What do you when your teen says no to much needed counseling or therapy?
• First, express your own willingness to participate. Some teens are willing to participate in family therapy. This way he or she doesn’t feel singled out and stigmatized. Family therapy can be quite effective in handling a serious teen problem.
• Second, insist (in a caring way) that your teen at least try therapy. Don’t give him the sense that therapy is shameful – present it as an opportunity for positive change.
• Third, if your teen absolutely refuses to go to therapy, go yourself and gradually involve your teen in a session every now and then. He may feel less threatened when the focus is on you.
• Also, seek support from parenting groups, where you can pick excellent coping strategies and the reassurance that you need to help your teen and yourself through this difficult time.
An expert in the field of adolescent behavior, Ms. McCoy has authored eleven books on the subject including the best selling “The Teenage Body Book”. Additionally she has written hundreds of articles for major national magazines. Coordinator of the Clinical Ph.D. Program at California School of Professional Psychology and Staff Counselor at the Center for Individual and Family Counseling in North Hollywood, California.
