Subtly guide your adolescent towards therapy without coercion: strategies for encouragement and collaboration.
Addressing Adolescent Mental Health: Supporting Teens in Seeking Therapy
In today's world, teenagers face an unprecedented level of stress compared to previous generations, according to a recent poll conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). As parents, initiating conversations about mental health with our adolescents is increasingly essential. Despite the benefits therapy offers, fewer than half of today's teenagers regularly discuss mental health with their parents.
Teenagers may resist the idea of therapy, but parents should not lose hope. Understanding why teens resist therapy and implementing positive strategies can help encourage our adolescents to consider its benefits.
Three key factors contribute to teenage resistance to therapy:
- Lack of buy-in: Cooperation is crucial for successful therapy, especially among teenagers. If a teenager does not willingly participate, sessions may not be productive.
- Misconceptions: Some teenagers may believe therapy implies something is "wrong" with them or that someone is trying to "fix" them. Helping them understand that therapy is a safe space for support and growth is essential.
- Fear of the unknown: Teenagers may feel intimidated by the unfamiliar and traditional aspects of therapy. Offering creative approaches like art or music therapy can help make therapy feel more accessible and relatable.
To encourage our teenagers to consider therapy, parents can follow these strategies:
- Emphasize the benefits: Help your teen see the advantages therapy can bring, such as reduced stress, improved relationships, and increased emotional resilience. Tailoring the conversation to your teen's interests and needs can help reduce resistance.
- Foster a supportive environment: Encourage open discussions about mental health, using open-ended questions and active listening to validate their feelings. By creating a safe and empathetic space, you can help reduce stigma and foster resilience.
- Incorporate creativity: Connect therapy to your teenager's hobbies or culture to make it more relatable. Techniques like meme or GIF creation can help make therapy feel less intimidating.
When approaching the conversation about therapy, consider the following tips:
- Choose the right moment: Select an appropriate time and place for the conversation, such as a calm and distraction-free environment.
- Embrace ongoing conversations: Understand that multiple discussions may be necessary to address concerns and answers questions thoroughly.
- Approach with curiosity: Avoid pressuring your teen. Instead, show genuine interest in their thoughts and concerns, helping them feel heard and respected.
- Practice reflective listening: Give your teen space to share their thoughts, asking open-ended questions, and truly listening without interruption.
- Avoid rewards: Motivating your teen with tangible rewards may diminish their intrinsic motivation to attend therapy.
If your teenager is open or even slightly curious about therapy, involving them in the process can help them feel empowered and at ease. You can support them by:
- Collaborating on the format: Allow your teen to choose between in-person or virtual therapy, and explain the differences between them. Reassure them that online therapy is safe and confidential.
- Researching therapists together: Browse therapist bios online as a team and let your teenager have a say in who they feel most comfortable talking to.
- Exploring various therapy styles: Introduce different therapy formats, such as art, music, or equine therapy, that could appeal to your teen's interests.
- Discussing privacy and boundaries: Assure your teen that their therapy sessions are confidential, except for cases involving serious safety concerns.
- Encouraging a trial run: Suggest your teen attend a session or two to determine if it's the right fit before committing to ongoing therapy.
In some cases, traditional talk therapy might not resonate with every teenager, and that's okay. Alternative approaches like art therapy or music therapy can be beneficial. Additionally, connecting your teenager with another trusted adult, such as a school counselor or minister, could serve as a valuable first step towards seeking help.
If you ever have immediate concerns for your teenager's safety, particularly self-harm or suicidal thoughts, it's crucial to act quickly. It's essential to let your teen know your top priority is their safety, and in these situations, they need to talk to someone immediately. The 988 Lifeline, available 24/7, offers support for mental health emergencies.
Conversations about mental health can help our teenagers develop emotional resilience, reduce stigma, and seek help when they need it. Approaching the conversation with empathy and openness, while offering creative and non-judgmental approaches, can help encougaage our teenagers to consider therapy as a valuable resource for their mental health journey.
- To support our teenagers' mental health, it's important to foster a conversation about therapy as a way to improve family health and overall health-and-wellness. As parents, understanding the reasons behind teenage resistance—including lack of buy-in, misconceptions, and fear of the unknown—can help us implement positive strategies to encourage therapy.
- Exploring creative approaches to therapy, such as art or music, can help make the experience more familiar and less intimidating for our adolescents, potentially increasing interest in therapy as part of their mental health and parenting toolkit.
