A parent wants nothing but the best for his child. No mother or father in this world wishes for something unfortunate to take place in the life of his or her kid. As such, it is only normal if you feel like you have to protect your teen for any danger that may come into his life. Do not feel bad if you act strange or strict to ensure that your teenage child will not suffer in this world. This is why you may consider sending your teen to a boarding school or even go for therapy online.
Unfortunately, several things are not under your control. No matter how hard you make an effort to keep your child to be away from danger or bad influence, they may still end up on the bad side. This situation can lead to rebellion or worse, depression. If you are going through this difficult phase in your life as a parent to a troubled teenager, then we highly recommend that you finish this article from start to bottom.
For today’s post, our highlight will be about the possible need to try therapy online. “Therapy is extremely personal and intimate, you don’t want to have to go with the only one that has availability,” says Sena Moran, LMHC. The best part about the recent developments in the field of technology is that you can always get in touch with the right professionals who can assist you in your medical concerns or mental health problems. In this case, you have to seek professional help, not for your sanity but your teenager. Below are the top tips to remember when it comes to trying this mode of treatment for your teen:
Assess The Situation First
As a mother, you are the best person to know if there is indeed something wrong in your child’s life. Has there been a significant change in his attitude? Did he experience a traumatic event recently? When was the last time he acted normal? These are the kinds of questions to consider before contacting a therapist. Make sure that you have already assessed the situation so that you can provide correct details to the teen mental health expert, especially if you are going to do it online.
Talk To Your Teen
Another step that you must resort to before contacting a therapist is to talk to your teen. It is essential to establish an honest and open communication with him. As a parent, it is your role to see to it that he would feel comfortable talking to you about anything under the sun. You need to make an effort in reaching out to your teen and try to fix the problem before it gets worst. However, in a situation where his attitude has become impossible to handle, you can always tell him that it is time to seek professional help. “It is a healing process that allows people to not only start feeling better but gain insight, awareness, and ultimately begin trusting their intuition and experience.” Dr. Mitch Keil, a clinical psychologist said.
Do Your Research
Do not rush the process of looking for the right therapist to help your child. As much as possible, contact someone who has a proven track record in the field of teen counseling or therapy. Otherwise, you will only end up wasting your money. It is ideal to find a mental health expert who has experience in treating troubled teenagers. The reason behind this is that he is more likely to change the bad or negative habits compared to other professionals who have little or no experience at all. Moreover, you can also view and read online journals and check the therapists or companies mentioned.
Be Supportive
Trying out therapy online for the first time can be complicated and confusing. Hence, you may hear your child complaining about the set-up. In this kind of situation, the best way to handle the issue is to show your teen that you support him all the way. Make him feel that you are by his side in every step of the way. You can constantly remind him of his online sessions until he gets used to it. Furthermore, you may also consider taking care of the online expenses ahead of time so that there will be no issues in the arrangement.
Do not hesitate to try online therapy for your teen. Show him the benefits and advantages of going through the entire treatment process through virtual sessions. Over time, he will start to realize that everything you do is for his good. But remember that “Online care is not for every patient or practitioner. Clients with more serious mental illnesses or addictions likely need more treatment than digital therapy can provide. And some clinicians may find certain telehealth modalities difficult,” says clinical psychologist Nina Barlevy, PsyD.