Adolescent
Mental
Health
Supporting Your Teen’s
Mental Health
More and more pressures face teenagers and young adults in today’s world, and figuring out how best to help when your teen is struggling can be overwhelming. In addition to going through rapid physical and emotional changes, teenagers can be significantly impacted by many other factors such as educational demands, social pressures, romantic and sexual relationships, social media, family conflict, and more. It is essential to find the right therapist for your teen: someone who understands the interplay between all of these issues and can identify the most effective therapeutic approach to help your child navigate these challenges.
How NYCBT
Can Help
At NYCBT, we understand the unique experiences that teens have and the particularly difficult challenges that they face. We have therapists who specialize in working with adolescents and their families in an understanding, supportive, and empowering environment.
We can help your teen with:
- Bullying or conflict with peers
- Recovering from traumatic events and experiences
- Confusion and uncertainty about life, identity, and their future
- Sexual problems, including peer pressure, risky or unsafe behavior, or violence
- Attention, concentration problems, and screen addiction
- Anxiety and depression
- Difficulty managing emotions or mood swings
- Social difficulty and isolation
- Suicidal thoughts and self-injury
- Risky or dangerous behavior, including substance use
- Questioning sexuality and gender
- School problems and family conflict
What We Offer
At NYCBT, we specialize in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), two approaches that research has shown to be highly effective for teens struggling with a wide range of problems. These treatments can provide your teen with the knowledge to understand their emotions and the skills to manage them effectively. Our therapists provide these treatments in an understanding, supportive environment, tailoring the approaches to your teen’s unique challenges and individual goals.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT can be especially effective in addressing the unique mental health challenges faced by adolescents. Your teen will learn to identify and challenge negative thought patterns and beliefs, including doubts about their abilities to succeed or handle challenges as well as negative beliefs about what others (such as parents, teachers, and friends) may think about them. CBT also focuses on developing healthier coping strategies and new ways of approaching the world, which can empower teens to navigate their lives with greater confidence and resilience. CBT has long been established as an effective treatment for adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, trauma and PTSD, OCD, phobias, and more.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A)
DBT-A combines CBT with mindfulness to help adolescents better manage their emotions, cope with distress, improve relationships, build a stronger sense of self, and work more effectively towards their goals in life. It is particularly recommended if your teen experiences chronic suicidal thoughts, engages in self-injurious behaviors such as cutting, or exhibits other risky or problematic behaviors in response to big or painful emotions.
Parent/Caregiver Involvement and Support
We believe that having your perspective on your teen’s history and the reasons why they are coming to therapy is essential. In addition to setting aside time for you to meet with the therapist separately from your child at the initial appointment, we offer the option of routine follow-ups with your teen’s therapist. You can also meet with a separate therapist as needed for help with effective parenting strategies or to get support for yourself.