Counselling for 16+ teens

Published on 15/08/22 by Laura Peard
Reviewed on 02/02/23 by Bryony Rhodes-Wort

Teenage girl being left out by her friends

We believe good health isn’t just about the body, it’s in the mind too.

That’s why we make it simple for you and your family to stay mentally fit and healthy with our 24/7 counselling and advice services.

When life gets a little overwhelming, qualified professionals are just a phone call away for Simplyhealth health plan holders, and their partners and over 16 year old dependants who are named on their plan.

16 – 18-year-olds have a lot on their plates. It’s a time of rapid change in brain, body, emotional, social and behavioural development. Hormones are raging and feelings are strong, sometimes causing adverse effects that they’re suppressing or don’t know how to deal with.

Here are some examples of the sort of issues teenagers could be dealing with:

Education demands and frustrations. Exams and pressure to do well
Problems with friends and/or peers, or romantic relationships
Too many things to do and/or feeling unprepared or overwhelmed by tasks
Digitally overwhelmed. Gaming addictions or social media dependence for example
Identity and sexual orientation anxiety
Changes in their bodies, negative thoughts or feelings about themselves, body dysmorphia
Food and nutrition fears
Life changes; leaving education, going to university, getting employment, moving house
Separation or divorce of parents
Chronic illness or severe problems in the family
Unsafe living environment/neighbourhood

It’s a lot, right? And of course, there could be a whole host of other issues.

Many will be familiar with the saying “A problem shared, is a problem halved” but your dependants might feel uneasy opening-up, even to those they are closest to. Or they may be keeping things bottled up and worrying about them in the middle of the night.

That’s where we can help. Our 24/7 counselling service is there any time of the day or night. Qualified and friendly counsellors are just a phone call away, ready to provide confidential, in the moment support to whoever on your plan needs it.

Here to make those tougher moments a little easier with;

24/7 ‘in the moment’ support
Counselling support
Identity and relationship support

You can access the telephone number for this service through your online account by signing in and visiting myWellbeing. We’d encourage you to save the telephone number in your phone and provide it to all the named dependants on your plan, so they can do the same. Then everyone can easily access this valuable service whenever they need. It’s even available when you are in another country, simply add +44 to the number before dialling.*

This ‘in the moment’ telephone support is designed to help when it’s needed the most. The counsellor will help address the problem confidentially, talk through the options and agree next steps – so you and your dependants don’t have to face a crisis alone.

Next steps may be more formal support. We can help there too. Structured telephone or video therapy could be offered, and arrangements made to match the person being treated with an experienced counsellor who can provide the support needed.

Whilst teenagers may be struggling, we understand that those supporting them may be overwhelmed themselves. These services are available to anyone named on the health plan. We’re all only human. It’s OK to not feel OK. Any emotion felt strongly can be overwhelming. Whatever you or your dependants are struggling with, we're here to help.

A video about Simplyhealth's counselling services

Find out more about counselling

Simplyhealth’s counselling service is provided by Health Assured.

*Mobile charges may apply. Check with your mobile phone service provider before travelling.

Counselling for 16+ teens

Health cover for the family

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