Teenagers face emotional and psychological challenges in their early lives. If prolonged distress is left unmanaged, teens often become vulnerable to substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions. Prolonged issues can increase one’s risk of relapse or suicide. However, individual therapy can be a highly beneficial treatment option for teens seeking to overcome certain life challenges. Psychodynamic therapy at Alpha Behavioral Health can assist teens and their parents or caregivers in learning to recognize the warning signs of a dual diagnosis. Proceeding with professional support can significantly improve a teen’s quality of life, including their future.
Emotional and Psychological Challenges Faced by Teens
The prevalence of psychiatric disorders is challenging to measure. According to the NIH MedlinePlus Magazine, hurtful stigma and a lack of resources or access to professional support keep many teens from seeking the support they need. Teens and adolescents face challenges in overcoming childhood trauma or coping with LGBTQIA+ discrimination, racial discrimination, and social, emotional, and academic stress.
For example, school anxiety can be challenging to manage without professional support. Peer pressure to use drugs or alcohol, the struggle to fit in with peers, teen pregnancy, or family and parental conflicts can be mentally weighing. Teens should feel safe in their school setting. Puberty, in combination with academic stress, bullying, and problems outside of school, can significantly impact an individual’s overall state of health. Therefore, seeking proper care is critical to supporting a teenager’s subjective well-being.
Why Are Teens Susceptible to Drug Abuse?
A majority of teenagers fear scrutiny and judgment from not only their peers but their families as well. Some teens or their parents or caregivers misconstrue typical puberty as poor mental health. As a result, certain issues can often go unnoticed, and teens continue to harbor hard feelings or suppress their emotions out of pure confusion. Thus, some adolescents experiencing problems commonly avoid psychiatric care. If their symptoms are left unaddressed for a prolonged period, some teens may resort to drugs or alcohol to hide their condition. However, harmful substances provide temporary relief and are clinically known to worsen one’s condition. Prolonged substance abuse leads to severe substance use disorder (SUD).
The Risks of Teen Substance Abuse
Research indicates that substance abuse in young adults can manifest in an array of lifestyle challenges. For example, teenagers who engage in substance use commonly experience academic difficulties, poor peer relationships, and mental and physical health complications. Depending on the severity of one’s substance use, delinquency may lead to involvement with the juvenile justice system. Addiction is a family disease. Therefore, family members reap the consequences. An individual’s community and the entire society may also be affected by teen substance use.
The Prevalence of Poor Mental Health in Teenagers
According to a separate CDC study, the number of adolescents reporting challenges with their mental health is vastly increasing. Studies have indicated that four out of ten students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or complete hopelessness. LGBTQ+ students in particular faced more problems with suicidal ideation and poor mental health than their heterosexual or male and cisgender peers in 2023.
About Teen Suicide
Research highlights that teen suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 15-24. About 20% of students “considered” attempting suicide, whereas nine percent of teens attempted suicide. To illustrate, one out of every 53 high school students reported a suicide attempt that was significant enough for hospital intervention. Factually, white and Asian students showed a reduced prevalence of suicidal attempts in comparison to any other race or ethnicity. However, suicide awareness and prevention are critical for teenagers today.
Male vs. Female Mental Health Comparison
Based on a recent gender study that involved 8612 adolescents, females were significantly higher than males across a range of mental health problems and subjective well-being. Nonetheless, behavioral complications were unique between the two over time. For instance, males aged 11-12 were more likely to face challenges with behavioral health than females. Both girls’ and boys’ behavioral difficulties are tied to mid-adolescence. However, the level of behavioral problems for males remained stable over time. Also, girls were more likely to experience problems with peers between the ages of 13 and 14 than boys. As stated previously, early intervention is critical to establishing mental stability for a better future.
Signs and Symptoms of Addiction or Poor Mental Health in Teens
Unaddressed substance use disorder or co-occurring psychiatric disorders can lead to detrimental consequences. Overall awareness is important. Not many individuals are aware of the warning signs associated with their health condition. Knowing that youth present behaviors that are typically normal for their age, it is important to note that if changes suddenly occur or happen all at once, this may indicate problems with substance use or mental health. Signs and symptoms of addiction or poor mental health in teenagers include:
- Bouts of anger or irritability or defensiveness
- Academic challenges such as poor attendance, disciplinary action, or low grades
- Sudden change in friend group
- Lack of involvement in certain interests, activities, or events
- Finding harmful substances in a teenager’s room
- Mental or physical changes such as poor concentration, slurred speech, or lack of coordination
- Missing sharp objects in the household could indicate self-injurious behaviors
What Does Alpha Behavioral Health Treat?
