You have an adolescent. There are so many changes. It is hard to know what is normal and what is not. You know something is up. Parents know. Or maybe your child has asked for help but you are not quite sure what they need. Do they have a therapist and it is not helping? Has the therapist recommended psychiatry? I can help!

I treat ages 13 and up. They might isolate. They won’t talk. They are not interacting like they usually do. There are physical changes. They are struggling with family change. They have outbursts. They are getting into trouble. They are dramatic. They are impulsive. Their goals are suddenly changing. They relay sadness or anxiety or suicidal thoughts. They won’t talk. They have always talked to you and now they won’t. They pull away or run away. Many teens will ask for help too. They want to talk to a professional, not mom or dad.

A NOTE on SUBSTANCE USE: Teens are also known to experiment or just want to try a substance and it can rapidly escalate with tolerance to addiction. This can be true even with nicotine and cannabis depending on the strength and type used. Every person is unique but for children and teen’s developing brains this can be especially problematic and cause lifelong difficulties. Problem substance use is typically a co-occurring disorder, meaning it occurs in conjunction with a mental health diagnosis. Because teens often use substances as a form of self-medication for emotional pain or difficulty coping, that must be addressed in order for young people to find long-term, sustainable healing. Withdrawal symptoms can be very uncomfortable. Help your child be successful and consult a trusted health professional.

Schedule a 15 min free call to discuss if your child needs a mental health evaluation. Send me a message and I will respond to set up a time to talk.