Knowing when a teenager needs help...

As a teenager is faced with new situations, demands and expectations, it is common for them to experience emotional ups and downs characterized by feelings of sadness, fear, and anger. These reactions tend to be short-lived, however, and usually do not significantly interfere with the teen's life. However, occasionally their response to life's pressures may become severe, and the parents' attempts to help their child may be unsuccessful. At times such as these, professional assistance may be warranted.

Common problems teenagers face

I work with teenagers at all developmental stages with a variety of different challenges. It's rewarding work because there's nothing more gratifying than helping a teenager get back to the task of enjoying their adolescence. I have a long history of working with teenagers with attention disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, auditory processing disorder, addiction, and eating disorders - working closely with their families as well.

Other problems I commonly see with teenagers are depression and anxiety. Some mental health problems last for only short periods of time, while others, potentially, last a lifetime. The National Institute of Mental Health Disorders (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reports the following:

• Research studies have reported that up to about 3.7 percent of children between the ages of 8 and 15 in the US suffer from depression.
• Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems that occur in children and adolescents.
• Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders in children and adolescents. It affects an estimated 8.6 percent of youths ages 8 to 15.
• Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, are common among adolescent and young women in the US.

Adolescents who work with a therapist who specializes in working with teens have the advantage of knowing that there is a safe place for them to go and express their thoughts and feelings without being judged or ridiculed. Your teen may not want to talk with peers or with you - he or she may feel most comfortable sharing with just one person. That's when individual therapy can help.

How therapy works with teenagers

For adolescents, the approach of the therapist needs to reflect their current life experience. Therefore, "talk therapy" may or may not to be as effective as therapy that involves activity or experience (such as experiential therapy, play therapy, and art therapy). These forms of therapy allow symbolic expression of internal conflicts.

It isn't always easy to know if your teen could benefit from therapy. Parents often to wonder if their teenager's mood swings are normal and if changes in a teen's personality are simply part of growing up. How does a parent know of their adolescent needs professional help to address a more serious issue? The following are just some of the more serious problems that teens are faced with.