Adolescent Therapy

Adolescent Therapy


Has your adolescent been acting out lately?
Have they been caught using drugs?
Are they hanging out with negative influences?
Are they doing poorly in school?
Are they disrespectful to you?
Are you concerned about their mood or emotions?
Or do you just feel like you have lost that relationship with them that you once had?

Psychotherapy might help your adolescent get back on track.

Here are some reasons parents might seek Psychotherapy for their adolescent:

"My adolescent is headed down a negative path" (Drug, Peer, acting out)
Depending on the situation family and/or individual therapy might be used to help you and your adolescent move towards positive change. A psychotherapist will actively work with you and your adolescent to determine the best course of treatment to address your specific needs. Family therapy may be beneficial to communicate expectations and open up opportunities for your adolescent to change. While individual therapy may be useful in helping your adolescent to be accountable to your expectations, the expectations of the courts/law, and the expectations they hold for themselves.

"It seems like no matter what I try I am always arguing with my adolescent." (power struggles, defiance, disrespect,)
Family therapy can give you and your child the opportunity to speak and be heard. The simple process of communicating your experiences in therapy can often open up lines of communication and increase cooperation within your family. As you gain a new understanding of each other, solutions become available to you that seemed impossible before.

"I have a good relationship with my adolescent but as a parent, I sometimes feel that they can benefit from another adult to talk to that is separate from our situation." (role models, support, guidance)
The benefit of individual therapy with an adolescent is that in the process of having another person listen to them, they begin to communicate all the values you have worked so hard to instill in them. As they remind themselves of these values, they begin to assess where their life is going. As an adolescent becomes more aware and open, they begin to make changes in their life towards the positive. In individual therapy with adolescents a psychotherapist can establish a relationship that is respectful of their uniqueness and autonomy as a person, while encouraging accountability to expectations of others and themselves.

"My child needs help with their mental health"
Your child may struggle with mental health related to their behavior (ADD, ADHD, ODD) or symptoms (Depression, anxiety). a psychotherapist can help you and your adolescent confront these obstacles in a way that allows them to get the most out of life. Practical interventions and therapeutic interactions can help your child to gain a stronger understanding of their symptoms and gain a sense of self esteem and control.

"I have tried everything and my adolescent is just not responding." (criminal activity, drug and alcohol abuse)
Sometimes parents just need support to make the tough decisions for their children. When your adolescent refuses help, and continues to escalate, a psychotherapist can help you to make decisions on how best to set limits with your adolescent to protect you and the other family members. In this instance, psychotherapy can help you in individual or couple therapy to make the decisions that are best for your family. Standing your ground in tough situations is not always easy and support can be helpful as you as you move forward with difficult decisions.