BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Q:

My teen has never been diagnosed with social anxiety but, it is clear that he really struggles in social situations. I don’t want him on medication but, he is also reluctant to go to counseling because he feels like he is hopeless at this point. I don’t want him to look back and have any regrets about not going to school dances or Friday night Football games. What can I do to help him?

If you feel your teen is struggling beyond the scope of what you feel is “normal teenager behavior” scheduling an appointment with a mental health professional for an initial intake assessment appointment will provide him with an appropriate diagnosis (if necessary) and treatment recommendations to consider as options. These options may or may not include medication. However, your teen can learn effective coping strategies and social skills in the therapeutic space without medication. A therapist will work with your teen to identify potential challenges in his treatment and work with him to overcome these obstacles collaboratively while increasing his motivation to participate in treatment. If your teen is reluctant to meet with an individual therapist, group therapy in a more intensive level of care may be a more appropriate option. IOP group services can help your teen learn effective skills to cope while seeking support from other members who are experiencing similar challenges. These coping skills can help build self-esteem, eliminate ineffective coping skills (some cases, potentially harmful) and increase positive emotions. While in group setting, your teen will learn how to practice building and sustaining healthy relationships. This higher level of care will be more frequent in sessions and shorter in length of treatment. The frequency of sessions will also provide your teen with optimal opportunity to implement new coping strategies learned and reinforce positive coping in a safe nonjudgmental space.

These signs should not be ignored and for the well-being of you and your son’s mental and emotional health. I work with a skilled team at PBHS to offer a variety of treatment methods to best suit your unique needs. Our practice utilizes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is an evidence-based treatment method. We will determine the

A:

Yiannoula Sarris, M.Ed., LPC