Residential Therapy for Teens: Help for Gen Z

The Generation Z cohort describes people who were born roughly between 1996 and 2010. Members of Gen Z can be described as tech-savvy, as they are the first generation to grow up with the internet, social media, and smartphones. Gen Z can also be characterized by their strong support for social equality, mental health awareness, and inclusive values. If you are a parent of a Gen Z child, you may be struggling to understand why they think or feel the way they do. Let’s learn more about some tips for parenting your Gen Z child and how residential therapy for teens may be the best option for you.

Tips for Parenting a Gen Z Child or Teen

Navigating and Understanding Your Child’s Digital World

The members of Gen Z have mostly grown up using the internet, social media, and smartphones. Parents should learn about which platforms their children use and should monitor interactions online. Social media can offer benefits of connection, community building, self-expression, identity formation, access to information, support, and cultural awareness. But, excessive use of social media has been linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness in teens. A great way to set boundaries around screen time is to set allotted amounts of time that your child can spend on the internet. When used in moderation, social media can be a positive space for learning, creativity, and connection for teens. 

If social media is causing severe mental health struggles or behavioral issues with your child, a residential therapy program like CERTS may be the right option for your family. Our residential therapy for teens is a structured environment where teens can learn how to foster offline relationships with their peers, family, and friends. 

Learning to Use and Promote Open Communication with Your Child

Transparency and open communication are valued by Gen Z children and teens; parents should create a safe environment where their children can comfortably express their thoughts and feelings. Parents should try to avoid authoritarian actions and rather focus on listening to their child’s concerns or issues. When a family doesn’t have open communication, family conflicts can arise from the feelings of being unheard.

If intense family conflicts or family dynamics are breaking down, residential therapy for teens could be necessary for you and your child to learn how to effectively communicate. Conflicts between parents and children may be caused by behavioral issues, lack of communication, or many other issues. CERTS offers intensive therapy, teaching both the parents and children how to openly and safely communicate with each other. Parents should keep an open mind when their child is expressing their feelings during residential treatment, this gives the family a chance to healthily repair their relationship in a controlled setting. By practicing open communication, parents can better understand what their teen is going through. Our therapeutic program can teach parents and students how to navigate mental health struggles together and how to maintain a healthy relationship.

Focus on Your Child’s Mental Health

Gen Z is far more open about mental health struggles than previous generations. Parents may not know how to talk about mental health and other issues. The best thing parents can do is educate themselves about mental health issues and be supportive of their child. Normalizing teen mental health struggles through open conversations and providing good resources can encourage your teen to get help if they need it.

If you are struggling with open communication or education surrounding mental health, residential therapy for teens could be beneficial for your family. CERTS offers specialized, intensive care that can address your teen’s needs while also educating parents about teen mental health. We highly support parent involvement during residential treatment and offer parent webinars, seminars, and assignments for parents.

Educate Yourself and Encourage Critical Thinking About Media

The internet offers a large variety of information readily available to Gen Z; parents should teach their children how to critically analyze the online content they are consuming. Being able to critically think about online media can help teens distinguish between credible sources and misinformation, especially when it comes to social media. Without this crucial knowledge, teens may succumb to mental health struggles like depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, or loneliness, which have all been linked to excessive use of social media.

If your teen is engaging in behaviors that are harmful to themselves or others, residential therapy for teens may be necessary. At CERTS, our programs are designed to treat these issues with therapy in a controlled environment. We understand that children today may struggle emotionally because of social media. Our therapeutic program teaches teens how to better understand and process their emotions in a healthy way.

Respect Your Child’s Individuality and Self Expression

Members of the Gen Z cohort are more accepting of diverse identity expressions compared to previous generations. Parents should practice open communication surrounding topics about gender, sexuality, diversity, and personal expression. Parents can show support for their children by encouraging them to explore who they are and embracing their identity without.

Parents may struggle to understand the importance of identity expressions or don’t know how to have a conversation with their child about these topics. Ignoring your child’s self expression can lead to mental health struggles and often they may have issues in other areas of their lives as well. Residential therapy for teens is a good option for your child if they are struggling with school, social interactions, or daily functioning. Our residential treatment programs at CERTS can provide students academic support alongside therapeutic activities. We support teen’s self identity and can help them foster self confidence through creative expression and experiential therapy.

CERTS Provides Help for You and Your Child

At CERTS, we believe that each student has the potential to grow and learn through our residential treatment programs. Gen Z children and teens are struggling with mental health issues that parents may not have been faced with. It is crucial for parents to try to understand their child’s thoughts and feelings through open communication about mental health, the digital world, school, social activities, self expression and so much more. Our residential therapy for teens programs help students and their parents navigate the complexities of teen mental health through intensive therapy, academic support, and experiential therapy. Contact CERTS today to learn more about our different programs in Utah and how we can help your child through their healing journey.