| All counselors are not equal when it comes to | | | | therapist should consult with you in order to assess |
| achieving success with an adolescent. Only if a | | | | what your kid's specific problems are, what feelings |
| therapist has a detailed working knowledge about | | | | and behaviors need to be eliminated, which ones need |
| teenage counseling is he or she likely to succeed in | | | | reinforcing and what goals should be reinforced. With |
| getting the best results for a teenager. | | | | your feedback, he or she will set-up a clear treatment |
| Even though it may be difficult to find the right | | | | plan- one that you can understand. He will return your |
| counselor, I am sure you want to know the best ways | | | | phone calls promptly and even communicate with your |
| to find which type of counselor is likely to put your child | | | | kids teachers, if necessary. |
| back on track. | | | | Psychiatrists have a degree in medicine and get very |
| The initial pool of expert therapists comes from local | | | | little training in child counseling. They are mainly used to |
| professionals like psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and | | | | prescribe psychoactive medications. |
| mental health counselors who are licensed to practice | | | | Psychologists, on the other hand, have a doctoral |
| independently. | | | | degree in counseling or psychology and are mainly |
| Remember, the right child and adolescent counseling | | | | trained in providing therapy, counseling and research |
| professionals are not just helpful; they're crucial to your | | | | and assessment services. Social workers have |
| teenagers long-term success. | | | | earned a masters degree in social work and are |
| Many counselors or therapists can be successful with | | | | usually trained in community casework and counseling; |
| your kid for a short time. Given enough personality and | | | | mental health counselors have the masters degree |
| a few good jokes, most therapists can create some | | | | with most of their training in counseling. |
| instances of success in the short term. But it must not | | | | The best therapists maintain on-going communication |
| stop there. | | | | with you and will encourage you to do the same. They |
| Jokes and kindly lecturing only work for so long. It is | | | | will orient you and the teachers on ways to manage |
| important that your teen's counselor lay the proper | | | | your kids behavior that will have the highest probability |
| foundation for your kid's stability in the years to come. | | | | of success. |
| Remember, you are not just looking to solve your kids | | | | More than likely, the treatment plan will encourage you |
| behavior problem for a few days; you are looking to | | | | to change how you are saying what you are saying to |
| create long term stability in his/her personal | | | | your kid. The treatment plan will be powered by your |
| relationships, academic success and his future family | | | | kids most powerful motivators, so it will encourage |
| and vocational life. | | | | active cooperation instead of resistance. By utilizing |
| In order to eliminate your adolescents anxiety, | | | | effective communication skills, consequence |
| aggression, or other behavior problems, counselors | | | | programming and strength-targeting an expert |
| look at what the causes of the specific problems may | | | | counselor can help you transform your teenager from |
| be and then deftly apply their expertise, experience | | | | being self-defeating to self-actualizing. |
| and credentials in solving them-over the long term. | | | | What's the easiest way to find the right child |
| Important Questions: Does your teenagers counselor | | | | psychologist or counselor? Just conduct an internet |
| help by being available after school or weekends or do | | | | search with some or all of these keywords: child, |
| you have to struggle to get an appointment whenever | | | | adolescent, counselor, teenager, psychologist (and your |
| he or she can squeeze you in? Is s/he part of your | | | | location) e.g. Woodstock or Cary, Illinois. |
| insurance plan? Does he have over 10 years of | | | | Remember: Check years of experience, percentage |
| experience in treating teenagers? Will he or she be | | | | of practice devoted to teens (should be at least 25%), |
| able to build a solid rapport with your kid or will the kid | | | | licensure by the state and acceptance of your |
| just come out rolling his eyes? | | | | insurance plan. |
| At the initial consultation, an expert child and adolescent | | | | |