Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Family TherapyAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Family Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Close
Therapy for teens can come in different types that can treat a range of concerns that adolescents might experience. Ultimately, the goal is to help teens cope with the problems they may be experiencing and function better in different areas of their lives.
The teen years are an essential period of development. Experts suggest that mental health struggles are not uncommon during these years, with one in three high school students reportingsymptoms of depressionsuch as sadness and hopelessness.Just as with adults,therapycan be a helpful resource for teens to address some of these common concerns.
At a GlanceThere are many types of therapy for teens, so it’s important to learn more about your options and how each works. Common types of therapy for teens include:Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)Family therapyAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)Interpersonal therapy (IPT)This article discusses the types of therapy that are common for teenagers. It also covers how these therapies work, their benefits, and what you can expect during treatment.
At a Glance
There are many types of therapy for teens, so it’s important to learn more about your options and how each works. Common types of therapy for teens include:Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)Family therapyAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)Interpersonal therapy (IPT)This article discusses the types of therapy that are common for teenagers. It also covers how these therapies work, their benefits, and what you can expect during treatment.
There are many types of therapy for teens, so it’s important to learn more about your options and how each works. Common types of therapy for teens include:
This article discusses the types of therapy that are common for teenagers. It also covers how these therapies work, their benefits, and what you can expect during treatment.
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Cognitive behavioral therapy, often referred to as CBT, is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on making connections between thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. Psychotherapists who use CBT help people identify and change dysfunctional patterns.
CBT is often used with adolescents. It can be effective in treating a wide range of issues includingeating disorders,substance use,anxiety, anddepression.
Basic Principles
CBT is based on the idea that there is a clear link between thoughts, behaviors, and feelings.A teen who thinks they are socially awkward, for example, may then experience anxiety and avoid social interactions.
What to Do If Your Teen Has a Mental Illness
How It Works
Teens often develop distorted core beliefs about themselves. CBT helps confront and modify those distortions.A psychotherapist using CBT would:
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Benefits of CBT
CBT helps teens learn how to interpret their environment differently. Compared to other therapeutic approaches CBT is generally short-term. Sometimes, only a handful of sessions are needed.
The approach is also very problem-focused which means it deals with issues in the present. Treatment providers aren’t likely to rehash a teen’s childhood or look for hidden meaning in their behavior. Instead, sessions focus on helping the teen with problems going on now.
This type of therapy can provide benefits such as:
What to Expect
During CBT, your teen will work on identifying negative thoughts, which can be a challenging process. Their therapist will work with them to develop new ways of thinking and learn new coping skills.
Your teen may be assigned “homework” to do outside of their therapy sessions, which may involve practicing many of the skills they are working on during therapy. CBT tends to be highly structured, which can be helpful for teens who want to be able to clearly understand goals and expectations.
RecapCBT often involves homework assignments. Getting parents involved in supporting a teen’s efforts to complete the homework can be key to getting better. Be sure to talk to the therapist about how you can best support your teen’s treatment.
Recap
CBT often involves homework assignments. Getting parents involved in supporting a teen’s efforts to complete the homework can be key to getting better. Be sure to talk to the therapist about how you can best support your teen’s treatment.
It can also help parents and caregivers learn strategies such as listening to andvalidating their teen’s emotions.
Family therapists utilize a number of techniques in order to help teens and their families. Their approach may include:
Benefits of Family Therapy
This type of therapy can help teens and families in a variety of ways. Some of these benefits include:
Family participation and support can also help improve treatment outcomes. Research has also found that teens with families that participate in family therapy are less likely to drop out of treatment.
This approach can be helpful in addressing behavioral issues and coping with life changes such as moving, divorce, or the death of a loved one.
Family therapy can be short-term or last longer depending on the situation a teen or family is facing. Some sessions may focus only on your teen, but in most cases, it will involve all of the members of the family.
During your sessions, you will talk about the issues you are facing and explore other factors that may also contribute to issues including peer influences, stress, trauma, or underlying mental health conditions.
RecapFamily therapy can be effective for teens who are dealing with behavioral problems or family issues that affect their well-being.It may involve some individual sessions, but usually requires the participation of all members of the family unit.
Family therapy can be effective for teens who are dealing with behavioral problems or family issues that affect their well-being.It may involve some individual sessions, but usually requires the participation of all members of the family unit.
