Adolescent Therapy
Searching for someone to
help your struggling
teen is not a simple
task. It is so
important, however, to
make this choice wisely.
The influence of a
therapist in an
adolescent's life can be
invaluable to curb
further damage, and to
help the teen sift
through difficult times
and find themselves more
defined and stronger for
having struggled.
The times adolescents
live in now are,
understatedly,
unsafe. The concerns
parents seek help for
range from depression,
disordered eating/body
image, abusive
relationships, family
dynamics, behavior
issues, unsafe sexual
behaviors--and numerous
other problems not
mentioned here.
Getting the best help:
One of the most critical
factors to assess in
finding the perfect help
for your teen is the
client-therapist fit.
It is imperative for a
positive outcome that
the teen "connect"
with his/her counselor.
Establishing an open,
trusting relationship
with the therapist
invites the teen to use
the counseling hour to
think deeper, clearer,
and learn new skills for
dealing with their
challenge. Without
a good fit though, it is
difficult for the
therapist to meet the
adolescent where they
are, understand the
problem, and trust the
feedback from the teen.
Establishing a
relationship with a teen
takes time. Work
in adolescent therapy is
heavy with relationship
building. It will
require a handful of
sessions (number to be
determined in
conjunction with the
therapist) to gage the
effectiveness of the
relationship. If
the fit is not there,
the reason is assessed
and a more appropriate
path is identified.
Having a therapist with
experience and training
in dealing with the
developmental
particulars of
adolescents is also
vital. They are in a
unique place
developmentally
requiring a specific set
of therapeutic tools.
Parent-Therapist-Teen
Relationship:
Since adolescents are
technically minors until
they reach the age of
18, the question of
confidentiality is
always addressed.
As stated above, one of
the critical components
to successful adolescent
therapy is the
relationship. In
order to keep the parent
plainly and clearly
informed in the context
of confidentiality, a
discussion is had
between all three
parties.
Circumstances certainly
differ from case to
case, but a usual
consensus of parent
involvement in therapy
is for the adolescent to
agree to be involved in
giving regular updates
to parents, and for the
adolescent to receive
the assurance that any
time information would
be disclosed, that they
would be informed.
Though obvious, it needs
to be stated that in
cases of high risk,
dangerous or hazardous
behavior, and in cases
of abuse, that there is
absolute disclosure
between all three
parties. This is
explained in the
informed consent during
the initial session, and
is agreed upon by all,
including the
adolescent.
Parent involvement in
the
life of an adolescent
can never be taken
seriously enough.
Though peer influence
becomes primary, the
effect of parent
relationships with teens
is critical. A
therapist's ability to
work with parents, to
receive feedback, give
suggestions, and listen
to their
assessments or concerns
is very important to
healing. An
informed adolescent
therapist will be able
to equip and empower
parents to create an
environment in which the
teen will become the
best they can be.
Ask Questions:
Again, getting help for
your adolescent is not
cut and dry. All
of the dynamic explained
above are important but
also naturally vary from
case to case. Please
feel free to
contact us for a
consultation. We
will be happy answer any
questions or thoughts
not addressed in this
brief introduction to
the answer to the
important question, "Who
is the best person to
help my son/daughter?"
