Adolescent Therapy

Teenagers

They are unique people, and it is very common for the teen years to create turmoil in the home. Notice I didn’t say teens create turmoil. This phase of life just brings a lot of change with it.

They are no longer little kids needing a lot of hand holding, but they are not yet an adult fully capable of understanding the long-term ramifications of their choices.

Teens tend to push boundaries in ways parents are not sure how to respond. For these reasons alone, North County Therapy can often be helpful both for the teen trying to find their way through these changes and for the caregiver who may feel lost and confused by the, sometimes drastic, shifts their precious one is now experiencing.

Safe Place

Therapy creates a safe place for teens to work through their thoughts and concerns, and receive information as it applies to what they are facing. If appropriate, family counseling can be added to improve the communication between the teen and the family. Compassion and understanding go a long way towards creating a harmonious household. North County Therapy can give you the support you need.

Confidentiality

It’s helpful to address upfront the grey area teens live in as it applies to Therapy. Your teen is entitled to the same confidentiality you are.

Issues I am not allowed to keep confidential are as follows: child abuse, elder abuse, plans to harm self, and plans to harm another.

As I work with a teen, I will not violate their privacy and share what is being discussed. However, some teens are engaging in high risk behaviors. If it becomes clear that the behaviors a teen is engaging in could harm themselves or others, I will let the teen know that a safety plan needs to be created and often the caregiver is involved in that process. This is not a common situation, but it’s important everyone understand how these things are addressed.

First Session

For the first session, it is required that a parent or guardian who can consent to treatment sit down with me. We will cover what primary concerns have brought you into my office. After covering the limitations of therapy, I will usually ask the caregiver to step out and spend 30 minutes or so getting to know the teen and learning what they would like to use their sessions to address.

From here, we all will agree on a general approach we will take, and I will check in weekly with the guardian to make sure things on track.

If you would like to further discuss your situation, please do not hesitate to call.