Adolescents
One part of my practice is working with adolescents.
Adolescents today, especially in the Bay Area, are faced with more pressure and stress than likely at any other time in recent history.
They often come from families with successful and highly educated parents. Frequently these parents have worked hard to provide opportunities for their children, such as excellent educational opportunities. Along with the benefits of amazing schools can come incredible stress. Adolescents feel all too keenly the extremely high expectations set by their families, educators, colleges and ultimately from themselves.
My work with adolescents often involves treating anxiety and depression due to school pressure, family conflict, and friendship difficulties. Other symptoms I often encounter are self-harm behaviors, eating disorders and substance abuse, to name a few. I have extensive experience working with the adolescent, with his or her family, and sometimes with the school involved to provide a ‘wrap-around’ experience, where the teen can feel safe to open up about painful thoughts, self-criticism, fears of failure, and feelings of low self-esteem.
When necessary, I refer the adolescent for a medication evaluation with highly experienced psychiatrists to aid in the treatment. I work in close conjunction with the family to determine whether medication might be a benefit in their case. I also work closely with the prescribing physician to monitor medication benefits and side effects to ensure first safety as well as optimal treatment of symptoms.