Support For Teen Mental Health

Family and Healing Friday: Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana

🧠 Support for Teen Mental Health: What Families Can Do Today

Teen years can be beautiful, messy, emotional, and overwhelming—all at once. And in today’s world, the mental health challenges teens face are more visible and complex than ever.

At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana, we believe that building strong, supportive foundations at home and in the community can make all the difference. Whether your teen is showing signs of anxiety, withdrawing from family, or just seems “off,” this post will guide you through how to provide support for teen mental health—with warmth, compassion, and practical strategies (plus a little help from therapy dogs 🐾).

📈 Why Teen Mental Health Matters More Than Ever

According to the CDC, more than 40% of teens report feeling persistently sad or hopeless. Depression, anxiety, and stress are common experiences—but they don’t have to be handled alone.

With the rise of social media, academic pressure, and post-pandemic stress, teens are feeling overwhelmed—and many don’t know how to ask for help. That’s where families, schools, and therapy support systems come in.

📖 Learn more about the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey

🔎 Signs Your Teen May Be Struggling

Teens don’t always say, “I’m anxious” or “I feel depressed.” Instead, look for signs like:

Changes in sleep or eating habits
Withdrawal from friends or activities
Increased irritability or mood swings
Drop in academic performance
Unexplained physical complaints (headaches, stomachaches)
Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy

Even one or two of these signs may indicate your teen is overwhelmed or dysregulated.

🐾 How Therapy Dogs Help Teens Open Up

One of the most impactful parts of our work at AACI is watching a teen soften and begin to open up—not always to us first, but to one of our gentle therapy dogs. There’s a powerful trust-building effect that happens when teens feel emotionally safe.

Animal-assisted therapy can help teens:

Regulate anxiety and emotions
Build rapport in therapy sessions
Feel less judged and more understood
Learn calming routines with a therapy dog present

📘 Explore how therapy animals regulate emotions

👪 How Families Can Offer Support for Teen Mental Health

1. Create an Emotionally Safe Home

Avoid harsh criticism, sarcasm, or “just get over it” messaging. Instead, try:

“You seem a little off lately—want to talk?”
“I’m here if you ever feel like things are too much.”
“What do you need today—a hug, space, or help?”

Small invitations often lead to big breakthroughs.

2. Model Healthy Coping Strategies

Teens learn more from what we do than what we say.

Share how you manage stress
Take breaks from social media together
Practice deep breathing as a family
Show vulnerability when appropriate

Even saying, “Today was a hard day—I need some quiet time” shows teens that it’s OK to care for their mental health.

3. Limit Comparison and Pressure

Academic and social pressure can be crushing. Remind your teen:

Everyone’s journey looks different
Rest is productive
Failures are part of growth
They are more than their grades or likes

4. Normalize and Encourage Therapy

Many teens worry that therapy means they’re “broken.” Instead, frame it as a space to:

Sort out thoughts and feelings
Get support for stress, school, or relationships
Learn tools to navigate hard emotions
Spend time with a calming therapy dog 🐶

📘 Read about how we support teens at AACI

5. Advocate for School + Community Support

Talk to school counselors, explore community mental health events, or look into peer support programs.

📚 Check out this guide for supporting teen mental health

Teens do better when mental health is supported not just at home, but at school and in the community.

💬 What Teens Say They Need

In session, we hear so many teens say:

“I just want someone to listen without fixing.”
“I wish I didn’t feel like a burden.”
“The dog is the only one I feel calm around.”
“I didn’t even know I was anxious until I came here.”

Every teen is different—but most just want to feel seen, safe, and supported.

🐾 How We Can Help at AACI

At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana, our team offers warm, client-centered therapy for teens—with or without the support of therapy dogs. We work with families to build trust, emotional regulation, and practical skills.

📍 Located in Munster, Indiana
👥 Serving teens, families, and individuals
🐶 Offering therapy with trained canine co-therapists

📞 Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment

🎯 Friday Reflection Task

Sit down with your teen (or send a text if that feels easier) and ask:

“If there was one thing I could do to better support you right now, what would it be?”

Then listen. No advice. No fixing. Just presence.