A Smooth Start: Helping Teens Thrive in High School
Helping Teens Thrive in High School
The move from middle school to high school can feel like a major leap – both for students and their families. New schedules, bigger campuses, academic pressure and rising expectations can stir up a mix of excitement and anxiety.
For some youth, this transition may also trigger emotional ups and downs, increased moodiness, or withdrawal.
Photo caption: Whether they’re feeling anxious or excited, teens need to know they’re not alone as they step into high school
How can you help your teen navigate this next chapter with confidence and support? Here are some practical ways to lend support:
- Normalize their feelings.
Let your teen know that it’s okay to feel nervous or unsure. Share your own stories of transitions and reassure them that they’re not alone. - Keep communication open.
Ask open-ended questions like, “What are you most curious or nervous about?” Listen without judgment and check in regularly—even if they don’t always open up right away. - Look for changes in mood or behavior.
It’s normal for teens to be moody sometimes, but sudden shifts like extreme irritability, avoiding friends, loss of interest in favorite activities, or persistent anxiety can be red flags. Early support matters. - Encourage routine and rest.
High school schedules can be demanding. Help your youth maintain healthy sleep habits, eat regular meals and carve out downtime to recharge. - Promote problem-solving.
Help your teen brainstorm ways to manage challenges like heavier homework loads, peer dynamics, or time management. Empowering them to come up with their own solutions builds resilience. - Stay connected to school resources.
Familiarize yourself with the school’s counseling team and student support services. If your child needs additional help, don’t hesitate to reach out early in the year.
Every child adjusts differently, but with patience, understanding, and a little preparation, this big step can become a confident stride.
If your teen is struggling with intense anxiety, depression, or emotional changes that seem beyond the typical growing pains, Camino a Casa offers specialized mental health care tailored to adolescents. With a compassionate team and a range of evidence-based services, Camino a Casa helps teens find balance, build resilience, and move forward with confidence. Contact us to learn more.
About Camino a Casa
Casa Pacifica is the largest non-profit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The agency’s Camino a Casa program, available to clients with private insurance, provides behavioral health care to youth ages 12-17 who struggle with emotional dysregulation and high-risk behaviors that jeopardize their safety at home, school and/or community.
Intensive short-term residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and in-home behavioral health services comprise Camino a Casa’s full continuum of adolescent mental health care.
Learn more at www.caminoacasa.org
Contact Us
800-366-4000