1-866-548-8677

Se habla español

Does Puberty Cause Depression?

Being an adolescent comes with many challenges, as I’m sure we all remember. Shifting hormones, new roles, friendships, self-esteem, and life changes cause an increased risk of depression and other mental health issues. Puberty is a crucial time in development but also a time when adolescents begin to experiment and engage in risk-taking behaviors. As a therapist having previously worked in a residential facility for eating disorders, I observed that depression during puberty was multifaceted. Social, physical, and environmental factors played a role in various mental health presentations. Many adolescents present with depression due to childhood trauma, negative social circles, substance use, risk-taking, or simply poor self-esteem.

Emotional Regulation and Coping Skills

Many times, puberty comes with maturation issues. The idea of growing up and becoming an adult comes with an increased knowledge of responsibility and change. These thoughts can be scary, and teens may have trouble managing these emotions. Emotional regulation and learning coping skills to manage negative emotions have been critical areas of work with adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms during puberty.

In cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), we discuss core beliefs, automatic negative thinking, and reframing thoughts. How do we accomplish taking negative thoughts and turning them around to see the brighter picture? Reframe, reframe, reframe. By understanding where these thoughts are coming from and why we believe each thought, we can transform the way we think about them by seeing them in a nonjudgemental, more helpful way.

Example

Jane is walking down the hallway and sees Maria and waves, but Maria doesn’t acknowledge Jane. When Jane goes home, she feels like Maria no longer likes her, but what she doesn’t know is that Maria has just failed her math exam and is very angry. She is dissociated and not paying attention to much around her and misses Jane’s social cue. Jane is now in the mindset that Maria doesn’t like her anymore. By reframing the thought, Jane could put herself in a position without even knowing Maria’s stance and think, maybe Maria was just having a bad day, or maybe she didn’t see me. This simple reframe can ease any negative feelings that Jane may be experiencing.

Gender Differences in Puberty-Related Depression

Gender may also be a factor when dealing with depression in puberty, as there are important differences.

  • Girls: Many adolescent girls have trouble wrapping their minds around becoming women. Growing breasts, body hair, and widening hips can cause body image issues and body dysmorphia. These poor body image issues can lead to an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms.
  • Boys: For adolescent boys, puberty can be a time when increased testosterone can cause more aggressive behavior, sexual activity, and role confusion. Depressive symptoms with body image may also play a role if later onset puberty exists. Therapeutically, when an adolescent comes in with poor body image, it is important to help them see their body in a neutral stance.

Addressing Hygiene and Self-Care

Puberty also comes with increased hygiene protocols which may be troublesome for an adolescent dealing with depression. For previous clients that struggled with basic hygiene, collaborating on a behavior plan was beneficial to ensure the teen would commit to needs. My experience with eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and poor body image led to many teens struggling with basic needs due to the challenges of facing mirrors or seeing themselves in any reflection.

Self-Care Strategies

  • Physical Self-Care: Maintaining proper nutrition, sleep hygiene, movement, and staying hydrated.
  • Emotional Self-Care: Journaling, listening to music, grounding exercises, practicing positive affirmations, and self-reflection.
  • Cognitive Self-Care: Being aware of inner judgment, self-talk, and participation in family time, therapy, and creative expression.

Social Changes and Peer Pressure

Depression in puberty can also come from stressful social changes. Fitting in with certain groups, self-worth based on others’ opinions, invalidation, and changes in values can all contribute to depression.

Intervention Example

An activity I have worked on with adolescents dealing with depression has been “the masks we wear”. On a sheet of paper with the outline of a mask, draw or write how you portray yourself to the world, and on the other side of the mask, write internal feelings. By identifying the differences, it is important to discuss the reasons for any incongruence.

Another intervention I have used comes from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and a metaphor called “The Unwelcome Party Guest”. This intervention involves adolescents understanding that our self-limiting beliefs only have power if we let them bother us. ACT encourages us to accept unwanted feelings to better experience our lives, values, and what is important to us.

Risk-Taking and Substance Use

Depression in puberty may also be caused by increased risk-taking and experimentation with drugs and alcohol. Despite efforts to protect teens, exposure to illicit drugs and alcohol is undoubtedly present through social media, advertisements, and movies.

Early Intervention Strategies

Early intervention is important when dealing with substance use. Through the use of motivational interviewing and CBT, skills to replace maladaptive behaviors are essential when a teen is using substances. When teens feel like recovery is “their idea” and they are in control, it encourages autonomy and self-motivation to move forward. It is important for individuals to feel empowered by their own decision-making skills and achievements.

