www.wearenotlosers.com

What To Look For In A Teen Therapist

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

When you are choosing a great therapist for your teen, no matter what the issues are, and no matter what they are going to be discussing with the therapist, you have to find the right person. So, in choosing the therapist, you are going to want to consider their credentials, how many patients they have had, what their level of expertise is in the industry, and how long they have been in practice. You also want to consider what help your teen needs, and what issues they are looking to talk about, in order to ensure that you are going to choose the right person to listen, and the right person to help them get through whatever problems they are going through, that they are not able to talk to you about, since you are their parent. You also want to consider a therapist that is going to be able to offer your teen the advice and the guidance that they need, depending on the issues they are facing, and depending on the level of help that they are seeking. So, in choosing a therapist, a parent has to sit back and consider all of these aspects to pick the right one.

Where To Find Information On Teen Depression

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Support groups offer a wealth of information on teen depression. Members of support groups have personal experience dealing with depression in teens. And, they can offer their advice to help answer your questions. People seeking information on teen depression can discuss ways to help their teen cope, and, ways they can also cope with the disease.

Understanding depression and how it can effect a teen is the most important information support groups offer. They can give information on how to tell the difference between depression and acting out, which is common for teens. A group can alert you to the early signs and symptoms that signal a teen may have depression. They can tell you from their personal experiences how depression effected their teens’ school work, self esteem, and behavior. They can offer information on possible treatments and medicines. And, if a group is local, they can recommend doctors. Most of all, they can offer you and your teen support.

Support groups are located online, in schools, churches, or community organizations. If you have difficulty finding a group, your doctor, mental health agency, or school counselor can help you find a group with the information needed to support your recovery.

Starting Your Own Counseling Practice

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re thinking about starting your own counseling service, particularly for teens with depression, there are a few things to consider from the business angle before you jumpstart your entrepreneurial venture. Take some tips from us on what to do to get your practice off the ground:
Set Yourself Up Right: Make sure you’re logistically sound before you start accepting patients. This means using a service like smallbusiness.xo.com to get your technology needs straight. You don’t want to deal with website issues while you’re counseling a patient.
Get Some Experience: If you’ve never owned your own practice you’ll want to apprentice or intern for another doctor. Depending on what type of service you’d like to offer you’ll have to find out if there are any state certifications you need to be included in a counseling practice.
Get Referrals: Before you start you’ve got to have at least a couple of patients ready and waiting to be all yours. IF you do a good job they’ll recommend you and be sure to speak to schools and other types of counselors to get your name out there.

What To Say To A Depressed Teen

admin — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Teenagers experience different emotions than adults, but as adults, we have all been where teenagers are at some point or another. The one thing you don’t want to tell a teenager who is depressed about something is that everything will be okay. This is not true in all cases because everything might not be okay. Sometimes they lose a friend who is moving away and they won’t be able to see them again. Other times there are people who come into their life who break their heart. This could be a boyfriend or girlfriend, or who they thought was their best friend talking about them behind their back. The best thing to do when a teenager is depressed is to be there for them. Let them know you will always be a shoulder for them to cry on and an ear to listen to their problems. Take them out for lunch or a movie. Do something special with them to let them know that there is someone who cares about them. Another great idea is to try to encourage the teenager to go talk to a counselor. Finding someone who will listen who is not the parent might just be what they need to get through their problem.

What To Look For In Depressed Teens

admin — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There are many signs that you can look for in a depressed teen. Depressed teens usually show signs that alert parents and other people. Teens that show signs of sadness and hopelessness are definitely a big concern in teens, and parents should keep aware of that. Other signs that teens show when they are depressed are restlessness, agitation, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, fatigure or lack of energy, loss of interest in activities, and many more. Many parents do not pay attention to their teens, and just assume that it is nothing. That is why further consequences arise because teens do not try and get help. Parents should really keep a close eye on their teens and talk to them when they see there is something wrong. Many of the symptoms are different in teens than adults, and they are labeled as really unhealthy. You will be able to tell the difference between a teen that is not acting normal anymore versus a teen that is living their life happily. If they are someone who used to live their life happy, and it took a big turn, you as a parent, should question these things, before it is too late.Keep looking, there’s more: Does Your Teen Self-Sabotage?

Most Popular Misconceptions About Teen Depression

admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Has your once happy child turned into a moping, depressed teenager? Are you worried about how to deal with their sudden emotional turmoil, but lack the information necessary to get started? Do you want to help, but are not sure what needs to be done? If so, read this list of the most popular misconceptions about teen depression.

Misconception: It is the parents’ fault.
Parents often blame themselves when their children have issues. Of course, parental support and affection play a big role in a teenager’s emotional health, but parents are not the only factor.Confused? Here ‘s a little help . Many depressed teens have loving, caring parents, and many teens with unhappy home lives are still not depressed. In short, parents should never believe it is their fault.

Misconception: It is just a phase.
Do not fall for the trap of believing your teenager is just going through a tough time because of their age. Avoid the tendency to tell them they will grow out of it. Do not trivialize your teenager’s depression by ignoring the root causes and focusing only on cliched “teen angst.”

Misconception: It is just who they are.
Many depressed individuals believe depression is a permanent part of their personality. However, believing this is often an excuse to avoid seeking help.

Separating Facts From Myths About Teen Depression

admin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There are so many myths regarding teen depression that serve only to hinder proper diagnosis and treatment of the illness that it some are mistaken for fact. Let’s take a look at some of the facts:

Myth: Teenagers are moody by nature, but they don’t actually suffer from depression. Only adults get depressed.
Fact: Depression is not a respecter of age, gender, social or financial status. While normal adolescent development can mask true depression, teens are also at risk for this devastating mental illness.

Myth: If a teenager is depressed, it’s just a phase. They’ll grow out of it.
Fact: Depression is an illness which requires lifelong medical care. With suicide being the third leading cause of death in young people, treatment should be begun immediately.

Myth: It’s easy to tell if a teenager is depressed because they are just like younger adults.
Fact: Actually, depression presents itself differently in teenagers. While adults may feel bluesy and sad, teens more frequently report feeling nothing. Apathetic tendencies often lead to defiant and even risky behaviors as the teen attempts to feel.

Don’t wait to get help if you suspect that a teen is depressed. It is real and treatment can help.

The Facts Of Depression In Teens

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Most teens who are depressed, and show signs of depression are different than what adults show. This raises concerns to many parents when teens begin to not act normal, compared to the ways that they use to act. One in eight teens suffer from depression. About 20 percent of teens will actually suffer from depression before they reach adulthood. There is a very small percentage of teens who suffer from seasonal depression which is usually during the winter months. Teen depression can affect a teen regardless of their sex, social backround, income level, race, or school. It doesn’t matter, because depression has no color or special name on it. There are some risks that will put a teen at a higher risk of developing depression. Some of these risks include, previous episodes of depression, experiencing trauma, abuse, or a long term illness or disability, a family history of depression, and other untreated problems. Parents who are concerned about their teen suffering from depression should talk to them. If they are suffering from depression, they should really consider getting them help. You do not want things to turn worse, and parents do not want to see their teen or teens suffering.