Adolescent therapy and the approach of parents to adolescents are important topics in the science of psychology. The adolescence period is a process where an individual undergoes physical and psychological changes, located between childhood and adulthood. Besides the physical changes, these psychological transformations can be challenging for both the individual and their parents.
Adolescent therapy is a therapeutic method that takes place between the therapist and the adolescent individual, helping the adolescent cope with problems and allowing them to better understand themselves. Throughout adolescence, the way parents approach their adolescent children is also very important. Adolescent therapy greatly helps in establishing a healthy relationship between the adolescent and their parents.
Contents
Adolescence Period
Adolescence transition period can be defined as a stage. In fact, adolescence problems stem from the effects of this being a transition period, as observed in the anxiety and fluctuations experienced by adolescents.
Adolescence is a period where childhood begins to end and the gradual transition into adulthood occurs. With adolescence, the individual faces the conflict of no longer being a child, yet not fully being an adult. This process, along with physical changes, can be described as an adaptation phase to the transformation. The individual experiences a process of alienation from their physical self while also trying to find themselves during adolescence. Hormonal activities, physical changes, and the overall process of forming an identity in adolescence indicate a psychologically intense and sensitive period.
The adolescence process between childhood and adulthood is essentially a process of self-discovery and identity formation. The adolescent in this period tends to question more, intensely experience concepts, and seek to exist socially based on these experiences. The identity they form with their inner world and physical appearance also carries meaning in terms of their religious, cultural, professional, and sexual identities. Therefore, adolescence is a complex and sensitive period, and it is important to emphasize that families bear significant responsibilities during this process.
Adolescent Therapy
The adolescence period is a personal struggle for establishing an identity during the transition from childhood to adulthood. The individual in this period tends to be more confrontational, more sensitive, and more intense in their physical reactions. It is perfectly normal for the adolescent to feel stuck, both physiologically and psychologically, during this phase.
Adolescent therapy is a set of methods applied to resolve the psychological, physical, or behavioral issues that arise during the delicate process of identity formation in adolescence. The adolescence period does not solely require support during crises or unsolved problems.
Adolescence, which is a complex process involving self-discovery, can be carried out in a scientifically healthy way with adolescent therapy practices. In adolescent therapy and counseling, the adolescent's psychological issues, behavioral problems, and social difficulties are assessed. Adolescent therapy facilitates the re-examination of the intense concepts the adolescent experiences in a holistic way, leading to problem-solving by addressing them through newly formed concepts.
Why Do Adolescents Clash With Their Families?
The adolescent is fundamentally in search of independence during the process of forming their identity. In order to discover their own identity, they request the opportunity to make their own choices, organize their own life, and take responsibility. At this point, the ideal parents, who have been in the perfect position since birth, lose their ideal status in the adolescent’s eyes. The search for idealness in the adolescent's world forces them to destroy all idealized perceptions of family.
The destruction of the ideal perception of family in the adolescent’s eyes lays the foundation for a conflict between their own ideals and those of the family. The adolescent and family conflict is a struggle between an individual searching for their ideals and a family that operates on certain ideal principles.
Key Elements of Parents' Approach to Adolescents
Parent and adolescent communication does not merely involve talking. Communication requires spending time together, producing together, and sharing in many aspects. The nature of communication determines the quality of the relationship between individuals. In this regard, effective communication leads to healthy relationships.
Parents need to be aware that adolescents are going through a physically and psychologically intense period when communicating with them. The quality of time spent and the communication established between parents and adolescents are crucial during the adolescent's process of forming their own ideal world.
To ensure healthy parent-adolescent communication, the following actions can be taken:
- A relationship mechanism built on commands or constant advice through questioning should not be formed, as this does not foster genuine interaction.
- Respect for the adolescent in their process of identity formation should be shown, and this respect must be sincerely conveyed.
- Empathy should be made with the adolescent, who is undergoing hormonal and psychological changes and is therefore sensitive.
- One of the most important points in communication is that parents actively and respectfully listen to their adolescent children.
- Punitive attitudes and responses to problems should be avoided, and a focus should be placed on building effective dialogue.
- Parents should provide healthy information to the adolescent about boundaries without restricting their freedom.
- Freedom also includes responsibility. Parents should adopt a stance that allows the adolescent to breathe but also instill an understanding of responsibility in line with their age. This will help develop self-control in the adolescent.
- In all social or emotional relationships the adolescent establishes, parents should act based on trust and convey this sense of trust to the adolescent.
The parent-child relationship should fundamentally be built on a friendship-based foundation. The process of forming one’s own identity should be shaped from a basis of sociability and friendship. This process should be balanced with concepts such as friendship, consistency, discipline, trust, and family, ensuring a well-rounded approach to becoming an individual at every stage. However, in many families, a healthy relationship between parents and adolescents cannot be established. This is where adolescent therapy becomes important.
Adolescent Therapy in Ataşehir
Adolescent therapy in Ataşehir is provided by experienced psychologists in the region. Adolescence is not fully childhood nor full adulthood, so psychological problems can arise during this period. The issues during adolescence are not only related to the individual. The way the adolescent communicates with their family, friends, and other social elements has a significant impact on their psychology.
Ataşehir adolescent therapy aims to help overcome the challenges posed by adolescence, giving the adolescent an opportunity to learn problem-solving skills.
For more information about adolescent therapy in Ataşehir and to book an appointment, you can reach us at 0553 558 22 22 or 0535 607 81 08.
