When to get help and who to turn to
When it makes sense to involve a professional, who can help and how to bring it up.
2 min read
When it makes sense to get help
- When the isolation has lasted several months and is affecting other parts of their life.
- When there are signs of bullying, with your teen on either side.
- When their distress around other people is so intense that it keeps them from living their life.
- When conflicts keep repeating with different people.
Who can help
Type
School counselor
What it's for
A first point of contact. They often have a very useful view of how your teen is doing among their classmates
Type
Therapist who works with teens
What it's for
To work on what lies underneath the isolation or the conflict
Type
Therapy groups for teens
What it's for
The work is done with others, in a real social situation
Type
Family therapist
What it's for
When what's happening at home weighs on their social life
How to bring it up
How to say it
Instead of
"You're going to a therapist because you don't have any friends."
Try
"I want you to have a place to talk about how you're feeling, with someone who can help you. It's not because something is wrong with you. It's because I care about you being okay."
A question to take with you
What would it mean to you for your teen to "have friends"? And what would it mean to them?