CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Psychotherapy with children and adolescents can be especially challenging, since each developmental stage has important tasks for the child/teen to master. I typically do play and talk therapy with children ages 6 through 10. With older children I help them do more problem-solving and we work as a team through discussion and co-created homework assignments. This approach allows your child to learn through experience what works best with friends and family, at home and at school

Adolescents are often preoccupied with autonomy, friends, and their changing bodies. Identity issues, mood swings and separating from the family are concerns for the parent and the teen. Recent brain research has revealed that your teen's judgment and impulse control aren't fully developed until around age 25 (though most parents don't need research to tell them this!).

Drugs, alcohol and the juvenile justice system are sometimes involved and there is more reason for the therapist to set clear limits and boundaries. I believe the interventions of the juvenile justice system can be useful for therapy. The adolescent gets an important message regarding his behavior and the real world consequences of breaking the law. In my view, it is better they get this understanding at a younger age since the repercussions of breaking the law later in life are considerably more severe and punitive.

I work closely with parents, teachers and others who are involved with the child's life. Psychotherapy with children and teens may be relatively brief, as children are quick to learn and they have fewer "layers" of defenses than adults. A colleague once told me that a year of therapy with a child can prevent the need for five years of therapy as an adult. More importantly, children deserve to have a happy childhood and having a respected adult who can listen, interpret, and intervene when necessary, can be invaluable.

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415 - 453 - 2640
Kentfield, CA
gary@garylgross.com