ADOLESCENTS 

A crucial component of therapy with people of any age but particularly with adolescents is helping people to feel comfortable to engage with therapy. Kirstin seeks to provide a safe and accepting space for adolescents to engage in therapy at their own pace. Parents are invited to attend the first appointment, and depending on the presenting difficulties, the adolescent’s wishes and the age of the adolescent parents may also be involved in ongoing appointments. Kirstin is able to provide assessment and treatment for the following difficulties:

·       Depression

·       Anxiety

·       Phobias

·       Panic

·       Worry

·       Separation anxiety

·       Behaviour problems

·       Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD and ADD)

·       Oppositional and defiant behaviour

·       Anger

·       Conduct problems

·       Difficulties with adjustment to school and school refusal

·       Perfectionism

·       Sleep difficulties

·       Exam stress

·       Work stress

·       OCD

·       Bi-polar disorder

·       Hair pulling

·       Relationship problems

·       Adjustment to divorce

·       Adjustment to blended families

·       Bullying

·       Self-harm

·       Grief and loss

·       Low self-confidence

WHAT CAN ADOLESCENTS EXPECT

Adolescents are asked to attend therapy with at least one parent (both parents attendance at the first appointment is preferable). The initial appointment is then split three ways. Initially the young person is seen with their parents. Family members are each asked to share a little about themselves (school or work and hobbies). After this parents are seen alone to share their concerns, relevant developmental history and any other stressors impacting them or their child. The young person is then seen alone and asked about their concerns. Some young people feel uncomfortable opening up in the first appointment. Kirstin takes her time to allow the young person to share what they feel comfortable sharing. Kirstin has a flexible approach and will adapt this assessment structure if the young person feels uncomfortable being seen alone or having their parents speak about them without them present. Generally it is helpful for parents to have a space to share their concerns openly without the young person present. This often helps to reduce parents’ stress and anxiety which takes pressure off the adolescent. At the end of the initial appointment Kirstin will outline what she thinks will be helpful for the young person.

Most teenagers see Kirstin weekly initially. The number of appointments vary depending on the nature of the concerns. It is not uncommon for Kirstin to work with teenagers for more than 6 months. Teenagers often take longer to engage in therapy and connect with the therapist. This level of engagement and desire for change is taken into account when considering the frequency of appointments and expected duration of therapy. Parents are invited to attend the first 10 minutes of each therapy appointment if they have week to week concerns or feedback. Some parents are involved in every appointment some less so.  

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