, teens ask for therapy on their own. Other times, therapy comes as a recommendation from a teen’s loved one. It’s not uncommon for teens who are hesitant about therapy to be a bit off-put by the idea of coming at the recommendation of someone else to address their substance use. Our approach is general counselling, not solely focused on their substance use – we are curious about your whole child and all the realms of their life. We see substance use as a behavioural expression of something deeper going on. So we meet them where they are at and move at a pace that feels right for them. When substance use is affecting communication or trust at home, family counselling or parent counselling may also be helpful support.
If you or your teen are wondering whether therapy might be helpful, we’re here to talk. You can contact us to book a consultation to understand your concerns, answer any questions, and see if our approach feels like a good fit. For parents looking for additional guidance, our article on how to start a conversation with your teen about vaping may also be helpful.
To learn more about individual and family therapy, reach out to the team and we’ll be happy to help. Call us at 416-565-4504 for our Bloor and Runnymede location or at 647-296-8441 for our Danforth location. You can also contact us by email at info@counsellingtorontoteens.com. Choose the location that’s most convenient for you — Book now Bloor Runnymede or Book now Danforth Chester.
It’s always the right time to make positive changes in your life.
267 Runnymede Rd,
Toronto, ON, M6S 2Y5
374 Danforth Ave. 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON, M4K 1N8
Monday to Thursday
11am - 8pm
Friday
10am to 7pm
Saturday and Sunday
10am - 6pm
Book An Appointment Now
Stay up to date with blogs, news and resources at the Toronto Counselling Centre for Teens
Stay up to date with blogs, news and resources at the Toronto Counselling Centre for Teens
267 Runnymede Rd,
Toronto, ON, M6S 2Y5
374 Danforth Ave. 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON, M4K 1N8
