As a parent, you want the best for your child’s well-being. Sometimes, that means having difficult conversations, like discussing therapy and treatment options with your teen. These conversations are crucial for their growth and development, Whether due to mental health concerns, behavioral issues, or other challenges. We will look into effective ways to approach these discussions, strengthen your bond with your teenager, and help them make informed choices.
Creating a Safe and Open Environment
Before delving into the specifics of discussing therapy and treatment options, it’s essential to establish an environment where your teen feels safe and comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. Here is how to be a good parent to your teen and achieve this:
- Active Listening: Start by being an attentive listener. Encourage your teen to express themselves without judgment. Validate their emotions and let them know you’re there to support them.
- Empathy: Show empathy and understanding for what your teen is going through. Acknowledge their struggles and reassure them that it’s okay to seek help.
- Privacy: Respect your teen’s privacy. Ensure that they feel their personal space and boundaries are honored, which can foster trust and open communication.
- Timing is Key: Choose an appropriate time to have this conversation. Avoid bringing it up during arguments or when your teen is already stressed. Opt for a calm, relaxed moment.
Initiating the Conversation on Therapy and Treatment Options with Your Teen
Now that you’ve created a supportive environment, it’s time to broach the subject of therapy and treatment options. Here’s how to do it effectively and ensure you will be heard the right way.
Use “I” Statements
When opening the discussion of therapy and treatment options with your teen, start the conversation with “I” statements rather than “you” statements. For example, say, “I’ve noticed you’ve been feeling down lately, and I’m concerned about your well-being,” instead of “You’ve been acting strange lately.” These “I” statements help convey your observations and emotions without making your teen feel attacked or judged. It opens the door for them to share their feelings more openly, knowing that you’re approaching the conversation with empathy and care.
Express Concern, Not Blame
Focus on your concern for your teen’s well-being rather than blaming them for their problems. This approach can reduce defensiveness and make them more receptive to your suggestions. Remember that addiction and substance abuse are complex issues, often driven by various factors. By expressing your concern, you’re letting your teen know that you are on their side, ready to support them in overcoming their challenges. It’s about working together to find solutions rather than assigning blame.
Educate Yourself First
Before discussing therapy and treatment options, educating yourself about the available resources and approaches is essential. This knowledge will enable you to provide your teen with accurate information and guidance. If your teen is dealing with addiction or substance abuse, it can be an incredibly challenging and emotionally taxing journey.
It’s crucial to seek professional guidance and support from rehabilitation centers like Little Creek Recovery. Their research-backed approach can provide valuable insights and strategies tailored to your teen’s specific needs. By enlisting their expertise, you can take the first step toward helping your teen break free from the grips of addiction and embark on a path to lasting recovery and a healthier future.
Here are some ways to get informed:
- Research: Take the time to research different types of therapy and treatment options. Understand their benefits, potential side effects, and success rates. This knowledge will help you answer your teen’s questions and address their concerns.
- Consult Professionals: Reach out to mental health professionals or counselors for advice. They can provide valuable insights and recommend suitable options based on your teen’s specific needs.
Involve Your Teen in the Decision-Making Process
Empower your teen to be an active participant in their own well-being. When discussing therapy and treatment options with your teen, involve them in the decision-making process by:
- Asking for Their Input: Seek your teen’s opinion regarding therapy or treatment preferences. Do they have any specific concerns or reservations? Addressing these can make them feel more in control.
Caption: Ensure you include your teen in the decision
Alt-tag: sitting outside and discussing therapy and treatment options with your teen as parents
- Providing Choices: Offer your teen a range of therapy or treatment options when appropriate. Presenting choices allows them to select what aligns best with their comfort and needs.
Addressing Concerns and Questions
Your teen may have many questions and concerns about therapy and treatment options. Be prepared to address them with patience and empathy.
Stigma
Your teen might worry about the stigma associated with therapy or treatment. Assure them that seeking help is a sign of strength, and many people, including celebrities and successful individuals, have undergone therapy.
