When our children are experiencing difficulties, it can be challenging to know how to help. Psychotherapy allows young people a chance to discover a safe space where they can explore their thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

WORKING WITH ADOLESCENTS

Working with teenagers can be both challenging and rewarding. Developmentally, teenagers are facing challenging in so many aspects of their lives. They are often exploring their own identities; creating new and meaningful relationships with peers; testing the boundaries of the family and beginning the path of career development. 

When working with an adolescent, psychotherapy can often be the safe space where they can express doubts, contradictions or “undesirable” thoughts and feelings without feeling judged. The aim of therapy is to “make sense” of their world as it is now, and then to create the opportunity to explore other possibilities.  

Psychotherapy with teenagers is more beneficial when there is an open and understanding relationship with both parents. I therefore may want to initially meet with the parents before commencing therapy with a teenager. This meeting is aimed at establishing the nature of the problem and explaining the role of a therapist and therapy with minors. It is important that the expectations are clear from the beginning. 

Although I do work therapeutically with adolescenets who are going through a divorce in the family, I do not do any psycho legal work, and will not write reports for custody or mediation purposes.   

Dr. Lauren Moss
Counselling Psychologist

90 Mackay Avenue
Blairgowrie
Randburg

082 925 0711
email: lauren@counsellingpsych.co.za