Helping Troubled Teens

At times, even when using the best parenting tactics, teens may need outside help in order to get over their problems.  It’s important to know that there are many useful resources in your community that can be called upon when your teen’s depression or anger issues become out of control and more than what you can deal with.

One great place to start in your search for outside help for your teen is at his school.  Contact the school guidance counselor, they are very knowledgeable about problems that teens face today and they have connections to many outside resources.  The school counselor may also be able to speak with your teen and be a liaison between your teen and his teachers at school. 

There are many youth centers and community centers that offer programs for trouble teens.  Within these programs, they provide many different coping skills and assistance to teens that will help them manage their troubles.  These programs also provide mentors that can be very helpful to your teen when they are having problems communicating with the family.  The key is to locate these programs before your teens behaviors become totally out of control.

If you are involved in church or another place of worship, you may want to contact them to see if there is a youth program at the facility.  These programs may be helpful to your teen and assist your teen with their individual problems.  Many pastors and other clergy have been trained in counseling troubled children.

Your family doctor is another wonderful resource that you can use to enlist help for your teen.  They can assess your teen to see if there is a medical problem that may need to be treated with medication.  In most cases this is covered by insurance.  The doctor may also know of other programs and groups that might be helpful to your teen, your family, or even you, in dealing with the problems of depression and anger.

Finding a residential treatment center is usually the last resort for most parents that are dealing with a teen that needs help.  They are equipped with psychiatrists, doctors and staff that are fully trained to handle the problems that teenagers have.  It’s important to know that when teens are placed in a facility like this, they receive very close monitoring, and will also receive medication, if it is needed.  Residential facilities provide group and/or individual counseling for your teenager that will prove to be very helpful.  They will undergo training in different types coping mechanisms which can help to keep their emotional problems from recurring.

If you have a teenager that you feel needs to receive outside help, it is important to act swiftly before the problem has a chance to escalate. As you can see, there are a number of options available to troubled teens; the key is to find one that works for your teen and your family.  Not every approach will work with every teen; you know your child best, so trust your instincts and, above all, be patient, even when they are less than pleasant with you.