Effectiveness
Discuss the potential benefits of therapy or treatment and provide examples of how it has helped others in similar situations. Share success stories to inspire hope.
Confidentiality
Explain the concept of confidentiality in therapy and how their privacy will be respected. Knowing that their personal information will be kept confidential can ease their worries.
Duration
Be transparent about the duration of therapy or treatment. Let your teen know that it varies from person to person and depends on their progress.
Support Their Decision
Ultimately, the decision to pursue therapy or treatment should be your teen’s choice. Respect their autonomy even if you believe it’s the best course of action. Support their decision, whether they choose to proceed or not.
Seek Professional Guidance
If your teen’s issues are severe or potentially life-threatening, it’s essential to seek professional guidance immediately. Don’t hesitate to consult a mental health professional or counselor for expert advice and intervention.
Ongoing Support and Communication
After the initial discussion, maintain open lines of communication with your teen. Offer ongoing support by:
- Checking In: Regularly ask how they are feeling and if they have any concerns about therapy or treatment. Your continued interest shows that you care about their well-being.
- Attending Sessions Together: Depending on your teen’s comfort level, offer to attend therapy sessions with them. This can provide additional support and strengthen your bond.
- Being Patient: Understand that progress may be gradual. Be patient and reassure your teen that you are there for the long haul.
Conclusion
Discussing therapy and treatment options with your teen is a delicate but essential conversation for concerned parents. By creating a safe and open environment, initiating the conversation with empathy and understanding, educating yourself, involving your teen in decision-making, addressing concerns, and offering ongoing support, you can guide them toward the help they may need. Remember that your unwavering support can make all the difference in your teen’s journey to well-being and personal growth.
![Parenting a strong-willed, sensitive child is challenging. We want to preserve their spirit while effectively parenting them. This is how to work with your child's temperament and improve cooperation. My first strong-willed, sensitive child was my daughter. Shortly after she was born, many described my baby girl as an old soul. As an infant, her eyes were wide with curiosity. With a serious expression on her face, it was as if she was analyzing everything. As an infant, she was a happy baby. However, she got overstimulated easily and was quick to let me know when I needed to take her out of a crowded room. Her first day of preschool was another example of how her personality plays out. She had her backpack ready days before the first day of school. Once she was packed, she was furious she couldn't go to school that instant. When the first day of school came, she lept with joy. When we pulled into the parking lot, she told me to wait in the car and let her walk in on her own. Considering the fact she was three and not thirteen, the answer to that demand has a hard no. I did my best to keep with my two-year-old son on my hip as my little girl burst through the rusty red school doors. In the classroom, her whirlwind of excitement came to a screeching halt as she saw another girl crying. My daughter's desire to leave me in the dust tapered. Her big brown eyes got even darker as the empathy she felt for the girl washed over her. "She's sad, Mama." My daughter didn't know how to reconcile the dissonant emotions. She was excited to leave me while another child was brokenhearted that her mom had left. Thankfully, this situation acted as an opportunity for both girls to make a friend before class started. (They felt the cloakroom holding hands and were best friends for the rest of the school year.) This example of the juxtaposition of my daughter's strong-will and sensitivity is one of many. But my son is also highly sensitive and willful. Because of this, our days are punctuated by headstrong and emotional reactions. For example, when a soccer game got too rough, my son made his way to the sidelines, crossed his arms, and refused to get back on the field. And, the other day, decided to set up a lemonade stand, they went toe-to-toe over whether or not a lemonade stand can carry drinks other than lemonade. They argued about the best place to set up the stand. And, when no one came to their sale, they were both crestfallen. Related reading: Parenting a Strong-Willed Child? These are the best books to increase cooperation Parenting a strong-willed, sensitive child is challenging. If you can relate to examples like these, chances are you find parenting your child to be dynamic and, at times, exhausting. There is no autopilot for parenting these precocious and emotional souls. This is because strong-willed children take nothing at face value. They are forever trying to determine what the boundaries are and will always try to negotiate. Furthermore, these children are acutely aware of changes in their environment, have big hearts, and equally big emotional reactions. So often, children