It may appear to adults that teenage years are free of stress, but as a counselor, I know otherwise.
Many teens are clients and discuss issues that cause anxiety.
These include issues around weight, body image, popularity, academic pressures, relationships and family tensions.
Many kids today have to deal with divorce, financial issues due to a parent losing a job and depression in family members.
Teenage years are stressful.
Friendships can turn on a dime.
Junior and senior years of high school bring up questions about college essays, learning how to drive and dating issues.
There is also pressure about drugs and questions about sexual experimentation.
As a parent, take your teen's concerns seriously.
Don't just dismiss the concerns as silly.
No one wants to feel that their issues are unimportant.
Encourage exercise, yoga or walking.
This helps to get the body to stretch, relax and release tensions that build up.
Don't compare one child with another.
Each one is an individual and to make comparisons with a sibling that excels academically or in sports can feel belittling.
Try to emphasize your child's strengths and encourage his unique development.
Communication is helpful for teenage stress relief but many teens clam up around their parents.
By letting your child know that you have been there yourself, this can help them to open up.
Still, they may see you as "old" and uncool.
Try to encourage them to speak to a sibling, cousin or teen of a friend to be able to vent about the daily pressures.
Share with them some of your own struggles as a teen to help them to see you aren't just a parent but have had similar challenges.