Opening the Door to Teen Therapy in Denver, CO
By Jordan Kurtz (she/her), MA, LPCC, Teen Therapist in Denver
I remember leaving middle school with conflicting promises from adults. Some named, There’s so much more freedom in high school or These are golden years. Others held more weight, like This is prep work for college and Way more is expected of you in high school.
If you are 12-19 years old, I am guessing you are familiar with some iteration of these promises and more and know that to be a young person in today’s world is hard, period. Some of us may feel able to turn to our parents for support, or perhaps our teachers, coaches and friends.
Have you ever wondered what it could be like to have one more, different sort of support in your life? One with unconditional listening, less advice, the promise of privacy without judgment? If even a degree of you is curious, read on to learn more about the experience of teen therapy in Denver.
What We Can Talk About in Denver Teen Therapy
The broad answer? Almost anything. That “almost” exists for topics you may share that would require me as a mandated reporter to create a report to help keep you and others safe in instances of imminent danger. These topics include child abuse, elder abuse, a threat to an institution, or verbalizing an intent and plan to kill yourself or someone else. Aside from these exceptions to confidentiality, the world is our oyster- whatever is relevant in your world is relevant to me and something I want to explore with you.
Examples of topics that can be explored in therapy for teens in Denver include:
Challenges with friends
Pressure surrounding grades
Expectations of family
Gender or sexual identity - read more about support for LGBTQ+ teens here
Bullying
Racism or discrimination
Neurodivergence, including ADHD
Sex and intimacy
Partnerships
Siblings and parents
School-life-sports/extracurricular balance
Navigating teen trauma from divorce
Preparing for highschool, college, or other future life plans
Depression, Anxiety, OCD
Self-esteem and insecurities
Body image
Eating and exercise patterns
Relationship with spirituality
This list isn’t comprehensive as each human is deeply complex, unique, and an intersection of different beliefs and experiences. Know that it is okay to enter therapy with no idea at all where to begin, or with the intention to discuss one topic that later morphs into another path.
The Basic Structure of Teen Therapy in Denver
Something I like to deeply emphasize in my work at all times: your autonomy (aka, your free will/choice). Therapy is always voluntary, and at any point in our process- one week in, 5 months later, a year later, or even after the first session, you can decide to stop or share with me what’s not working for you. While we don’t have the opportunity to discuss freely with (most) teachers elements of their approach that make us feel most at ease or understood, that is encouraged in therapy! I am always open to collaborating with you to make our sessions feel more safe or inviting. Denver teen therapy sessions at CZ Therapy Group can be held virtual or in person, allowing you to account for your schedule, accessibility to transportation, and comfort.
A typical session is 50 minutes long, and is meant to feel more like a conversation than a lecture. You will be able to share and explore without interruption, and I am always present to help lead the conversation if it feels difficult to talk about something. Ultimately, the therapeutic hour is yours to spend and doesn’t need to look like traditional talk therapy at all times. As a teen therapist, I have colored, journaled, ripped paper, punched pillows, and even danced with clients on certain occasions to help support the release of emotions. Lastly, most clients I work with I see for at least a few months on a weekly or biweekly basis. This helps us build momentum together and explore with consistent depth what’s going on in your life.
De-Mystifying the First Teen Therapy Session
Therapy at CZ Therapy Group begins with a free 15-20 minute consultation call. We schedule a time to connect, you share with me what you are hoping to gain from therapy, and I share about what therapy feels like in the room with me. If you feel like we vibe after that first phone call, we schedule our intake. I like to describe the intake as a story-telling session: with some guiding questions from me, I begin to learn about who you are as a person, what drives you, the most central people in your life, what you may be struggling with, and what your strengths are.
It is not intended to feel like an interview with yes or no questions, and I remind everyone (adults included) that vulnerability is earned and cannot be demanded. If you do not feel comfortable sharing something with me at the first session (or multiple sessions down the line) I will never force you to and always meet you where you are at. With this information gathered, I will begin to paint a mental picture about themes for us to explore and best ways to approach them. I am not a therapist that “assigns homework” unless exercises or thought prompts following our sessions feel helpful and you request them.
Benefits of Going to Therapy as a Teen
Permission to understand who you are and who you want to be outside of family, friend or school pressures
A space to be listened to versus advised or directed
Non-shaming opportunity to talk about experiences, beliefs or parts of you that others do not share, do not understand, or judge
An hour that always includes validation and celebration of your strengths and victories
50 minutes that are entirely yours to dictate and (if in person sessions are held) a promised relaxed environment to allow your nervous system to wind down
Helps develop ways of understanding emotions that feel overwhelming or confusing
Are you a teen who has been through trauma? Check out my previous blog on why trauma-focused therapy feels different to get a better sense of how our space together could feel.
Work with a Teen Therapist in Denver, CO
If this blog resonates with you or your teen, the teen therapists at CZ Therapy Group would love to connect with you. Follow these steps to get started:
Schedule a free 20-minute consult call to see if teen therapy in Denver is right for you.
Connect with the CZTG Denver teen therapist of your choice via a phone consult.
Begin your healing journey!
Meet The Writer: Jordan Kurtz, Teen Therapist in Denver, CO.
Jordan Kurtz (she/her) is a Denver teen therapist, couples counselor, and staff writer at CZTG. Jordan focuses on therapy for grief, trauma, teens, and relationships. Her approach is authentic, warm, and affirming, which she interweaves throughout her use of advanced evidence-based modalities, including EMDR, Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT), and somatic therapy. She provides teen therapy in Denver and virtually throughout the state of Colorado. If you’d like to work with Jordan, feel free to reach out to schedule a consultation call.