Adolescent Therapy
My Approach
Teenagers often make for the most delightful conversationalists. They have great passions, are struggling to make sense of the world and their place in it, and have a rare and clear-eyed perspective of the life that surrounds them. When working with teenagers and adolescents, I spend a lot of time just connecting: about music, film, sports, and their friends. Once we’ve developed a trusting alliance, they begin to open up and share whatever it is they’re really working through. Undergoing therapy as an adolescent is an excellent way to develop the inner resources and coping mechanisms that help maintain engagement in life, emotional stability, and the ability to develop and maintain lasting relationships.
My Process
Connecting with an adolescent or teenager is a wonderful process that requires patience, openness, and warmth. Once trust and connection are established, I can work with younger people to think more deeply about how they want to live their lives and the decisions they want to be making.
My sessions are 50 minutes long and I feel that the process is most effective when we’re meeting every week, at least for the first several months. I like to involve parents as much as possible; therapy is more effective when parents are engaged in the process and are considering their own roles in their kids’ mental health. Still, the treatment is primarily between me and the adolescent or teenaged client; a high degree of confidentiality is required to maintain trust.
Types of Cases I See:
School Refusal. Adolescent and teenaged clients often come in because they don’t want to go to school. This can be for any number of reasons: social or academic anxiety; a general depression; fears about bullying. My work is to get clients talking and thinking about why they’re avoiding school and what would help them feel more comfortable.
Social anxiety. Kids have a lot to deal with nowadays. There’s a lot of scrutiny and exposure, both in school and on social media. Talking to a therapist can help adolescents and teenagers to cope by establishing a stronger sense of self.