When looking for troubled teen therapy and programs, one usually encounters the term “cognitive behavior therapy”. What is it and how can we harness it to deal with behavioral issues that our teens may have? What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? This is a treatment or psychotherapy modality that aims to develop self-awareness and critical thinking…
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, suicide among 15 to 24 year olds falls as the top three cause of death. This translates to roughly 5,000 teenagers who die by their own hand every year and more than 120,000 suicide attempts. As parents, these statistics give one fear: “What if it happens…
Often, the obstacle against helping a troubled teen struggle against drugs is misinformation. There are a number of misconceptions about this issue that can cause fear and complicate the path towards healing and recovery. Thus, these misconceptions regarding drug addiction and its treatment should be confronted head on so that those involved (the teen and…
Does a teen wilderness program look like an attractive option for your troubled teen? Do you think some time with a physically challenging program and exposure to nature help him come to terms with his feelings and how he is behaving? Are you having some niggling doubts about the effectiveness of such a program? Here…
A parent’s t-shirt proudly proclaims, “I survived the teenage years”. Indeed, embattled parents of teenagers often feel that the all the years leading up to the teenage years (including the sleepless nights and the terrible twos) are just a walk in the park. But where do we draw the line between “normal” teenage angst and…
Successfully completing a troubled teen program is not the end of the journey towards recovery and maturity. A teen who has worked so hard to fight off the demons that hound him may be easy prey during a moment of weakness. When there is addiction involved, the probability of going back to previous bad habits…
Landmines! One misstep and… boom! This may very well be what it feels like when talking to an angry, rebellious and moody teenager. When there are all kinds of indications that your teen is into some kind of trouble (i.e. drugs, gangs, criminal acts, etc.), how do you talk to your teen without starting a…
It comes as a shock – your child has a substance abuse problem. And the hurt and disbelief sets in, when you realize you did not have any inkling, even when you thought you and your teen had a close relationship. Why didn’t your child come to you for help? Why did you not see…
Dealing with an angry, rebellious teen can sometimes leave you feeling hopeless and desperate. However, it can be helpful to recognize that your intervention has stages. If you are able to help your teen at the first stages, then you need not explore more drastic, stringent measures. Here are some of the levels of intervention…
Self-harm, or self-injury, is alarmingly an increasing trend among teenagers. There are an estimated 20% of teenagers who have, at one point, tried or are continuing to inflict physical harm using fire, knives, razorblades, scissors or even safety pins and paper clips. What’s more, teens are becoming more creative in how they self-injure – biting,…