Treatment for Depression in Teens
Caring & Professional Psychotherapy For Adolescent Depression
Newport Beach | Orange County CA
Is Your Teen Irritable, Withdrawn & Unmotivated?
What is Adolescent Depression?
Teenagers must endure some of the most stressful years of life development. The surge of hormone release, maturation, and stress creates a cocktail for anxiety and depression.
Although many of us have seen depression for adults, depression looks different with children and teens. Specifically, teens who struggle with depression can appear irritable, defiant, or aggressive, rather than the typical hopelessness or helplessness seen in adulthood.
Depression is one of the most common disorders in the U.S., with approximately 1 in 10 people suffering from clinically significant symptoms (Compton, Conway, Stinson, & Grant, 2006; CDC, 2010).
Symptoms of depression might include (DSM-5):
Bouts of anger
Lack of focus or attention
Loss of hope
Helplessness
Feeling down or sad
Sleep or appetite changes
Tiredness
Irritability
Thoughts of suicide or death*
Isolation or loneliness
* If you or your teen is experiencing thoughts of suicide, contact the suicide hotline immediately (1-800-273-8255), or call 911.
Many teens struggle with symptoms of depression, which makes this disorder one of the most common causes of disability in the United States (CDC, 2010). For example, a teen with depression may struggle to focus in class, thereby decreasing academic performance, thereby resulting in inability to attend college or get a well-suited job.
Teenagers are learning important lessons about socialization, independence, and work ethic. As such, difficulty meeting those standards may result in difficulty at school, at work, and with the family. Many parents notice teens begin to withdraw or become confrontational during episodes of depression, and so detection of these warning signs is critical.
If you or your teen struggle with symptoms of depression, please contact me as soon as possible. Depression is highly treatable and can be quickly managed through psychological services.
Treatment for Depression
Psychotherapy is the safest and most effective treatment option for teens with depression (Barth et al, 2013; Beard et al, 2016). With younger children, parents are often involved in the treatment process to expedite the child’s progress. Although therapy for teens may also involve the parent, we will discuss the boundaries of sharing so that teens may share freely with the therapist.
Careful assessment is essential to the process for treating depression in teens. Depression and anxiety can look very similarly in teens, but the treatment is different.
As a Cognitive Behavioral psychologist, I focus on your teen’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to their depression. As your teenager progresses in therapy, they will learn to:
Develop trust with parents
Communicate feelings of distress in a healthy manner
Decrease thoughts of suicide
Identify problematic ways of thinking
Feel more socially connected
Improve self-esteem
If you or your teen struggle with symptoms of depression, contact me as soon as possible to schedule your first session.
To read about how depression affects adults and children, check out the Treatment of Depression in Adults and Treatment of Depression for Children pages to learn more.
Interested? Let’s connect!
If you or your child are interested in therapy services, contact me as soon as possible. I would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about my practice.
It is never too late for your child to receive treatment. I believe I can help make a difference in your child’s life.
Together, we can help them reach their potential.
Dr. Montgomery holds dual certifications in Clinical Psychology (California Board of Psychology PSY28475) and Family Therapy (California Board of Behavioral Sciences MFT49608). He has dedicated his professional and academic activities to understanding and addressing psychological, behavioral and interpersonal health in children, adolescents, and families.
Education:
Psy.D. Clinical Psychology
M.A. Clinical Psychology
M.S. Counseling Psychology
B.A. Psychology