Anxiety and worry
Fears, panic or anxiety attacks, persistent anticipation, social anxiety or difficulty feeling safe in everyday situations.
Therapy for teenagers
Therapy for teenagers in Córdoba and online
A space for teenagers experiencing anxiety, self-esteem difficulties, academic pressure or family conflict. Support in Córdoba and online, with guidance for families when helpful.
A free, no-obligation first session of 20–30 minutes.
Sessions available in English and Spanish, in person in Córdoba and online
On this page
Every teenager is different
Common reasons teenagers come to therapy
Adolescence involves significant physical, emotional and social changes, and not every difficult period is a mental health disorder. Sometimes, however, worry, irritability, withdrawal, bullying or changes in eating begin to affect school, family life, friendships or the young person's wellbeing.
Therapy provides a warm, non-judgemental space to understand what is happening, build personally meaningful goals and develop useful skills. It can also identify signs requiring healthcare or specialist support and guide the family. Sessions are available in English or Spanish, in person in Córdoba, online or in a hybrid format.
Academic pressure
Exams, fear of failure, perfectionism, feeling blocked, procrastination or difficulty organising work and rest.
Self-esteem and identity
Insecurity, self-criticism, comparison, body image, a need for approval or questions arising during the development of identity.
Mood
Irritability, apathy, sadness, loss of interest, emotional disconnection or a sense of being unable to cope.
Relationships and family
Conflict, difficult communication, disagreements about boundaries, friendship problems, loneliness, rejection or bullying.
Change and adjustment
Separation, bereavement, changing schools, new stages, decisions about the future or complex family circumstances.
Look at change and impact
Signs that additional support may be helpful
Rather than focusing on one isolated behaviour, consider whether there is an ongoing change from the young person's usual way of being, whether distress is worsening and how much it interferes with daily life.
Emotional changes
Persistent worry, negative thoughts, intense irritability, frequent outbursts, apathy or hopelessness.
Changes in daily functioning
Sleep or eating changes, difficulty concentrating, falling grades, absence or persistent refusal to attend school.
Withdrawal and avoidance
Loss of interest in usual activities, increasing isolation, no longer seeing friends or avoiding situations through fear.
Higher-risk signs
Substance use, dangerous behaviour, self-harm, statements of worthlessness or guilt, thoughts of death or suicide require timely, appropriate assessment.
Bullying and cyberbullying
When it is more than a conflict between peers
Bullying commonly involves repeated harm and an imbalance of power. It may include humiliation, exclusion, threats, physical aggression or harmful content shared in person, through social media, messaging groups or other platforms.
Avoiding school, falling grades, withdrawal, sleep changes, frequent physical complaints, missing belongings or fear of using a phone may indicate distress, although no single sign proves that bullying is taking place.
Listen and take it seriously
Allow the teenager to explain without blame, interrogation or expecting them to confront the person bullying them alone.
Assess safety
Explore threats, assault, image sharing, self-harm or fear of attending school, and act urgently when danger is present.
Preserve useful information
Keep messages, screenshots and dates when safe, without responding with threats or sharing the harmful content again.
Coordinate the response
Involve the family and activate the school's safeguarding procedure. Therapy can address emotional impact but does not replace protective action.
Eating, body image and self-esteem
Signs of a possible eating disorder
Changes in eating or concerns about body image do not automatically indicate an eating disorder. However, some patterns require early attention. Eating disorders can affect teenagers of any gender and cannot be ruled out solely on the basis of weight or body mass index.
Persistent restriction or change
Eating less or a narrower range of foods, skipping meals, developing rigid rules, avoiding eating with others or showing marked distress around meals.
Binge eating or compensatory behaviour
Episodes of eating with loss of control, vomiting, laxative use, fasting or compulsive exercise intended to compensate.
Dominant preoccupation
Intense guilt after eating, frequent body checking, persistent fear of weight gain or thoughts about food and shape that take over much of the day.
Physical or functional changes
Rapid weight changes, dizziness, fainting, tiredness, feeling continually cold, concentration problems, altered growth or social withdrawal.
A space of their own
How does therapy with a teenager work?
Therapy aims to give the young person room to talk without feeling judged, understand their experience and participate in setting goals that make sense to them.
Hear different perspectives
Both the family's concerns and the teenager's own experience and voice are taken seriously.
Understand the context
Assessment considers emotional wellbeing, family and peer relationships, education, routines and recent changes.
Agree on goals
Work may focus on anxiety, self-esteem, emotional regulation, communication, decision-making or habits that are causing difficulties.
Review progress
Changes are monitored and, if needs fall outside the scope of this practice, this is explained and referral to appropriate healthcare or specialist support is recommended.
Safety and early support
Self-harm, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in teenagers
Self-harm —which may include intentional injury or self-poisoning—, thoughts about death, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts are not exactly the same. A young person may self-harm without intending to die, but it should never be dismissed: it signals distress, can cause physical harm and requires an assessment of risk, context and support needs.
A current plan or intent, immediate access to means, an attempt in progress or a recent attempt, ingestion, poisoning or overdose, injury, intense agitation or being unable to maintain safety require action without waiting for a routine appointment. Safety and urgent assessment take priority.
Listen calmly
Take what the young person says seriously, avoid blame or challenges and let them explain what is happening without turning the conversation into an interrogation.
Assess urgency
When acute indicators are present, do not leave the teenager alone, reduce access to means if this can be done without putting anyone at risk, and call 112 or go to emergency care. Spain's 024 helpline can also support young people and families.