of this nature pick battles or are devastated over things like: being served big carrots you cut for them instead of mini carrots, you suggesting they wear a pair of pants that "feel funny," a change in plans, like having to wait to go to the aquarium because the baby hasn't woken from his nap. The good news. Strong-willed, sensitive children are naturally equipped with some of the greatest predictors of lifelong success. For one, they are naturally tenacious. When a strong-willed child doesn't get her way, she brainstorms, negotiates, and presses the issue. For instance, when their lemonade stand failed, my children eventually decided to add more items, a price list, and find a higher traffic location (they set up right near a construction site.) As a result, they both came home happy, clenching about $3 in change each. In addition to grit, these children are more inclined to be leaders and stand up for what's right. Laura Markham, clinical psychologist at Columbia University explains, [Strong-willed children] are usually self-motivated and inner-directed, and often grow into leaders as adults. They are more impervious to peer pressure and go after what they want with more gusto. They want to “learn things for themselves rather than accepting what others say, so they test the limits over and over,” and this relates to relationships as well. Such discernment involves not only when they cut their hair, eat vegetables, or choose to wear a coat, but also in whom they decide to trust and in whom they choose to follow or who they allow themselves to be influenced by. Finally, emotionally intelligent people tend to have better job performance (1). And, highly sensitive people tend to be empathetic, smart, and contentious (2). How do you know you have a strong-willed, sensitive child? Children who have strong-willed temperaments tend to: be prone to power struggles, question authority and rules, be bright and persistent, frequently test authority figures (parents, babysitters, substitute teachers, extended family) to see determine what the boundaries are, protest readily when expectations seem unfair, carry arguments on for longer and farther than one would anticipate (3). Children who are highly sensitive tend to: be very intuitive, learn better with gentle correction rather than harsh punishment, notice when others are bothered or upset, feel emotions deeply, picks up on subtle changes (such as the "slightest unusual odour") asks a lot of questions, is very sensitive to pain. You can take the Highly Sensitive Child test, developed based Dr Elaine Aron's research, here. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 5 key strategies that make parenting a strong-willed, sensitive child easier. Frame your child's behaviour. By understanding your strong-willed, sensitive child, you have context for your child's behaviour and are better equipped to coach it. Work with your child's personality by establishing the family rules together. Call a family meeting and discuss problems as well as goals. Prompt your children to talk about what rules they think are reasonable as well as how they should be reminded when mistakes are made. In this situation, you are still the parent and you are guiding the discussion while collaborating to accomplish peace and cooperation in your household. Frontload as often as possible. This means to look for every chance to give your child a heads-up before disappointment strikes, plans change, or the going gets tough. This will make it so much easier for her to be resilient when she feels challenged. Make boundaries firm and discipline gentle. Strong-willed children need to know what rules are non-negotiable. This minimizes power struggles and also facilitates confidence in a child. Research shows that sensitive children feel the most vulnerable when boundaries aren't clear (3). Equally, discipline must be calm and gentle. Studies on sensitive children show that they hold themselves highly accountable for their mistakes (4). In cases of misbehaviour, the best approach is a subtle reminder or in more extreme cases a timeout where you're with your child. When appropriate and with your child's permission, explain your child's temperament to others. Some may mistakenly think your child is intentionally being too sensitive or strong-willed. Others may not know how to make sense of your child's nature. By giving context to who your child is, the adults in your child's life will be better equipped to take care of and guide him. A final note on sensitive and strong-willed children Strong-willed, sensitive children require patience and consideration. They aren't easy to raise, but their temperament gives them the innate capacity to become compassionate and meaningful leaders. The key is to work with their personality while increasing cooperation. To do so, the adults in their lives must work with them instead of against them, be clear with their expectations but gentle with their discipline, and act as their advocate where appropriate. In doing so, adults are able to guide the child in a way that celebrates who she is. This then gives the child to truly become the person she is meant to be.](https://parentfromheart.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/strong-willed-child-upset.jpg)
