How to Find Your Summer Reset: A Therapist for Teens in Roswell, GA, Shares Tools for Anxiety and Transitions
Let’s be real: life can feel like a lot sometimes. Whether you're dealing with anxious thoughts, going through a big change, or just trying to stay grounded in a hectic world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
The good news? You don’t have to figure it all out alone, and you definitely don’t have to feel this way forever. If you’re looking for support, working with a therapist for teens in Roswell, GA, can be a significant first step. Additionally, two powerful (and totally doable) tools can help: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. In this post, we’ll break them down and share easy ways you can start using them to feel calmer, clearer, and more in control. And if you're looking for even more support, counseling for teens can help you feel heard, confident, and better equipped to handle whatever comes your way.
Managing Anxiety & Negative Thoughts with CBT
CBT is full of practical techniques that anyone can use. CBT helps you notice the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and gives you tools to shift those unhelpful thoughts that fuel anxiety.
First, Spot the Sneaky Thoughts
Anxiety often shows up in the way we think. Here are a few common patterns to look out for:
Catastrophizing: Jumping to the worst-case scenario (“If I mess up, everything will fall apart.”)
All-or-nothing thinking: Seeing things in extremes (“If I don’t do this perfectly, I’ve failed.”)
Mind reading: Assuming you know what others are thinking (“They probably think I’m awkward.”)
Once you spot these patterns, you’re already halfway there.
CBT Tools You Can Try Today
The Thought Log
Jot down:
What happened?
What thought popped up?
How did it make you feel?
What evidence supports or challenges that thought?
A more balanced version of the thought.
Example:
→ “My friend hasn’t texted me back.”
→ “My friend must be mad at me.”
→ “I’m worried I did something to upset them.”
→ “They would tell me if there was something really wrong, and I can’t think of anything I could have done to hurt their feelings.”
→ “I don’t know what’s going on, but I need more information before jumping to conclusions.”
Challenge Your Thoughts
Ask yourself:
“Is this 100% true?”
“What would I tell a friend who felt this way?”
“What’s a more realistic way to see this?”
Do Something Small (Behavioral Activation)
When anxiety makes you want to hide under a blanket, try doing something, anything, that moves you forward. Text a friend, go for a walk, tidy up a corner of your room. Tiny actions can lead to big shifts over time.
Mindfulness for Anxiety, Stress, and Transitions
Transitions can be exciting, but they’re also stressful. Moving up to High School? Just graduated? Moving? Even the good changes can shake things up. That’s where mindfulness comes in, and it's something a teen therapist may often recommend during times of big change.
Mindfulness is simply paying attention to the present moment without judging it. It sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly powerful, especially when life feels like it's moving a mile a minute.
Mindfulness in Everyday Life
Mindful Breathing
Pause. Take a few slow breaths. Focus on the inhale and the exhale. When your mind wanders (because it will), gently bring your attention back to the sensation of your breathing.
Body Scan
Slowly move your attention through your body, from your toes up to the top of your head. Notice what you feel. No need to change anything; just observe.
Mindful Movement
Take a walk and really notice what’s around you—the feeling of your feet on the ground, the sounds, the temperature. This brings your attention right back to the present.
Staying Centered Through Change with a Therapist for Teens in Roswell, GA
Change doesn’t have to knock you off balance. Here are a few ways to stay grounded:
Create Tiny Rituals
Something as small as making tea in the morning or journaling for five minutes can give you a sense of routine and calm, and give you something to look forward to.
Be Kind to Yourself
When under pressure, it can be easy for our inner voice to start to take a mean turn. Speak to yourself the way you’d talk to a good friend: “I’m doing the best I can.”
Focus on the Next Step
Instead of worrying about the whole journey, ask yourself: “What’s one small thing I can do today?”
Put It All Together
Life will always have its share of stress, change, and anxious moments. But with tools like CBT and mindfulness, you don’t have to be at the mercy of your fleeting thoughts or emotions.
You don’t need to master everything at once. Just start with one small step: maybe a thought log, a grounding breath, or a mindful walk. At Renovating Hope Counseling, we believe these little moments of calm add up.
And remember: you don’t need to control every thought, but you can stop them from controlling you.
Start the Summer with Support from a Therapist for Teens in Roswell, GA
If your teen is feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, change, or the pressure of transition, they don’t have to navigate it alone. At Renovating Hope Counseling, we offer teen therapy in Roswell, GA, that provides a steady foundation through life’s ups and downs. Whether they’re looking to reset, reflect, or rediscover what brings them peace, compassionate support is available.
Here’s how to begin:
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to talk about what your teen is going through and see if we’re a good fit.
Book their first teen therapy session and begin building tools for emotional balance and resilience.
Watch your teen step into summer with support, calm, and confidence.
Integrative Counseling Services in Roswell, GA & North Metro Atlanta
Alongside our teen counseling services in Roswell, GA, we offer a comprehensive range of holistic therapy options designed to meet the evolving needs of individuals and families. Our compassionate team provides individual therapy, child counseling, and family support that helps nurture emotional wellness, strengthen bonds, and foster healthier communication at home.
We also work with couples through marriage and relationship counseling, creating space to rebuild trust and grow in connection. For those navigating past trauma, our trauma-informed approach ensures a safe, empathetic environment for meaningful healing.
Our clinicians offer targeted therapy for anxiety, depression, OCD, body image concerns & disordered eating, and women’s emotional wellness. To provide integrative support, we also offer brainspotting, Christian counseling, online therapy, functional nutrition services, and sports performance coaching, tailored to promote balance and resilience in mind and body.
All About Madeline Verdesca: A Teen Therapist in Roswell, GA
Madeline is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Roswell, GA, passionate about helping teens and individuals feel seen, heard, and empowered. With years of training and hands-on experience, she supports clients through life’s challenges by focusing on growth, healing, and relationships. Madeline is especially drawn to hearing people’s stories and equipping them with tools to find relief and fulfillment.
Outside of her work at Renovating Hope, you’ll find her gardening, reading, singing, or walking with her husband and their labradoodle, River. Her goal in every session is to offer hope and to help clients build a life full of agency, connection, and joy.
