Parenting with Teens: How Teen Counseling in Roswell, GA Can Help
Parenting is never easy, and parenting a teenager is something else entirely. Maybe this is all new, and you and your teen are walking through it for the first time together. Maybe you’re a seasoned veteran, but this time, for some reason, it’s different. Whatever your journey looks like, you’re not alone, and support is available. Many families find that teen counseling in Roswell, GA, offers a helpful space to navigate the challenges of adolescence with greater confidence and clarity.
Every teenager is different, and every parent has their own parenting style, but there are a few key things to keep in mind that can help you move forward with hope and confidence. If things feel especially tense or confusing at home, teen counseling can help both parents and teens reconnect.
Set SMART Expectations: Clear Goals for Real Growth
Set expectations for behaviors, and make sure they are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Your teen can only succeed if they know what success looks like. Sometimes we feel we have communicated our expectations clearly, though in reality, we have left much up to personal interpretation. You don’t want your teen to misinterpret what you want from them.
For example, say you want your teen to “do more chores around the house”. Your teen may understand your general desire for them to help out a little more, but without SMART parameters, this is an unclear goal. We need to make it more precise so everyone in the household knows what success and failure look like.
Make Expectations Crystal Clear
To change this into a SMART expectation, we would adjust this to “Rachel is expected to empty the dishwasher on weeknights, and have all clothes picked up from the floor of her room before she goes to bed every night”. In this case, Rachel knows exactly what she needs to do to meet this expectation, and it is clear when she has failed to meet the expectation.
Another example could be wanting your teen to have a “clean room”. Make sure you have communicated exactly what your teen needs to do to meet your expectation of a “clean room”. Does having a clean room mean no clothes on the floor? That they vacuum that week? Do they need to dust surfaces, remove dishes, and wipe down surfaces? Make sure you’re all on the same page about what is expected from them, and this will help them succeed. Teen counseling in Roswell, GA, often supports parents in setting and communicating expectations like these more effectively.
Consistency Counts: Rewards, Consequences, and Follow-Through
Maintain these expectations with a consistent structure of rewards and consequences. Consistency is key. If unwanted behaviors are only met with consequences some of the time but not every time, this leads to confusion and frustration in your teen, and this will show up in their behavior. If you want your teen to succeed, it is crucial that you respond to their behaviors with consistent rewards and consequences every time. A teen therapist can also help families identify which strategies are most effective for their specific needs and personalities.
Motivating Your Teen: Tailor Strategies to What They Care About
We can use another example, and let’s use the above expectation for Rachel and her chores. Rewards and consequences are used to help motivate us to meet our goals and expectations. I always recommend that the reward and the consequence be personalized to each individual.
Let’s say Rachel loves going to her school’s football games on Friday nights with her friends, but her sister Amira doesn’t like sports and prefers playing video games online with her friends from home. A consequence that works to motivate Rachel might not motivate Amira at all, and vice versa. A helpful consequence for Rachel might be that she is not allowed to attend that week’s football game if she fails to empty the dishwasher that week as expected. It also works as a reward for when she completes the chore successfully. For Amira, a helpful consequence for her might be that she is not allowed to play online games with her friends on the days that her room is not clean, and that a reward for completing her chore is to have a designated time playing with her friends online.
Simplify the Process with a Visible Chore or Behavior Chart
Setting clear expectations with consistent rewards and consequences will help you spend less time explaining to your teen why they don’t get to go to Friday’s game until you’re blue in the face and spend more time on things you love, like quality time. A great way to make sure everyone’s on board with the new expectations is to make a chore or behavior chart, depending on what you’re looking for. You can list every task or behavior and its designated reward or consequence. When you keep this in a highly visible spot, you can just point the teen to the chart when there is a discrepancy, and your work is done.
Mindfulness in Parenting: Why Staying Calm Really Matters
Lastly, mindfulness is important. Not just for your teen (though that’s good, too), but for you! Because don’t forget, teens can smell fear. Just kidding, but they have a tendency to respond better to calm, confident leadership and not as much when we lose our cool. So take a deep breath (take ten or more, if needed), or take a break to let your nervous system de-escalate if you feel like you’re starting to get frustrated. Most of us need 20-45 minutes (sometimes more!) to leave our “fight or flight brain” and get our “best self brain” back online. You and your teen will both thank you for it later.
Teen Counseling in Roswell, GA, Can Support You Both as You Learn and Grow
Hopefully, these tips can help give you a place to start, and don’t forget that you and your teen are both learning as you go, and with time and practice, you can figure out a routine and rhythm that works for you. Teen counseling isn’t about changing your teen. It’s about helping you both grow together with support, structure, and understanding from someone who gets it. At Renovating Hope Counseling, we specialize in helping teens and their families navigate these challenges with compassion, clarity, and practical tools for real change.
Support for You and Your Teen Starts Here with Teen Counseling in Roswell, GA
Parenting a teen isn’t easy, and when you're navigating new challenges, shifting dynamics, and emotional ups and downs, it can help to have someone in your corner. At Renovating Hope Counseling, we offer teen counseling in Roswell, GA, to support both teens and parents in building healthier relationships, setting clear expectations, and creating a calmer home environment.
If your teen is overwhelmed or just not acting like themselves, teen therapy can help them find clarity and help you find confidence in your parenting again.
Here’s how to get started:
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to talk about your teen’s needs and ask any questions.
Book your first teen therapy session to begin working with a therapist who understands the complexities of teen life and parenting.
Start seeing progress at home as your teen builds emotional tools, and you gain more support and clarity in your parenting journey.
Therapy & Support for Every Stage of Life in Roswell, GA
Alongside our specialized teen counseling, we offer a broad range of therapeutic services designed to support individuals and families through life’s many transitions. Whether you're seeking support for yourself, your child, or your entire family, our team is here to help strengthen emotional resilience and foster connection at home.
Our services include individual therapy, counseling for children, and family sessions that encourage healthy communication and deeper understanding. We also provide marriage and couples counseling to help partners navigate challenges and reconnect in meaningful ways. For those healing from difficult experiences, we offer trauma-informed therapy that honors your pace and story.
For clients managing specific mental health concerns, we provide focused care for anxiety, depression, OCD, body image concerns & disordered eating, and women’s mental health. We take a comprehensive approach, with added specialties such as brainspotting, Christian counseling, and flexible online therapy. To further support mind-body wellness, we also offer functional nutrition counseling and sports performance coaching.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Madeline Verdesca, Masters Level Clinician
Madeline joins Renovating Hope Counseling with over four years of experience working with individuals and families in a variety of settings including hospital and community mental health. She believes every person brings a unique point of view to the counseling room and that each person is inherently valuable and has the capacity for growth, joy, and true fulfillment. Madeline practices from a client-centered approach, and she utilizes Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) and Experiential Therapy techniques, with a trauma-informed approach.