adolescence. It’s a period of challenging biological, social, and psychological growth. Anyone who’s survived this period will tell you that it isn’t an easy time for the teenager or for the people who care about him or her.

Every adolescent is a unique person who develops in their own way, but it’s likely that the typical adolescent developmental issues and behaviors will emerge. These include…

+ Improved self expression, abstract thought, and greater evidence of conscience;
+ Feelings of discomfort about self and/or body; worries about physical and sexual attractiveness to others; vacillation between demanding high expectations of self and poor self-esteem;
+ Peer-group influenced interests, style, and language; social relationships change often;
+ Frequent and significant mood changes;
+ Challenging parent for more independence; decreasing affection towards parent and sometimes rudeness; new awareness that parents are not perfect and identification with traits of the parent;
+ Expanded scope of standards and role models;
+ Sexuality is highlighted and there may be experimentation with sex and drugs.

Areas of specialization for adolescent treatment:
+ Depression
+ Anxiety
+ Self-esteem problems
+ Healing the impact of childhood trauma or abuse
+ Divorce and blending of families
+ Issues of adoption and adolescence
+ Identity issues
+ Grief/loss
+ Artist/writer's creative block

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