Understanding that the prevalence of poor mental health in teens is exceedingly growing, surrendering to professional assistance is important. Take comfort in knowing that Alpha Behavioral Health is an Austin, TX, community of passionate mental health and substance use disorder experts providing individual counseling. Their treatment center provides evidence-based services to give young people and their families all the tools they need to heal and thrive for a better quality of life. Alpha Behavioral Health’s clinical team strives to address the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Substance abuse
- Process addictions
- LGBTQIA+ life experiences
- PTSD and overcoming trauma
- School anxiety and education planning
Who Does Alpha Behavioral Health Treat?
Adolescence in itself is a crucial developmental stage and can have lasting effects on one’s well-being. Alpha Behavioral Health’s professional team addresses their clients’ health concerns to prevent more serious mental illnesses later in life. The team at Alpha Behavioral Health consists of highly trained professionals ready to support your journey through addiction recovery and mental health challenges. They treat:
- Adolescents and teens 14 and up
- College students
- Young adults
- Parents of teens and young adults
- Male, female, non-binary, and gender exploratory
- LGTBQIA+
The Value of Individual Therapy for Teens
One-on-one psychotherapy can be highly beneficial to teens who are seeking professional support. Individual therapy can provide confidentiality. Understanding that teens fear great judgment from peers, one-on-one psychotherapy can make teens feel safe. Teenagers can confidently express their feelings in a secure environment with a trained therapist.
During individual therapy sessions, Alpha Behavioral Health therapists help their clients engage with a therapist to cultivate self-awareness, improve their ability to communicate, and effectively work through difficulties for conflict resolution. Through this process, individuals gain further insight into their challenges and learn coping strategies to improve their mental well-being. Their mental health team is committed to meeting their clients wherever they may be on their paths, providing a compassionate and understanding approach to support and care
What Is Psychodynamic Therapy?
Knowing that prescription medications can cause uncomfortable side effects and make one more susceptible to drug abuse, holistic care is a great option for teenagers. Talk therapy is a form of holistic care that can be suitable for teens experiencing challenges with poor mental health. Holistic care should never be the sole treatment for severe substance use disorder or a dual diagnosis.
However, combining talk therapy with prescription medications can provide an enhanced approach to treatment. Unconscious desires, thoughts, and memories can manifest into a physical relapse. Psychodynamic therapy is a great option for teenagers who are eager to address and understand unresolved past conflicts. This type of therapy works to reshape an individual’s personality and overall behavior. It helps a client achieve a more positive recovery outcome.
Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques at Alpha Behavioral Health for Teens
Alpha Behavioral Health understands the prevalence of poor mental health in teens. They believe teenagers and their families deserve an environment specifically cultivated for their unique needs. Their Austin individual counseling team is dedicated to helping clients confront their challenges, develop resilience, and ultimately achieve a greater sense of well-being. According to the aforementioned NIH study, specific key psychodynamic therapy concepts include:
- Unconscious mind: Forgotten material that unconsciously influences negative emotions or behaviors
- Dream analysis: Analyzing dreams can reveal hidden fears, conflicts, or desires
- Ego psychology: Addresses one’s defense mechanisms and highlights a client’s capacity for problem-solving and resilience
- Structural model of personality: A modern approach that is less focused on one’s drive to manage stress and relationships
- Transference and countertransference: unconscious redirection of feelings and attitudes to gain further insight into certain conflicts
- Repetition compulsion: Unconsciously repeating past patterns of behavior or recreating situations to resolve unresolved conflicts or trauma
- Object relations: Includes personal dynamics as well as others while utilizing the therapist-client relationship for conflict resolution
- Defense mechanisms: Identifying and making sense of unconscious psychological strategies frequently used for protection is an essential aspect of psychodynamic therapy
Tips to Stay Dedicated to Psychodynamic Therapy
Understanding that psychodynamic therapy’s key concepts are in-depth, it can be difficult for some teenagers to remain dedicated to care. Teenagers are constantly moving and often face challenges balancing their academics, professional lives, and relationships with others. Daily stressors can distract one from their top priorities, such as addiction and mental health treatment. Nonetheless, combining coping mechanisms learned in therapy with self-help strategies can help one stay dedicated to care. Tips to maintain treatment include:
- Setting appointment reminders and marking the daily calendar
- Remembering the primary purpose for attending therapy
- Accepting family support
- Staying in contact with loved ones
- Developing a structured routine
- Getting an adequate amount of sleep
- Journaling progress for improved motivation
Breaking Down Complementary Services at Alpha Behavioral Health
Knowing that not everyone responds to the same treatment option, considering complementary care services can increase treatment satisfaction. Doing so can improve one’s odds of achieving long-term recovery. Fortunately, Alpha Behavioral Health understands that each individual’s journey to recovery is unique. Their treatment center offers various types of therapy and a nurturing environment for individuals to receive compassionate care and guidance and a secure space for self-exploration. Various treatment options that pair well with psychodynamic therapy include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness-based approach
- Solution-focused brief therapy
- Art and experiential modalities
- Attachment therapy
- Family therapy
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
Why Move Forward With Alpha Behavioral Health?
