Adolescent Psychologist | Teen Therapy

Psychotherapy can be a useful way of addressing mental health concerns that arise during the teenage years. While it may be an exciting time of significant change, adolescence can also involve challenges for both teens and parents.

Increasing responsibilities at both home and school provide opportunities to develop a greater sense of purpose and accomplishment. However, it can also overwhelm and be a source of stress for many teens. Changing relationships with parents and friends can be hard to navigate. Romantic relationships, though full of promise, can unfortunately end in heartache and disappointment. Adolescent bodies and minds are also changing, which is sometimes awkward and confusing. In addition to the above, many teens may for the first time encounter feelings of anxiety and depression. A struggling teen would do well to address such issues before they lead to long-term problems. Therapy for teens can help an adolescent develop confidence, resilience, and healthy and fulfilling relationships.

Finding Your Words

Some teens will be understandably anxious about attending their first therapy appointment. Many have trouble articulating or sometimes even knowing how they feel. This is perfectly okay. A good therapist will often know the right questions to ask and will try to put you at ease. Therapy is a place where a teen can tell their story without feeling judged, criticized, or pressured. With patience and curiosity, the therapist will help a teen find the words to describe their experience and the problems they face. The therapist and youth then work together to develop ways of successfully navigating the issues at hand.

Confidentiality with Teens

Confidentiality is extremely important for a youth be open and expressive in therapy. Teens want know that what they share with a psychologist will not be discussed with parents without good reason. Brad will always discuss policies around privacy and confidentiality during the first session – usually with both the parent and teen.

In Nova Scotia, any person under the age of 19 is considered a minor. In such cases, the competence of minors to provide informed consent is not assumed, and parental or guardian approval is often needed. However, as children develop in their capacity to understand and choose, they assume legal rights. A youth may thus be considered a mature minor if they can understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of their decision to pursue therapy and its alternatives. Although there is no specific age for an individual to be considered competent to give consent, the mature minor status is typically considered during adolescence. In these cases, the details of things discussed may be treated as confidential. However, parents or guardians do have the right to general information, including how therapy is going and major safety concerns that might arise.