Arrange professional support
Even when danger does not appear immediate, self-harm or suicidal thoughts require prompt assessment by healthcare professionals and appropriate follow-up.
Coordinate responsible adults
Confidentiality has limits when there is a significant safety risk. Family, healthcare professionals and, where appropriate, the school should work together to protect the teenager.
The teenager and their environment
How are parents and families involved?
Therapy focuses primarily on the teenager, while family sessions can be included when they help us understand the situation, improve communication, agree on guidance or support change.
Privacy is important for building trust. At the outset, confidentiality and its limits are explained according to age, law and safety. If there is a significant risk to the young person or someone else, appropriate protective action must be taken.
First steps
Supporting a teenager at home
Listen before solving
Choose a calm moment, ask open questions and try to understand before offering advice or consequences.
Validate without escalating
Avoid phrases such as “it is not that bad” and acknowledge distress even when the family sees the situation differently.
Describe facts, not labels
Talk about specific changes in sleep, schoolwork, mood or relationships instead of quickly applying a diagnosis.
Seek the right help
Ask for support if the problem persists, worsens or interferes. For self-harm, suicidal thoughts or immediate danger, use urgent services rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Córdoba and online
Therapy for teenagers in English or Spanish
Sessions can be held in person in Córdoba, online or in a hybrid format. For under-18s, suitability depends on age, available privacy, the reason for seeking help and the level of family involvement needed.
Support is available in both English and Spanish. The young person can use the language in which they feel most comfortable describing their experience.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about therapy for teenagers
These answers provide general guidance for teenagers and families. Practical arrangements are agreed after understanding the individual situation.
01When should a teenager see a psychologist?
When distress continues, worsens or significantly affects school, friendships, family life, sleep or everyday activities. Families can also seek early guidance without assuming that the young person has a disorder.
02Do parents take part in the sessions?
It depends on age, the reason for seeking support and the young person's needs. There may be individual sessions with the teenager and separate or joint family sessions to assess concerns, agree on guidance or improve communication.
03Will parents be told everything the teenager says?
Privacy is important for building trust. Confidentiality and its limits are explained clearly at the beginning. If there is a significant concern about the young person's safety or someone else's safety, appropriate protective action must be taken.
04What if my teenager does not want to see a psychologist?
Explain your concern without threats or labels, listen to their reasons and present the first conversation as an opportunity to meet the psychologist. Deception or using therapy as a punishment can make trust more difficult.
05Is therapy only for the teenager or also for the family?
Work focuses mainly on the teenager, but family sessions can be included when they help clarify the difficulty, improve home life, review guidance or support change.
06Can therapy help with exam anxiety?
Yes. Therapy can address academic pressure, fear of failure, perfectionism, feeling blocked, organisation and anxiety responses connected with studying and exams.
07What should I do if I suspect bullying or cyberbullying?
Listen without blame, preserve possible digital evidence, inform the school so that its safeguarding procedure can be activated and consider immediate safety. In Spain, use 900 018 018 for school bullying and 017 for cyberbullying. Call 112 for immediate danger.
08Can a possible eating disorder be treated only in this practice?
This should not be assumed. Possible eating disorders need healthcare and specialist assessment, including physical health. The practice can listen to the distress, guide the family and facilitate appropriate coordination or referral.
09Does self-harm always mean that a teenager intends to die?
Not always, but it should not be dismissed and risk cannot be judged from the appearance of an injury alone. Self-harm signals distress and needs prompt assessment of intent, frequency, context, safety and the professional support required.
10What should I do if a teenager says they want to die or has attempted suicide?
Take it seriously. If there is a current plan or intent, access to means, an attempt in progress or a recent attempt, ingestion, poisoning, overdose, injury or you cannot maintain their safety, do not leave them alone and call 112 or go to emergency care. A past attempt always needs prompt professional assessment, but does not by itself mean there is a current emergency. The 024 helpline does not replace emergency care.
11Can asking directly about suicide put the idea in their head?
No. Asking directly, calmly and without judgement does not cause suicidal behaviour. It can help a teenager feel understood, explain what is happening and access support. If their answer indicates current danger, urgent care is needed.
12Can in-person and online sessions be combined?
Yes. Depending on age, the reason for therapy, privacy and family needs, sessions can be in person in Córdoba, online or hybrid.
13Can a teenager have therapy in English?
Yes. Sessions for teenagers are available in English and Spanish, in person in Córdoba, online or in a hybrid format.
Sources and further reading
Sources and further reading
References used to prepare this information.
- World Health Organization. Mental health of adolescents
- World Health Organization. Youth violence, bullying and technology-facilitated violence
- Spanish Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports. Support service for abuse and bullying in schools
- INCIBE. What to do about cyberbullying and the 017 helpline
- NICE. Eating disorders: recognition and treatment
- World Health Organization. Suicide: prevention and control
- World Health Organization. Questions and answers about suicide
- Spanish Ministry of Health. 024 helpline for suicidal behaviour
- Spanish Association of Paediatrics. Distinguishing adolescent distress, life crises and mental disorders
- NHS. Anxiety disorders in children
- NICE. Social anxiety disorder: recognition, assessment and treatment
Pulso en Cauce
Finding direction can begin with a conversation.
A free, no-obligation first meeting of 20–30 minutes to talk about what you need, ask questions and learn how I work. You then decide whether to continue.