When our child or teenager is acting out it’s difficult to know how to help them. Teenagers are especially challenging because they often developed a strong desire to belong to their peers (this is normal and healthy) however if the group your child belongs to behaves in ways that are disruptive and damaging to your child’s health and future, this can cause a real crisis in the family.
Family behavioural therapy
A complaint or confusion I often hear from parents is, “if my child is having the problem, why do I need to go to therapy?”
We all exist within a context. The family is our primary context and it is continuously changing, transforming, and facing internal and external challenges.
Every family has different dynamics and that has a lifelong impact on the child. Family therapy as opposed to individual therapy for the teenager is vastly beneficial because therapy can guide the development of healthy boundaries and limits. Even more importantly, therapy helps the parent learn how to relate to the teen. Adolescence is a journey, the parents need to be able to navigate the relationship in a healthy way in order to protect and improve it.
Troubling signs to look out for
If your teen’s behaviour has changed. If he or she seems to be excessively worried, angry or irritable. If you’ve noticed your child has changed his or her group of friends or has no friends this is something you should investigate and understand. Signs of a mental health problem such as excessive moodiness, sadness or anxiety should not be ignored.
All teenagers go through ups and downs. This period of life is filled with confusion, changes, and sometimes drama. However, if you see your child moving down a destructive path, it is important to find help to protect your child and the well-being of the entire family.
You don’t need to struggle alone, contact me and we can navigate the relationship with your teen together. Book an appointment today.