No Cap: It’s Time to Glow Up Your Teen Therapy Skills

The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

No Cap: It’s Time to Glow Up Your Teen Therapy Skills

Curt and Katie chat about how to work effectively with teen clients. We look at what adults often get wrong about teens as well as how therapists can develop real relationships with their teen clients. We also look at the differences that can show up in how you do therapy with teens.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about effective therapy with teenaged clients

Curt and Katie have both specialized in working with teens at different points in their careers and figured they should share what they’ve learned to support other therapists who’d like to work with teens.

What do therapists (and caregivers) get wrong about teenagers?

· You won’t reach teens if you treat them like behavioral problems to solve

· It is helpful to show teens that they will be listened to, rather than just subject to whatever their parents or caregivers want them to do in therapy

· Therapists can seem less authentic if they try to be “the cool therapist”

What is needed in an effective therapeutic alliance with teen therapy clients?

· Identifying what the teen needs from the therapist (e.g., confidant, older sibling, parental type)

· Authenticity is key as teens will often see through it if you’re not

· Defining boundaries of the relationship

· Looking toward client autonomy

· Showing stability and constancy

· Encouraging safety and agency

· Being a trusted, consistent adult

What are differences in therapy with teens and adults?

· Having caregivers involved in schedule and decision-making, having a huge impact on teens

· Therapy for teens is often a relationship where identity can be tested

· Therapists can be an outside voice for both teens and adults, but teens may need this more

· Caregivers are more likely to be a part of treatment for teens

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/