It's hard to know when to make that call to a therapist. Therapy can be time-consuming and expensive, and you don't want to overreact to something that may be quite normal.
First, please know that you can always schedule a consultation with a therapist. Most therapists of teens will talk to the parent first before meeting with the teen. It gives us a chance to speak in an unedited way about what you're seeing.
Every therapist does this differently, but if after the consultation, I don't think the teen needs therapy, I don't charge for that consultation time. I'd rather encourage parents to seek help early and lose money than have parents wait too long.
If there is a safety concern, err on the side of seeking help.
It's probably normal if:
Your teen is sleeping 8-10 hours a day (Teens have an increased need for sleep).
You might need a Counselor if:
You likely need a Counselor if:
Considering a consultation? It's like going to the doctor for your annual check-up. The counselor will probably ask a lot of questions, and either suggest counseling or not. Most counselors would be happy to say, "Your teen is fine. No need for counseling."