Acceptance and commitment therapy, often referred to as ACT, is an approach that can help teens learn to identify, understand, and accept their emotions. Teens commonly face challenging or strong emotions, so gaining an understanding of these feelings can help them find ways to manage them effectively.
The basic principle underlying this approach is that learninghow to accept emotionscan help improvepsychological flexibility.This skill involves being able to regulate emotions in the short term and set aside feelings until you can address them in an effective and acceptable way.
This type of therapy utilizes six key strategies to help teens understand their emotions:
Press Play for Advice On Radical Acceptance
Benefits of ACT
ACT can be beneficial for treating a number of conditions. Research suggests that ACT can be an effective tool for helping reduce symptoms of conditions such as anxiety and depression.
During ACT sessions, teens work with their therapist to assess issues in their life that may be creating emotional challenges including relationships, negative self-talk, and stressful events. Sessions often focus on addressing immediate challenges in a teen’s life and then move on to addressing past issues and developing new skills.
RecapACT can be a helpful treatment for teens who are struggling with emotional challenges. By understanding and accepting their emotions without judgment, teens are able to better regulate and manage their feelings.
ACT can be a helpful treatment for teens who are struggling with emotional challenges. By understanding and accepting their emotions without judgment, teens are able to better regulate and manage their feelings.
Dialectical behavior therapy, also known as DBT, is a form of CBT that was originally developed to treatborderline personality disorder (BPD). It has since been adapted to treat other mental health conditions including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal behaviors.
The key strategies used in DBT include:
Teens who are treated with DBT learn behavioral skills in group therapy settings. They also receive individual therapy where they address personal challenges in their life and adapt and practice the new skills they have learned.
During treatment, teens can also receive phone coaching from their therapist when they are facing challenges in their daily life.
Benefits of DBT
DBT can help teens achieve greater self-acceptance, gain new skills, and learn to better tolerate distress. Research suggests that DBT can be helpful for treating a range of conditions in both adults and children.
A 2020 study published inJAMA Psychiatryfound that DBT was an effective treatment for reducing suicide attempts among teens who were at a high risk for suicide.
During treatment, teens attend individual sessions as well as group therapy sessions where they receive skills training. During skills training, teens learn new skills, practice these skills in the group, share their experience, and gain support from other group members. Homework to be completed outside of these sessions is also common.
RecapDBT is a form of CBT that can effectively treat a range of mental health conditions that can affect teens. It incorporates mindfulness practices and helps teens develop skills to communicate in relationships, handle emotional discomfort, and regulate their emotions.
DBT is a form of CBT that can effectively treat a range of mental health conditions that can affect teens. It incorporates mindfulness practices and helps teens develop skills to communicate in relationships, handle emotional discomfort, and regulate their emotions.
Interpersonal therapyis an approach to treatment that focuses on how interpersonal relationships and social interactions affect mental health and well-being. One form of this therapy, known as interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents (IPT-A) has been specifically adapted to treat depression in teens between the ages of 12 and 18.
Proponents of IPT suggest that social and interpersonal factors play an important role in both the onset and maintenance of depression. By addressing problems with loneliness, grief, trauma, transitions, and unhelpful relationships, IPT works to relieve the distress that people feel.
Benefits of IPT
Studies have shown that IPT-A can be effective as a treatment for depression in adolescents.During treatment, teens learn to recognize their feelings about relationships, improve their communication skills, and decrease relationship-related stress.
In IPT-A, teens meet with their therapist once a week for a 12- to 16-week period. Each session has a specific focus, including exploring how relationships influence mood, identifying problem areas, developing new problem-solving strategies, and practicing new interpersonal skills.
RecapIPT is a form of therapy that has been specifically adapted to help teens deal with relationship problems that can contribute to psychological issues.
IPT is a form of therapy that has been specifically adapted to help teens deal with relationship problems that can contribute to psychological issues.
Keep in Mind
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting an early diagnosis and intervention is essential for the well-being of children with mental health conditions.The CDC suggests that 15.1% of adolescents between 12 and 17 have had a depressive episode, and 36.7% struggle with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
If your teen is struggling with a mental health problem or a behavioral issue, talk to their doctor. A physician can rule out any possible medical issues that may be contributing to the issue can refer you to a therapist.
A mental health professional will likely want to interview you and your teen to understand the current issue better. Then, sessions may include your teen only, or the therapist may wish you or other family members to attend.Online therapyis another treatment option that can also be effective for teens.
Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.
Get Help Now
We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.
Types of Therapy: An A to Z List of Your Options
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