ADOLESCENTS

CHALLENGES & DIFFICULTIES

In today’s world, teens face many challenges but also have resources and strengths that sometimes go unnoticed. High schools provide the foundations for college, but also have drugs, alcohol, pressure to fit in, have boyfriends/girlfriends and pressure about sex. Developmentally, teens are forming the beginnings of their identity, starting to think for themselves, separate themselves from their family of origin in order to become their own person. Although adolescence is a wonderful period of exploration, growing and possibilities for the future, it can also be difficult for parents and teens as they demand more limits, more freedom, test the rules, and learn to navigate the social scene with their peers.

These are all normal struggles that teens and families experience. Many benefit from a therapeutic setting with an experienced therapist who will provide support, be a referee, and help teens and parents maintain their loving bonds as they grow up.

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SIGNS OF TROUBLE

Along with the normal struggles, come difficulties that go beyond the usual growing pains of teens. It is sometimes hard for parents to identify when their adolescent is “just moody” and when there is a serious problem that needs intervention.

Some signs that your teenager may need help include:

• Your child becomes more secretive, and it seems like more than a desire for greater privacy
   
• Your teen has regular, sudden outbursts of anger that are clearly unreasonable and out of proportion to whatever has caused the anger
   
• Your teen regularly misses curfew, does not show up when expected, and lies about his or her whereabouts (is not where you expected them to be if you check up on them)
   
• Your teenager has suddenly changed his or her peer group and hasn’t made an effort to let you meet these new friends. The new group has led to a distinct change in appearance (clothing, jewelry) and change in attitude (more sullen, defiant, hostile).

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• Your adolescent has stolen money from your purse on regular occasions.
   
• Your adolescent has extreme mood swings, from depression to elation, and seems to sleep a lot more than usual at times.
   
• Your child’s grades have suddenly dropped and the child has lost interest in the usual activities.
   
• Your teenager talks about suicide in vague terms (“Nothing matters anymore”) or directly (“I should just kill myself”).
   
• Your adolescent begins to wear long sleeved clothes despite warm weather and has no reasonable explanation
   
• A sudden change in their eating or sleeping patterns

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AREAS OF EXPERTISE

The types of difficulties that I have experience treating include:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Adjustment Disorders

• Eating Disorders / Body Dysmorphia

• Sexual Identity

• Self-Injurious Behaviors

• Adolescent Relationships (peers and romantic relationships)

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