Motivation and Goal-Setting

Motivational Interviewing (MI) can help strengthen an adolescent’s commitment and motivation to reach certain goals. Depression in puberty may be caused by a teen’s lack of motivation. In my experience, working with adolescents’ motivation started with seeing tangible rewards.

As teens seek autonomy and independence, understanding that independence is fueled by trust and finding both internal and external motivators can help in building goals to increase awareness and motivation. Understanding natural consequences that occur when we become unmotivated can help in taking personal accountability and recognizing areas in which we need to push ourselves.

SMART Goals

SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-manageable. Creating both short and long-term goals can help adolescents work toward their overall well-being.

Moving Forward

All in all, the question of whether puberty causes depression is complex, as there are many reasons for symptoms of depression to develop around the time adolescents begin puberty. There are many interventions and techniques to help teens who may be struggling with depression during this time. If you or someone you know is facing these challenges, exploring resources and professional support can make a significant difference. For more information and inspiration on supporting adolescent mental health, contact us at the Adolescent Wellness Academy.

About the Author

Picture of Kimberly Carlesi

Kimberly Carlesi

Therapist

Kimberly, a dedicated therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida International University, specializes in supporting individuals with eating disorders, trauma, and substance abuse. She creates a safe, nurturing environment for her client’s healing journeys, drawing from diverse therapeutic modalities like cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy. With a focus on trust and collaboration, Kimberly empowers clients through personalized interventions, fostering self-awareness and resilience.
Kimberly, a dedicated therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida International University, specializes in supporting individuals with eating disorders, trauma, and substance abuse. She creates a safe, nurturing environment for her client’s healing journeys, drawing from diverse therapeutic modalities like cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy. With a focus on trust and collaboration, Kimberly empowers clients through personalized interventions, fostering self-awareness and resilience.
Read More from this author

Discover how our judgment-free, evidence-based care can support your teen mental health and your family

Request a call back and our admissions team will get in touch with you to answer all your questions.

We will support you in finding the right treatment for your teen – even if it is not ours.

We are here to help 24/7.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Note we are not a crisis hotline, in case of emergency, please call 911 

Facebook Instagram Linkedin
BROWARD
MIAMI-DADE
About us
our programs
process
Success stories
resources
Contact Us
Contact Us

Tatiana Shiber - Therapist (Davie)

Tatiana Lourenco Shiber, MS, RMHCI is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She has extensive experience working with adolescents navigating intellectual disabilities, trauma, self-harm, family conflict, depression, and anxiety. Tatiana has also worked with diverse populations providing culturally responsive and affirming care.
 
Tatiana’s therapeutic approach is strength-based and incorporates evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) and Narrative therapy. Tatiana is passionate about creating a safe and supportive environment where clients feel empowered to build resilience, develop healthy coping skills, and foster meaningful change. She is dedicated to walking alongside her clients in their healing journey with compassion, authenticity, and respect.

Tiffany Rivera - Therapist (Davie)

Tiffany Rivera holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University.

With a passion for empowering young people, Tiffany specializes in client-centered approaches that foster trust, growth, and resilience. She brings a strong background in mentoring youth and supporting individuals struggling with substance use, always meeting clients with empathy, patience, and genuine care.

Tiffany is known for her compassionate nature, strong communication skills, and unwavering commitment to helping adolescents navigate life’s challenges.

Ornella Barille - Therapist (Davie)

Ornella is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern and holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has extensive experience working with diverse populations, including children, families, and young adults. Ornella has worked in both K-12 schools and at the college level, where she has developed a strong commitment to helping adolescents thrive by supporting their personal and academic growth and empowering them to reach their full potential.

Her therapeutic approach centers on creating a safe and welcoming environment where clients can feel comfortable exploring their needs and expressing themselves authentically. Ornella utilizes a blend of mindfulness, existential therapy, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to empower clients in navigating life’s challenges.

Ornella’s compassionate approach fosters self-awareness and encourages clients to build effective coping strategies to achieve their therapeutic goals.

Jamie Namer - Therapist (Davie)

Jamie specializes in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) guiding individuals and families toward healthier, more fulfilling lives. With a focus on positivity, self-growth, and holistic healing, Jamie integrates spiritual perspectives and deep empathy into the therapeutic process. Using solution-based methods and emotionally focused therapy, Jamie helps clients navigate past trauma, enhance self-discovery, and strengthen relationships.

