Adolescent Therapy services
A MindWell clinician will meet with your family and adolescent to assess the problem and develop an effective treatment plan that addresses the needs of your child and family. Therapy services for adolescents are varied but all include the use of proven treatments to address issues like anxiety, depression, ADD, family conflict or relationship issues. Clients learn how to recognize thoughts and feelings that are driving their current symptoms and develop coping skills and strategies to overcome these obstacles. Many of the techniques are based in Cognitive Behavioral therapy which teaches teens to observe how their thoughts lead to unwanted behavior and ultimately to problematic symptoms.
Case Example:
Jane is a 15-year-old girl who was referred by her pediatrician after complaining of chronic stomach pain, headaches and fatigue that were leading to excessive school absences.
- After a medical problem was ruled out, her doctor referred her to MindWell.
- During her intake with her MindWell clinician, Jane began to verbalize her negative feelings about school and her home life, including feeling “dumb” at school and pressure from her parents about homework and her grades.
- After developing a treatment plan with her clinician, that includes ruling out a learning disability, Jane began a Cognitive Behavioral treatment protocol to teach her to recognize how she interpreted her daily interactions at school with friends and at home with her family.
- Her parents are taught how to structure homework time in a way that is positive and less stressful. They will also use a behavioral plan to get her to school on a regular basis.
- Jane gained insight into why she expects a negative outcome about being called on in class and developed a more healthy way to interpret what her teachers and parents expect of her.
- This change contributed to fewer absences and more positive interactions with her parents, teachers, and ultimately to a healthier social life.
- Jane also found a voice to express her feelings to her family regarding their conflicts and not “internalizing” the problem through physical complaints (headaches).
- Subsequently, the family worked in therapy to have more proactive family communication that was not ignoring the “elephant in the room.”