Therapeutic work with adolescents sometimes involves a great deal of finesse.

That the teen years are challenging is an obvious cliché.  What I have found is that gaining the acceptance of adolescents requires honesty, humility, a thick skin and the willingness to learn from them.  Keep in mind that adolescence is the most confusing developmental phase of your child’s young life.  They are refining the lessons you have imparted to them their whole lives, and they are synthesizing those lessons into a new fabric that is to become a blue print for their futures.

On occasion the teen is resistant/oppositional to authority, may have substance abuse issues, when they come into therapy.  In my career, I have had only one individual who over time continually refused to open up to me, and work in therapy.

Sometimes the teen is confronting depression, suicidal ideas/actions, is bipolar, or ADHD.  There may be physicians also involved in their care.  These are serious concerns and my experience has provided me with abilities to provide on going treatment for these issues.

There are too children who are withdrawn from their peers, and even family members.  They may not know how to communicate their wants/desires.  They may isolate by choice, or due to the exclusion of their peer group.  They just don’t know how to get along.  This may be an ‘organic’ issue, e.g. a disease of the brain, or an attachment issue that dates back to early childhood.  The earlier these individuals get into treatment, the better the prognosis for successful treatment.