Therapy For Teens/Adolescents

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Therapy for adolescents focuses on helping young people navigate important developmental challenges such as identity formation, self-esteem, peer relationships, family dynamics, and school-related issues. It addresses behavioral problems, emotional regulation, trauma, anxiety, depression, and risk-taking behaviors common during this period. While encouraging adolescents to develop autonomy, therapy often involves caregivers or parents to provide support and maintain a collaborative approach.

Therapeutic interventions typically include psychoeducation about emotions and acquiring coping skills, using engaging and age-appropriate methods. The therapist meets with the client and their parent/caregiver for skills coaching once a month. Given adolescents' shorter attention spans, therapy tends to be more interactive and creative, with a focus on skills building. The therapist's role is generally more directive and supportive.

Therapy for Older Adults

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Therapy with older adults differs significantly from work with younger adults, as it is shaped by distinct developmental tasks and life experiences. While younger adults often focus on identity, relationships, and future-oriented goals, older adults tend to reflect on life’s meaning, legacy, and loss. Sessions with older clients are typically slower in pace, more relational, and centered on processing transitions such as aging, retirement, grief, or shifts in identity.

Older adult clients bring a lifetime of experiences, making therapy rich in reflection and narrative work. Therapists must also consider the close connection between mental and physical health in older adulthood, often addressing chronic illness, cognitive decline, or loss of independence. This work may involve collaboration with healthcare providers or caregivers, and emphasizes not just symptom relief, but helping clients find dignity, coherence, and emotional healing in their later years.

Therapy for Adults

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Therapy for adults centers on managing more complex life stressors such as relationship challenges, workplace issues, existential concerns and trauma. The focus is often on building insight, self-awareness, and fostering long-term change by addressing past traumas, ineffective behaviors and thought patterns, emotional regulation, and sometimes physical health concerns. There is a strong emphasis on personal responsibility and autonomy.

Adults typically have a greater capacity for abstract thinking, allowing for deeper exploration of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The therapist’s role is that of a collaborative partner, helping clients explore patterns and develop strategies, while respecting their autonomy and confidentiality, with less need for involvement in external systems like schools.