Developmental-Systemic Family Therapy
with Adolescents
Developmental-systemic therapy integrates information and research from psychology, family studies, and family therapy to provide a practical approach to helping adolescents with their problems. Because an adolescent is still developing cognitively, emotionally, socially, and in his or her identity it critical that therapists understand adolescent development and interact and design interventions that are developmentally appropriate.
Parents play a critical role in adolescents developing into well-adjusted adults. Teenagers are often viewed as mysterious beings by adults, and parents frequently find it difficult to understand teenage sons and daughters. Adolescents are unfathomable at times due to the young person simultaneously and paradoxically being:
- vulnerable and supremely confident
- worldly and innocent
- egocentric and compassionate
- stubborn and impressionable
- suspicious and trusting
- sarcastic and funny
- autonomy seeking and inexperienced in decision making
Understanding adolescent development can help parents decipher their teenagers behavior. Parenting styles that help your son or daughter develop more autonomy while keeping emotionally close relations is an important factor in good life outcomes. Family therapists can facilitate conversations between young people and their parents that develop closer relations while addressing really terrifying problems that young people may face daily.
Adolescents engage in risky behaviors such as driving a car while intoxicated, early or unprotected sex, and experimenting with drugs and alcohol. They are at high risk for cutting on themselves or committing suicide. Families must be involved in therapy with their teenager to reduce the risk of these behaviors and understand how mothers and fathers influence self-esteem and identity development.
Adolescents influence parents and siblings as much as parents influence adolescents. If you find yourself needing to consult with an expert on adolescence about your teenager's moods or behaviors, please give me a call.
Copyright ©2007 Glencairn Marriage & Family Therapy Center, Inc., All Rights Reserved.