Being an adolescent can be hard. Complicating factors such as pressure from peers, academics, and life-changes can make life very difficult for young people. As difficult as this time of life is for the adolescents and their parents, it is also a critical time for growth, separating from family, identify formation, and changes in relationships.
I work with adolescents who are experiencing issues with adjustment, discipline, and emotional disturbance, using a combination of expressive therapies and behavioral changes. Adolescents who are struggling with managing a mental illness such as bi-polar disorder, depression, or anxiety (including self-injury/cutting) do well with cognitive behavioral therapy as well as EFT/Tapping. Teens do well in group therapy with other teenagers, so I like to consider that in their treatment plan as well.
A solid, trusted, respectful relationship between therapist and client is essential for effective therapy – and this is especially true for adolescents. This may take some time to develop, but once the relationship is there, teens are exceptionally good at understanding how to use the counselor/client relationship to work through their particular issues. They really ‘get it’ and usually experience positive results from their hard work in therapy.