Summer Therapy For Teens

         Why is therapy for teens so important? 

          As the school year wraps up and backpacks are shoved into closets, many parents breathe a sigh of relief. Their teens seem more relaxed, sleeping in, hanging out with friends, and not melting down over homework, grades, or social drama. “They’re finally fine,” you might think. But here’s the truth: summer isn’t always the “happily ever after” it appears to be—it’s just a pause. And it’s the perfect time for your teen to start therapy.

          Why? Because being “fine” in summer doesn’t mean they’re equipped to handle what’s coming next. When school starts back in the fall—early mornings, academic pressure, social navigation, extracurriculars, and college worries—stress often hits like a tidal wave. Without the right tools in place, it can get very overwhelming, very fast. Summer is the ideal time to build those tools before the storm arrives.

Summer Is the Off-Season for Mental Health Training

          Think of therapy for teens like mental training. Just like athletes don’t wait until game day to start conditioning, teens shouldn’t wait until they’re drowning in anxiety to learn how to swim. Summer offers a low-pressure environment to learn and practice skills like:

• Emotional regulation
• Assertive communication
• Mindfulness and grounding
• Thought-challenging and reframing
• Stress and time management
• Coping with peer pressure and social anxiety
• Goal Setting

When teens learn these skills before the chaos returns, they are more likely to apply them when it matters most.

“But They Seem Fine Right Now…”

          That’s the catch. Of course they do—school’s out! Many teens appear more relaxed during summer, but that doesn’t mean their underlying anxiety, perfectionism, or people-pleasing tendencies have vanished. It often just means the trigger (school) is temporarily out of sight. Think of it like an old knee injury. Just because it doesn’t hurt when you’re sitting down doesn’t mean it’s healed. You don’t want your teen waiting until they’re back on the field, under pressure, juggling deadlines and social dynamics, to realize they needed therapy after all.

Therapy For Teens in Summer = Less Resistance

          Starting therapy during the school year can feel like “just another thing” on an already packed schedule. However, in summer, teens have more time and emotional bandwidth. They’re not as emotionally raw or exhausted, which gives therapy a head start. Many teens are more open to building a relationship with a therapist when they aren’t in crisis mode, creating a stronger foundation for future work.

It’s Not About Fixing—It’s About Preparing

          One of the biggest misconceptions about therapy is that it’s only for people who are struggling. In reality, therapy is just as much about building strengths and preparing for challenges. You don’t wait for your car to break down to start maintaining it. Your teen doesn’t have to be in emotional distress to benefit from learning how to navigate life more confidently. In fact, starting therapy when things feel calm often leads to the most meaningful, lasting growth.

          You’re not taking away their freedom or fun by encouraging therapy over the summer—you’re giving them tools to reduce future stress, support their emotional growth, and set them up for a more successful school year. So the next time you think, “My teen is fine now that school is out,” consider this: what if “fine” isn’t the finish line, but the starting point?  Therapy for teens during the summer can be that starting point.

Ready to help your teen prepare for next year with confidence?
          Reach out to schedule a summer session and give them the gift of peace, clarity, and coping skills that actually work—before they need them. 

Article by Karen Hummel, Intern Counselor