You may be concerned about your adolescent and thinking about therapy for him/her. Having an adolescent in the home ordinarily brings a different level of tension and some challenges. Part of this is because teens experience a myriad of internal and external changes and as a result, might feel depressed, anxious, or angry. Some express these difficulties in behavioral form. These might include the use of drugs or alcohol, academic underachievement, defiant actions in the home, school or community, withdrawal, changes in peer relations, or changes in eating or sleeping patterns. It is important to determine whether these changes are fairly mild and represent appropriate developmental behavior.
If this is the case, therapy isn’t required. However it may be that something more significant is occurring. The best way to determine whether something should be done is to complete an evaluation. This usually consists of two or three meetings with the teen and at least one meeting with parents.
Confidentiality is a particularly important issue for teens. In the course of treatment, I do not reveal information gained from any patient to anyone else. This is important for your teen to know, as it creates a protected setting for the adolescent to work on his or her issues. It also helps them to feel more independent and responsible for their own relationships and life.