Adolescent Psychologist Buffalo NY

How Therapy with an Adolescent Works

When adolescents are involved in therapy, they can and should speak for themselves. Parents may or may not be included in the therapy sessions, or may be encouraged to participate in family therapy or group sessions.

The adolescent and the mental health professional should discuss what each expects to accomplish. Treatment for substance abuse may be necessary before mental health problems can be addressed. The entire family may be asked to participate in a number of sessions to help understand how the family communicates, works together and how they can assist with the adolescent's problems.

It is important that there may be certain aspects of the therapy that should remain confidential between the therapist and the adolescent. Before treatment begins, the parents, the child and the mental health professional should come to an agreement as to what information will be disclosed to the client's parents.

Evaluating Therapy for Adolescents

Is our adolescent more positive about therapy?

• Has the mental health professional diagnosed the problem and are the two of them working toward treatment goals?
• Does our adolescent show signs of improvement?
• Is our adolescent becoming free from any addictions to drugs and/or alcohol?
• Has our relationship with our adolescent improved?
• Is there communication between the mental health professional and us, the parents?

How to Know When Your Adolescent Should Stop Therapy

Your adolescent and the mental health professional will probably decide they are ready to stop therapy when the adolescent:

• Is generally happier, more expressive and cooperative and less withdrawn.
• Is functioning better at home and in school.
• Is free from addictions to drugs and/or alcohol.
• Sometimes ending therapy will be an anxious time for adolescents and parents.

Problems may reappear temporarily. The mental health professional should be available to provide counsel and support for a period of time after your adolescent is finished with therapy. It may be a good idea to give yourselves some time to adjust before considering going back into therapy, however.

You and your adolescent may benefit from participation in support groups.

Comprehensive Services through Systems of Care Can Help

Some children diagnosed with severe mental health disorders may be eligible for comprehensive and community-based services through systems of care. Systems of care help children with serious emotional disturbances and their families cope with the challenges of difficult mental, emotional, or behavioral problems. To learn more about systems of care, call the National Mental Health Information Center at 1-800-789-2647, and request fact sheets on systems of care and serious emotional disturbances, or visit the Center's web site at http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

Finding the Right Services Is Critical. To find the right services for their children, families can do the following:

• Get accurate information from hotlines, libraries, or other sources.
• Seek referrals from professionals.
• Ask questions about treatments and services.
• Talk to other families in their communities.
• Find family network organizations.

It is critical that people who are not satisfied with the mental health care they receive discuss their concerns with providers, ask for information, and seek help from other sources.

Important Messages About Child and Adolescent Mental Health:

• Every child's mental health is important.
• Many children have mental health problems.
• These problems are real, painful, and can be severe.
• Mental health problems can be recognized and treated.
• Caring families and communities working together can help.
• Information is available; call 1-800-789-2647.

Signs of Mental Health Disorders Can Signal a Need for Help

Children and adolescents with mental health issues need to get help as soon as possible. A variety of signs may point to mental health disorders or serious emotional disturbances in children or adolescents. Pay attention if a child or adolescent you know has any of these warning signs:

• A child or adolescent is troubled by feeling:
  • Sad and hopeless for no reason, and these feelings do not go away.
  • Very angry most of the time and crying a lot or overreacting to things.
  • Worthless or guilty often.
  • Anxious or worried often.
  • Unable to get over a loss or death of someone important.
  • Extremely fearful or having unexplained fears.
  • Constantly concerned about physical problems or physical appearance.
  • Frightened that his or her mind either is controlled or is out of control.
• A child or adolescent experiences big changes, such as:
  • Showing declining performance in school.
  • Losing interest in things once enjoyed.
  • Experiencing unexplained changes in sleeping or eating patterns.
  • Avoiding friends or family and wanting to be alone all the time.
  • Daydreaming too much and not completing tasks.
  • Feeling life is too hard to handle.
  • Hearing voices that cannot be explained.
  • Experiencing suicidal thoughts.
• A child or adolescent experiences:
  • Poor concentration and is unable to think straight or make up his or her mind.
  • An inability to sit still or focus attention.
  • Worry about being harmed, hurting others, or doing something "bad".
  • A need to wash, clean things, or perform certain routines hundreds of times a day, in order to avoid an unsubstantiated danger.
  • Racing thoughts that are almost too fast to follow.
  • Persistent nightmares.
• A child or adolescent behaves in ways that cause problems, such as:
  • Using alcohol or other drugs.
  • Eating large amounts of food and then purg...