Adolescence is not an easy time for anyone. It has many of it’s own difficulties that childhood may not have had. Adolescence often brings up difficulties around identity and gender issues as well as peer pressure and social obligations. It becomes difficult for an adolescent to balance and manage the physical and emotional changes that comes with adolescence. Such difficulties can cause stress and anxiety, which can have detrimental effects on the adolescent’s self-esteem, schoolwork and views of his/her future.
At times an external support can be of benefit to an adolescent who is struggling to cope with day-to-day stressful situations. In addition it can also be very difficult for adolescents to be able to speak openly with their parents or those close to them and a therapist can act as an external supportive other in their times of need.
How does it work?
The therapist will meet with the adolescent’s parents. It is recommended that this first meeting is with the adolescent. It is important that the adolescent does not feel alienated from the process and part of the decision-making. Therapy can be a difficult process to enter and it is important that trust is built between the therapist, the adolescent as well as the parents, should this process be effective. Usually the adolescent will attend 4 to 6 assessment session, once weekly. A joint decision between, therapist, parents and adolescent is then made on the time frame of the therapy and the conditions of feedback.