Jamie’s approach combines therapeutic techniques with mind-body healing practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and visualization. Experienced in working with children, adolescents, adults, families, and groups, Jamie specializes in addressing issues like anxiety, grief, self-confidence, burnout, family dynamics, depression, PTSD, and life transitions. The goal is to promote overall well-being and support clients in living a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Maria Angelica Mejia – Clinical Director (Davie)

Dr. Maria Angelica Mejia’s therapeutic approach is rooted in empathy, resilience-building, and collaboration. As the Clinical Director for Adolescent Wellness Academy, she is dedicated to supporting high-risk teens in navigating trauma, emotional distress, and life’s challenges with a holistic and trauma-informed lens. Dr. Mejia specializes in working with adolescents facing issues such as suicide risk, self-harm, anxiety, depression, and family conflict, utilizing techniques like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and strength-based therapy. With extensive experience in community mental health, private practice, and clinical supervision, Dr. Mejia has a proven track record of empowering teens to overcome obstacles and thrive. She holds a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy bringing a depth of knowledge and compassion to her leadership role.

Kimberly Geller

Kimberly Geller - Primary Therapist (Davie)

Kimberly is a compassionate and dedicated therapist with a Master’s degree in Social Work from Florida International University. Kimberly creates a nurturing and secure environment where clients can freely explore their emotions and embark on their journey toward healing and growth. Kimberly specializes in client-centered approaches that helps tailor her therapeutic methods to meet unique needs and goals. By fostering a collaborative therapeutic relationship, she empowers clients to develop effective coping skills and achieve meaningful progress in their mental health journey. Kimberly ensures that each person she works with feels understood and valued throughout their therapeutic process.

Zainub Fatta - Therapist (Davie)

Zainub holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University and has extensive experience treating a wide range of mental health issues in adults, teens, and children. She specializes in treating diverse mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, social anxiety, anger management, etc. She also has a lot of experience treating addiction and substance abuse problems within various treatment centers. Zainub views mental health from a systemic perspective, emphasizing the significance of how one’s environment and childhood impacts them, which is why she also specializes in family therapy and couples therapy, when it comes to achieving holistic well-being. Passionate about empowering individuals to find their voice, she considers it a privilege to listen to their vulnerable stories and provide the support they need. Her therapeutic approach focuses on uplifting clients by building their confidence and challenging them to break old, negative patterns of thinking and behavior.

Krystine Garay

Krystine Garay – Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Krystine Garay is a licensed mental health counselor, marriage family therapist, and certified telehealth practitioner. Raised in Miami, Florida, and a member of the Hispanic community, she provides services in both English and Spanish. With five years of experience, she has worked with children, adolescents, and adults, focusing on domestic violence, substance abuse, family conflicts, co-occurring disorders, and mental health issues.
Krystine holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida International University and a master’s degree with dual specializations in mental health and marriage and family counseling from Barry University. She is pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration in health psychology from Carlos Albizu University.
Her clinical experience includes rotations at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where she assisted children with co-occurring disorders using mindfulness exercises, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and dialectical-behavioral techniques.
Krystine believes in the power of personal growth and progress, and she is dedicated to fostering positive change in her clients’ lives.

Alyssa Mencucci – Therapist (Miami)

Alyssa is a dedicated master’s level clinician specializing in providing compassionate
therapy for adolescents and children facing severe mental health challenges. With a
deep understanding of the developmental stages and psychological needs of
adolescents and children, Alyssa offers expertise in addressing trauma-related issues,
guiding individuals through the complexities of grief, managing anxiety and depression,
navigating personality disorders, and supporting those dealing with PTSD. Alyssa uses
evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, DBT, play therapy,
and trauma-focused interventions to create a safe and nurturing environment for
healing. Alyssa believes in a client-centered approach, tailoring therapy to meet the
unique needs and circumstances of each individual. She creates a safe and nurturing
environment where adolescents and children can explore their emotions, develop
coping skills, and embark on a journey of healing and growth.

Dr. Jacqueline Pablos – Clinical Director

Vulnerability and connection are at the heart of Dr. Pablos’ therapeutic approach. As the
Clinical Director for Adolescent Wellness Academy, she aims to create a safe space for
clients to embrace their emotions and express their needs in healthier ways. Dr. Pablos
specializes in treating depression, anxiety, body image issues, bullying, eating
disorders, and self-harm behaviors using techniques like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and
ACT.
With extensive training in hospitals and counseling centers, Dr. Pablos has a strong
background in helping teens and adults with co-occurring mental and physical health
disorders. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology, with specialized training
at institutions like Florida International University, Jackson Memorial Hospital,
Clementine Monte Nido, and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Kimberly

Kimberly Carlesi – Therapist (Miami)

Kimberly, a dedicated therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health
Counseling from Florida International University, specializes in supporting individuals
with eating disorders, trauma, and substance abuse. She creates a safe, nurturing
environment for her clients’ healing journeys, drawing from diverse therapeutic
modalities like cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. With a
focus on trust and collaboration, Kimberly empowers clients through personalized
interventions, fostering self-awareness and resilience.