Adolescents build emotional intelligence and social skills as they grow up. When everything is going just right and perfect, this leads to a healthy and happy life. But, life is not perfect at all. Kids still face unknown issues and if they are not treated at the right time, they might end up having dragged into more serious mental issues. That’s why there is a dire need to learn about mental issues and other similar problems that teens might be having. Because, if these issues are caught at the right time, it might take them to a healthy lifestyle. That’s how teen therapy is being introduced by the social sciences to help our teens with their issues. This therapy focuses solely on the issues that teens face in the society and that are affecting their future.

What is Teen Therapy?

Teen therapy includes techniques and methods that are used to help teens address the issues that they are experiencing regarding their mental health and emotions. There are different psychotherapy approaches to teen therapy, and each therapy relies on the communication of the teen with the therapist regarding the issues and the changes in their lives. Mainly, there are three types of teen therapies: Individual therapy, Group therapy and Family therapy

Individual therapy for teens

The teen meets the therapist in a one-to-one session to talk about their problems. Each session can last about 45-50 minutes. The therapist will ask about the feelings the teen is experiencing and might give them some tasks to do at home to work through the issues. Everything in the therapy is confidential but if there is a need, the therapist can include your parents or school counsellor.

Group therapy for teens

Group therapy allows teens to see how other teens are handling similar issues. It gives them exposure to the outer world and makes them feel that they are not alone. When it starts, it might seem a little scary for the teens since they don’t know other people in the therapy, but over time, it builds up their social skills and allows them to handle their issues with courage.

Family Therapy

If the issues that teens are facing are closely related to their family members, family therapy might be the best shot. This might include parents, sometimes siblings, and immediate family members. All of these people join the therapy with the teen to discuss the issues that the teen is having. The therapist doesn’t allow any interruption or judgement in the therapy thus giving a calm environment.

How to find a Teen Therapist

If you are looking to find the perfect Teen Therapist it is crucial to make sure that they have the appropriate qualifications, knowledge and experience. At Expat Therapy 4U we only accept therapists who have full professional proficiency in English and are highly experienced in working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds. The clinicians we approve share our values and commitment to provide high quality therapy to the expatriate community in the private sector across Europe and online worldwide. We strongly believe that therapy changes lives, and being accredited ensures all our therapists are qualified to a high standard. You can find a Teen Therapist who is insured to practice and accredited with a recognised membership body online here.

How to know if your teen needs therapy?

Teenage is a difficult age and there are several reasons to have mental issues during this period. Some of the common reasons for teens having mental issues are as follows:

• Some medical conditions can make the teens feel and act strangely. The teen might be having some physical issues that you are unaware of, and that might be causing them to feel stressed out and anxious. So, when a teen is taken to a therapist, the first thing they cheque is their physical health.
• When they have seen something bad in their life, it can leave its imprint thus making them vulnerable and all depressed. There might be a violent event, a disastrous accident, or anything that they can’t forget that keeps hitting them and causing them distress.
• If someone close to them moves away or dies, it can cause them to feel extreme pain thus creating mental health issues. The same is the case when they relocate or when their school is changed. Such issues might seem minor but they can cause serious damage if the kid is sensitive and too emotional.

Several other reasons might become the reason for a teen seeking teen therapy. There is no shame or harm in pursuing teen therapy especially if the issues are going to affect their future life. They can make better decisions and be better at their tasks once they receive this therapy.

How does Teen Therapy work?

Initially, an assessment is made where a qualified mental health professional determines the condition of the teen and decides if the child needs therapy or not. The therapist will take note of the child’s current issues, history, the level of development over time, the ability to cooperate with the treatment, and the type of interventions that might be the best given the scenario of the teen’s issue.

If the issue is serious or if need, teen therapy can be used with a combination of other therapies to have efficient results. However, the basic focus of the therapist is to develop a relationship with the client and let the client talk freely about the issues. Teens are often reluctant to opening up, that’s why it might take time for the therapist to develop a rapport. Once they know that their information will be confidential and they won’t be judged for their thoughts, teens start to open up.

Once they open up, the therapist tries to address the issues that they are facing along with moving towards the solution. They are even asked to follow up on some routine tasks which lead to the betterment of their situation. They are taught to deal with their stress and other issues with courage and better defence mechanisms. The more teens cooperate with the therapist, the better they will be when they come out of it.

Find a Teen Therapist through the Expat Therapy 4U platform

Psychotherapy can help teens in several ways. Especially for teens who lack emotional support, this therapy is life-saving because it allows them to be listened to and to be taken seriously. Through teen therapy, they receive emotional support, become able to resolve their conflicts, become better at understanding their emotions and feelings, and are ready to try our new solutions to their problems. They even become better at their relationships with their families and friends, develop better self-esteem, and improve their behaviour overall to become a better goal-oriented person. So, teen therapy is overall very much beneficial for the mental and physical health of teens.

Further Readings on Teen Therapy

https://theinternationalpsychologyclinic.com/services/teenager-adolescent-counselling-london/