Alpha Behavioral Health guides teens toward personal growth and improved mental well-being by focusing on creating a safe and nurturing environment. Their team understands that certain challenges that teens face can be very overwhelming, often leading to unfortunate outcomes. Alpha Behavioral Health’s mission is to provide a safe, effective transitional platform where their clients in recovery will discover purpose, thrive socially, and live to their potential. Alpha Behavioral Health’s top values include:
- Live gratefully, and take action
- Community first
- Strive for excellence
- Get out of the box
- Think long-term
Taking Advantage of Alpha Behavioral Health’s Transitional Living Program
Many teens feel hesitant to move forward after completing their treatment program. Alpha Behavioral Health understands that the transition into recovery can be a vulnerable next step. It can be challenging to maintain the skills learned in psychodynamic therapy. Even the most motivated individuals find it difficult to stay on track to healing. Consequently, some teens gradually revert to their past negative emotions or behaviors.
However, some teenagers often gain benefits from learning new skills. A continuum of care can help. The Alpha transitional living program is an immersive aftercare experience designed to provide young men with additional tools to succeed in recovery. Transitional living is for youth and adults who have gone to jail or prison or are people in need of more direct support when it comes to their mental health or substance abuse. Their program focuses on embracing, empowering, embodying, and safely emerging clients into recovery.
How Can Job and Internship Assistance From Alpha Behavioral Health Improve the Transition into Adulthood?
Alpha Behavioral Health supports young men in their journey to adulthood. Psychodynamic therapy draws heavily on its key psychodynamic therapy concepts while adapting them to the developmental stage of adolescence. Teen anxiety commonly stems from worrying excessively about upcoming events like college career choices, admissions, and social situations. Major life transitions can also bring on a great deal of distress, such as marriage, kids, or supporting a family.
However, Alpha Behavioral Health takes its support wing one step further by providing job internship assistance. This program helps improve the transition into adulthood. For teen mental health treatment, Austin, TX, offers robust case management and academic services specifically designed to help teens succeed, whatever that may look like. Additional support services include:
- Job and internship assistance
- Academic support
- Resume writing and interview skills
- Tutoring and college application coaching
- Academic assessments and goal plans
The Importance of Self-Care for Management and Recovery
Negativity from peers, pressure to pass monthly exams, and balancing treatment with work can be overwhelming. Knowing that teens face challenges with their identity and often feel lost or apart from society, the team at Alpha Behavioral Health strives to empower their clients for long-term healing. They understand that recovery cannot be taught; it must be experienced. High school can be hectic, and the recovery stage can feel overwhelming. Therefore, practicing self-care is critical to maintaining mental stability. Alpha Behavioral Health helps teens maintain self-care to improve their sense of self-worth regardless of certain challenges they may face. Their compassionate team provides:
- Nutrition counseling
- Noun food nutrition
- Sobriety monitoring
- Fitness coaching
- Outpatient addiction treatment
As a parent, it can be overwhelming and scary trying to support your teen when they’re experiencing challenges. We can help. Alpha Behavioral Health offers a variety of services to provide wraparound care for teens and their families. Many teens can be resistant to therapy, which is why we have designed everything with them in mind. This is a safe place. Each of our therapists brings a variety of skills to help clients feel safe and empowered. We’ve created this environment to provide teens and their families with everything they need to overcome today’s hurdles so they can step into tomorrow’s opportunities. Learn more about Austin teen mental health treatment today. Call Alpha Behavioral Health at (833) 257-4218 for support.
