Adolescents
I really enjoy working with adolescents. Adolescents' brains are still developing, so they often are able to change more quickly than adults! Usually the first visit I meet with just the parent(s) so I can get some background information, developmental history, and find out what you see as the difficulties your teenager is having. I find that having this background information is helpful in figuring out what is going on and why your child is having the problems they are. It also gives you a chance to ask me any questions you have. I may also give you some suggestions for how to best deal with your child.
The second session you bring your teen in and when they feel comfortable meeting with me alone, we go from there. Usually this happens pretty quickly. I always ask the teen what they see as the problem they would like to work on or what they want to change about themselves. This is where we will start. You and your teen may have different ideas of what the problem is. This is normal and doesn't mean therapy won't work. Actually, therapy works way better when your child feels a sense of privacy and agency in their own experience.
Most of the time I work with the teen by themselves, unless there is a specific reason to bring either Mom and/or Dad into a session.
The second session you bring your teen in and when they feel comfortable meeting with me alone, we go from there. Usually this happens pretty quickly. I always ask the teen what they see as the problem they would like to work on or what they want to change about themselves. This is where we will start. You and your teen may have different ideas of what the problem is. This is normal and doesn't mean therapy won't work. Actually, therapy works way better when your child feels a sense of privacy and agency in their own experience.
Most of the time I work with the teen by themselves, unless there is a specific reason to bring either Mom and/or Dad into a session.