Therapy with Teens
Professional & Caring Psychotherapy for Teens
Newport Beach | Orange County CA
Why is Teen Therapy Important?
From driver’s licenses and first kisses to bullying and breakups, teens face a unique rollercoaster of life experiences.
Adolescence marks a chaotic period of physical, social, and psychological change (see Dacey & Travers, 2002). Teens must constantly adapt to the stressors and demands that come with transitioning to young adulthood, leaving many feeling disoriented and overwhelmed. And the youth in the Newport Beach, California area are no exception.
To make things worse, the changes in the brain during adolescence can affect levels of impulsivity, risk-taking, and decreased self-control (Romer, 2010). Research has estimated the prevalence of mental illness amongst teens in the United States (ages 13 to 18) to be 22%, including anxiety, depression, and drug/alcohol use as the most common disorders.
Fortunately, psychotherapy for teens has been found to be an effective treatment option (Cartwright-Hatton et al, 2004).
Although we hope to provide support and treatment for struggling teens, many are reluctant to participate in therapy services. This is particularly true for teenage boys (Chandra, & Minkovitz, 2006).
How is Teen Therapy Different?
Therapy with teenagers may look very different from therapy with adults or young children.
Legal differences are particularly important, especially for laws about confidentiality and family involvement in treatment. Under California State Law, children who are 12 years of age and older may consent to their own treatment (Code § 6924). However, parents must be involved in the treatment at some point (with a few exceptions). This means that teens can come to therapy and have an additional layer of privacy, thereby allowing them to share more freely with the therapist. Of course, if there is a risk of harm to self or others (such as suicidality or self-harm), such information would be shared with the parent to ensure the client’s safety.
Therapy for teens can be particularly useful for addressing issues such as (DSM-5):
Aggression and anger
Conflict with a parent or family member
Suicidal thoughts
Self-harm behavior (cutting, burning, etc.)
Social anxiety
Sexual promiscuity
Sadness or depressed mood
Test or academic anxiety
Use of drugs or alcohol
Running away from home
Attention problems (A.D.H.D.)
Bodyweight management
Social problems
Cyberbullying (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
Abuse victimization
Issues like these, left untreated, can dramatically affect your teen’s potential for growth and success.
Together, we can bring your teen one step closer to wellbeing.
Reach New Heights
How Does Dr. Montgomery Run Teen Therapy?
Your teen’s health is my priority.
Most teen clients are brought to the office by a parent/guardian (often, involuntarily), which means some time must be spent building trust and security (see Shirk, Carver, & Brown, 2011; DiGiuseppe, Linscott, & Jilton, 1996). I typically invite teen clients to guide sessions to promote feelings of autonomy and control early in treatment.
We begin by identifying goals for treatment (Ford & Cloitre, 2009). Some examples of this might include:
Improving grades at school
Reducing screen time
Building or repairing trust with family members
Decreasing risky behaviors
Managing suicidal thoughts
Increased feelings of wellbeing
Motivation for healthy eating
Identifying emotions and triggers
Noticing unhelpful ways of thinking
Boundaries with social media and internet use
Based on the goals of the parent and teen, I design a research-based treatment plan for the therapy process.
I primarily draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), one of the strongest research-based treatment modalities for teens (Weisz, McCarty, & Valeri, 2006; Sukhodolsky, Kassinove, & Gorman, 2004). CBT focuses on changing the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that keep your teen from living a happy, healthy life. However, I also believe in a strengths-based approach that utilizes your teen’s abilities and talents to expedite their progress (see Helton & Smith, 2014).
Over the course of treatment, I carefully monitor your teen’s improvements and adjust as-needed. As we continue to meet goals for treatment, we may continue setting new ones that challenge and inspire your teen to reach new heights.
I believe that your teen has the power to make real change in their life.
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
Want to learn more?
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