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  Adolescent Therapy with Parent Consultation


Sandra Lessenden, MFT
sandra@healingthepsyche.com
(925) 933-3338
(510) 654-3299

2940 Camino Diablo, Suite #300
Walnut Creek, CA 94597



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
 Anxiety and obsessive thinking
 Eating Disorders
 Peer Problems
 Drug and alcohol abuse
 Poor school performance
 Family Problems
 Behavior Problems
 The “Difficult” Teen

TREATMENT METHODS I USE TO HELP ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

 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.

  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.

 Behavior therapy; Can be very helpful with a wide range of school and
   home misbehaviors.

 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.

 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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