What is Adolescent Counseling?
Adolescent psychotherapy is a type of therapy specifically designed to help teenagers (i.e., adolescents) who are experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues. Mental health is an important part of a child’s overall well-being and has a profound impact on their physical health and their ability to succeed in school and in society. Adolescent counseling–– which I will call psychotherapy––involves talking about a variety of issues that may be causing emotional distress or difficulties functioning. This psychotherapy may focus on specific mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, family conflict, or difficulties in social relationships. The goal is to help adolescents develop coping strategies, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills. Adolescent psychotherapy may be delivered in an individual or a family setting. In fact, I have found that having a parent actively involved is very important for overall success. The benefits of adolescent psychotherapy include improved emotional regulation, better relationships, and increased self-esteem in addition too overall improved mental health and well-being.
What Causes Problems in Adolescence?
Adolescence is a period of significant change, growth, and development, all of which can create a range of challenges and problems for young people. Here are some of the psycho-social factors that can contribute to problems in adolescence:
- Identity formation
Adolescence is a time when young people are trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in the world, which can be a challenging and confusing process. - Peer pressure
Adolescents are often heavily influenced by their peers and may feel pressure to conform to social norms, which can lead to risky behaviors or social isolation. - Family conflict
Adolescents may experience conflict with parents or caregivers as they assert their independence and push for more autonomy. - Trauma or adversity
Adolescents may experience traumatic events (e.g., abuse or neglect) that can have lasting effects on their mental health and well-being.< - Social media and technology
The constant need for social media validation and the fear of missing out (FOMO) can lead to compulsive checking of social media accounts, resulting in addiction-like behaviors. This addiction can cause a range of negative consequences, such as reduced academic performance, decreased physical activity, and decreased face-to-face social interactions, which can lead to social isolation and feelings of loneliness.
These factors are complex and interconnected, creating a range of potential problems and challenges for adolescents. Seeking support from a mental health professional can help young people navigate these challenges and develop the skills needed to thrive, both during adolescence and into adulthood.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms That My Child Needs Help?
Any of the factors mentioned above can lead to problems with stress, anxiety, mood, appetite, sleep, and problems at school or at home. Other factors that may indicate that an adolescent could benefit from professional psychotherapy include developmental delays, behavioral issues, a significant downturn in academic performance, withdrawal from friends or family, mood swings, insomnia, bullying, signs of alcoholism or drug abuse, excessive gaming or screen time, and sudden changes in appetite or eating habits.
Changes in an adolescent's relationship with important caregivers can also be a sign that they may benefit from professional psychotherapy. If an adolescent is frequently blaming their caregivers and not taking responsibility for their own mistakes, refusing to communicate with them, or engaging in frequent arguments or fights with them, this could indicate underlying emotional or behavioral issues that require professional help. These types of behaviors may be indicative of underlying issues such as depression or anxiety. It may also indicate an inability to attach and connect to others in ways that allow them to form meaningful and healthy relationships. In my practice, I typically help adolescents and their caregivers identify and address these issues, while also providing support and guidance to improve communication and strengthen the caregiver-adolescent relationship.
How Do I Treat Adolescents?
When working with adolescents it is important to consider the complete spectrum of the adolescent’s mental development in the areas of identity, emotions, social and family relations (and in particular one's relationship with significant caregivers), cognition, and biology and genetics.  The main goal of my work is generally to help the adolescent and their caregivers identify and address that which is interfering with and affecting both the caregiver’s and the adolescent’s ability to communicate in a constructive way. Based on my experience of over 20 years in practice, I believe that the most significant relationship in an adolescent's life is with their significant caregiver or caregivers. Therefore, it is important to provide guidance that can improve communication and strengthen the caregiver-adolescent relationship.