Unlike physical illnesses that have rashes, temperatures, and other symptoms, mental and emotional health indicators are difficult to identify. Parents aren’t taught or trained what to look for as the warning signs.
Signs For Needing Interventions
Typical parents determine the need for therapy based on what the parents can tolerate in their teenager’s behavior. They tend to be too close to the child to see the signs of behavioral changes, either withdrawing or acting out behaviors. Typically parents will receive calls from outsiders citing concerns they have about the teen. These calls may be from other (non-residential) family members, or friends either of the parents or the teenager. Since a change in school engagement and/or performance is a major warning sign, parents will hear from teachers, counselors or administrators at the teen’s school.
Types Of Therapy
The appropriate therapy for the child depends on the teenager’s behaviors. Some types of therapy are clear-cut with few options:
· Substance abuse requires assessment for the level of involvement and the results determine the professionals’ recommendations for treatment (residential, outpatient, family).
· Suicide (attempts or threats), homicidal ideation and/or depression require immediate psychiatric mental health interventions. These interventions may include residential treatment centers for observation, short term treatment plans or long term care.
· Anger and serious aggression, either threats or actions, also require a psychiatric mental health professional, NOT a pediatrician or family doctor. If parents do not intervene on the teenager’s behavior, the police may become involved. Assaults and terroristic threatening are causes for immediate police interventions. Although schools may be primary the referral point for this level and type of behavior, there may have been years of concerns voiced before the teenager’s actions reach a level of unequivocal need for intervention at the school.
A milder level of apparent need for counseling is when the teenager has difficulties finding his/her self-identity within the changing parameters of adolescence. The teen may have a need for an impartial professional to offer guidance on social relationships, appropriate communications and behaviors toward family members and/or peers, or establishing goals and priorities in his/her life. All of these may be components of the more serious behaviors listed above.
The basic approaches for mental, emotional and/or behavior problems are:
· Therapeutic counselors or social workers who could be mental health focused or
· Behavioral psychologists or social workers who focus on outward behavioral change rather than inner (mental and/or emotional) perceptual shifts.
What is available to the family is usually determined by their insurance plan coverage. Parents need to check their insurance plan requirements so they can follow the proper procedures to find the appropriate therapists. When parents choose to act outside those parameters, the insurance company may refuse to pay for the treatment process and plan.
