![]() ![]() Poor communication with parents and peers.Isolation and a loss of interest in once-favored social activities. ![]() Increase in anger, aggression, and emotional instability.Loss of self-esteem, feeling bad about themselves which leads to feelings of depression and or anxiety.Here are a few of the issues I have helped teens overcome: However with a strong therapeutic alliance they will open up to me. Teens of any age may feel uncomfortable, afraid, or ashamed about communicating what they are experiencing to an adult they do not know. I have rarely have experienced a teen be unwilling to talk with their parents about critical issues in a therapeutic and supportive environment. In the family session I will help them to openly share the issues that may be of concern to their parents. If that is too difficult, I offer to bring their parents in for a family session. If something comes up that I think is important for their parents to know, I initially encourage them to talk to their parents on their own. The young person must feel safe and know that what we discuss in session is confidential. In order to foster that connection, a teen must feel listened to and heard, not talked down to or judged or told what to do. The importance of connecting with a teen cannot be understated. My ability to create a strong connection with the teen within the first three sessions is why they continue to see me. My offer usually makes parents nervous, understandably, but in the past eight years, seeing hundreds of teens, I have only had two young people decide not to continue therapy with me after three sessions. If after three sessions, they do not feel I can teach them any skills or help them with their challenges, I will convey to their parents that they are not ready for therapy. I ask them to give therapy a try for three sessions. In that case I approach teens with a unique offer. Many teens initially feel that they are being forced to come to therapy by their parents. My analogy is that just as in sports there is a coach to help you perform better – I am a coach for helping you to perform, improve and feel better in life. Many teens take issue with seeing a “therapist”, which is why it sometimes helpful for parents to reframe my title from therapist to life coach. I completed an additional two years of studying chemical dependency at the University of California at Berkeley and an additional four thousand hours of training. If substance abuse is an issue, I am not only a licensed psychotherapist, but a certified, registered alcohol and drug specialist. I assist young people to identify their strengths and build on them, while also identifying the thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions that make life more challenging for them. Often when a teen comes in to see me they are seeking my help because they are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious and/or depressed.Īdolescents often have negative thoughts about themselves, exacerbated by comparing themselves to their peers, often creating a false belief that they are not “good enough”. Sometimes it is at the urging of their parents because they are observing patterns of behavior in their child that is concerning. The reasons why a teen comes to see me are varied. The high school years can be particularly challenging for teens to navigate successfully. ![]()
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