REASONS FOR SEEKING THERAPY
Teens usually come into therapy because their parents bring them. A troubled teen can show many different symptoms: fighting, withdrawal, depression, substance abuse, school problems, or an eating disorder. Even over-achieving can be an issue for some teens. An adolescent’s development can become blocked by a particular issue they are unable to cope with. Therapy can help to remove the block so the adolescent’s normal development can continue.
For the first 3 or 4 sessions, we evaluate the teen’s life at school, in the family, with peers, and also the teen’s emotional state. Evaluation and treatment always include parent consultation. After the initial sessions, I recommend a treatment plan.
TYPICAL ISSUES I SEE AND TREAT IN TEENS ARE
• Depression
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Anxiety and obsessive thinking
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Eating Disorders
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Peer Problems
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Drug and alcohol abuse
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Poor school performance
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Family Problems
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Behavior Problems
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The “Difficult” Teen
TREATMENT METHODS I USE TO HELP ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES
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Supportive individual counseling with adolescent. The teen must bond with
the therapist and feel safe in therapy in order to open up about issues. Often
times, this can be enough to reduce pressure on the adolescent and relax
symptoms.
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Parent education and consultation; Parents of difficult teens need a lot
of support. They also need help sorting out which behaviors are developmentally
“normal” from behaviors that are too risky.
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Behavior therapy; Can be very helpful with a wide range of school and
home misbehaviors.
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Contracting between parents and teen; Contracting is generally used to deal
with more serious at-risk behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse, curfew
violations, cutting school and so forth. Graduated contracts with consequences
often can bring at-risk behaviors under control.
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Parent-teen communication work; Improved communication can reduce
tension in the family. Less tension equals less acting out by the adolescent.
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