When school lets out, teens often gain more freedom, but they can also lose structure, connection, and emotional stability. While summer is a break from academics, it shouldn’t be a break from mental health support. This time of year might be the best opportunity to give your teen the help they truly need.
“We see so many teens struggling over summer because they’ve lost that sense of structure and connection they get during the school year,” said Carol Flores-Whorton, Lead Clinical Therapist at Innova Joy New Braunfels. “Our goal with the summer program is to create a safe space where they can feel supported, be themselves, and start to heal, while still getting to be a kid.”
That’s exactly why we created the Innova Joy’s Summer Program: to give teens a healthy balance of therapeutic care, peer support, and fun. Below are five signs your teen might need extra support this summer, and how our program can help.
1. Withdrawing From Friends and Family
A little downtime is normal, but if your teen spends most of their time alone, refuses to hang out with friends, or isolates themselves from the family, it may be a red flag.
According to the CDC, 4 in 10 high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, a common cause of social withdrawal.1 Without the daily structure of school, these symptoms can worsen over the summer.
Our summer program features therapeutic group sessions, providing teens with a safe and supportive space to connect with their peers. These sessions help break isolation and build community, something every teen needs, especially during tough seasons.
2. Extreme Mood Swings or Increased Irritability
Everyone gets moody sometimes, but intense highs and lows, or outbursts of anger, may indicate deeper emotional struggles. Our licensed therapists specialize in trauma-informed care and emotional regulation. Through individual and group therapy, teens learn to better understand and manage their emotions in healthy ways.
3. Changes in Sleep or Eating Habits
Sleeping all day, staying up all night, skipping meals, or overeating can all be signs that your teen is emotionally off balance. When routine disappears during the summer, these habits can quickly spiral out of control. We have a structured daily schedule that helps teens reestablish healthy routines while still allowing them the freedom they need. We focus on the connection between mind and body because when teens feel physically stable, they’re better equipped to heal emotionally.
4. Lack of Motivation or Loss of Interest in Hobbies
Has your once-active teen suddenly lost interest in everything they used to love? Apathy can be a major warning sign of depression or burnout. Left unaddressed, it can lead to deeper disengagement and even risky behaviors.
Innova Joy blends therapy with creativity and fun, think expressive arts, movement, and experiential activities. These aren’t just for fun, they’re clinically designed to re-engage the parts of the brain that thrive on curiosity, joy, and connection.
5. Talking about Hopelessness or Self-Harm
Any mention of hopelessness, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts should be taken seriously. Research from the National Institute of Mental Health shows that suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens aged 15-24.2
At Innova Joy, we are trained to recognize and respond to these warning signs with compassion and clinical expertise. Our summer program is a safe and supportive space where teens can talk openly, receive help, and build genuine hope for the future.
Let This Summer Be a Turning Point
If any of these signs sound familiar, now is the time to act. Summer doesn’t have to be a season of struggle, it can be a time of transformation. At Innova Joy, our Summer 2025 Program is designed to help teens regain stability, process trauma, build confidence, and connect with others.
Learn more about our programs for teens in New Braunfels and Boerne, and enroll today.
