Encouraging Your Teenager to Make a Daily Self-Care Routine

Self-care is important for everyone and anyone, regardless of their age. As a society, it may seem like we’re programmed to take care of other people. While it’s important to care for the people around us, we also need to take care of ourselves. After all, if we don’t feel 100%, how are we supposed to care for others? As a teenager specifically, sometimes it can be hard to implement daily self-care, especially with all of the various stressors teenagers have in their day-to-day life. Being a teenager can be a busy time, whether you’re involved in school, sports, clubs, etc., there isn’t always time to implement self-care. Adolescent Wellness Academy encourages all teens to have a sense of well-being and know how to care for their emotional wellbeing. Within this article we have provided information about what self-care is, why it is important, and how to implement it in a daily routine.

What Is Self-Care?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), self-care is the ability of individuals and their families/communities to provide and promote health, while preventing diseases, coping with illnesses/disorders/disabilities etc. An important thing to note here is this can be done with or without a healthcare provider. The concept of self-care is broad and encompasses things such as hygiene, nutrition, lifestyle choices, well-being, environmental factors, socioeconomic factors, and self-medication. To put the definition of self-care more simply, self-care is the idea of providing physical, emotional, and mental wellness within your day-to-day life. It basically means caring for the well-being of yourself. Simple enough, right?

Why Is a Daily Self-Care Routine Important?

Daily self-care is important for teenagers because it causes an individual to pay attention to their own physical and emotional needs. Because of technology and social media, it can be extremely easy to focus all of our energy on what other people are doing, instead of focusing on ourselves. It appears that teenagers are spending more time comparing themselves to others, and trying to be like them, instead of just being themselves. This can be emotionally draining as well as stressful. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, stress can affect your entire body, whether that be physically or mentally. Some of the physical signs of stress include headaches, an upset stomach, aches, low energy, and even insomnia. No person is the same when it comes to stress. Everyone has their own individualized stressors and their own way that that stress affects them. Because of this, it’s important to know when anxiety is creeping in and how to identify the cause of that anxiety. Ways to cope with mental stability will also look different for everyone. One coping mechanism for anxiety is to take the stress and anxiety you are experiencing, and implement it into something that you love to do. Maybe that thing for you is dancing, or drawing, or playing on a sports team; whatever it may be, if you are feeling stressed you may need to take a break from whatever is causing the stress and find enjoyment within a hobby. Other ways/practices that can help with the emotional and mental well-being of yourself is avoiding the negative and noticing the positive. Although, when you do feel negative, you shouldn’t feel guilty about feeling those negative emotions, but you should also take the time each day to see the positive within that day. Everyone has bad days and it’s okay to feel negative at times. Another way that you can help your emotional and mental well-being is finding support in others. Just being able to talk to someone about how you’re feeling is so important, they probably won’t be able to solve your problem but letting your emotions out is crucial in the self-care process. In implementing self-care to help within physical wellness, there are many different ways that you can support your physical health while supporting your mental health. You can do this by exercising daily, eating healthier, getting enough sleep each night, avoiding alcohol and drugs, and practicing relaxation (yes, relaxing is quite often a practice).

Teen Mental Health Treatment in South Florida – AWA

At Adolescent Wellness Academy, a teen mental health treatment center located in South Florida, we understand the complexities and challenges of guiding our loved ones, especially adolescents, towards recovery from mental health challenges.

Recognizing the delicate nature of this journey, we are committed to offering compassionate, specialized care even in situations where individuals may be hesitant to seek help.

We are dedicated to providing a supportive environment that fosters healing and growth through our tailored programs:

  • Day Therapeutic Program: A structured daytime treatment offering therapeutic support and education that integrates seamlessly with the adolescent’s daily life.
  • After-School Program: An innovative approach that provides therapeutic activities and supports post-school hours, allowing teens to continue their education while receiving the care they need.

When you join our therapy or afterschool programs, you enter a caring and non-judgmental community. This support network involves teens, their families, peers, and our team.

Our team of clinicians, alumni, and other parents are here to offer invaluable assistance. Parent Support Groups (PSG) and assessments ensure that the support is tailored to each family’s needs. Contact us today for more information about teen mental health at 1-866-548-8677 or visit our locations in Miami-Dade and Broward.

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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.

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.

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.