Twenty years ago, I looked over the desk at the school receptionist as my mother explained my lateness: "She had a doctor's appointment."
"Actually, I had counseling!" I chimed in.
"We call that 'a doctor's appointment,' Sweetie."
It wasn't too long before I learned that therapy might not be something to talk about out loud. My Monday night group therapy sessions were "meetings"; a teacher encouraged me not to disclose to others the special services I received at school (because I was bullied and didn't seem to follow or recognize social norms quickly). Yet, in the same breath, I was told that this was nothing to be ashamed of.
Today, psychotherapy is becoming an institution for adolescents. Teens are encouraging each other to reach out when needed. Mental health jargon is becoming commonplace, and we are rejecting stigma. A recent study of adolescents released from psychiatric hospitalization found that these adolescents generally held positive attitudes toward people living with a mental health diagnosis (Preyde, et al., 2023). This is critical as an inpatient mental health stay often represents a time of low hope, and having an upbeat view on living with a mental health diagnosis is likely to encourage recovery.
Beyond mental health diagnosis, we are recognizing the role that psychotherapy can play in general growth. Psychotherapy is not always meant to treat an illness; rather, many seek therapy to explore identity, determine direction on topics such as career choice, work through grief and family circumstances, and better themselves. Adolescents seem to recognize this.
In addition, psychotherapists are eager to recognize and meet the unique needs of adolescents and young adults. Contrary to the old-school image of a psychotherapist leaning back in a forbidding chair as the patient shares their deepest secrets, psychotherapy is becoming more casual. As a youth therapist, it seems that just about every other week a teen teaches me a new slang word that I integrate into my vocabulary.
Seating choices, including a swing and bean bags along with traditional chairs, set a tone that this space is open and adaptable. We draw, paint, play chess, create cartoons, and talk as we practice new skills, work toward identity development, and process trauma.
Therapists are using music and playlists to help teens share what might be difficult to put into words. In addition, following the technological trends, therapists are seeking to meet youth where they are by integrating technology into their practice. Mobile apps are developing to support youth mental health (Litke et al., 2023). For perhaps the first time, efforts are genuinely being made to include youth voices in mental health research and the development of mental health policy (Yamaguchi et al., 2023).
This is all very exciting. Youth are our future, and I believe that this generation's openness to self-reflection and growth will spark positive changes for all of us. I look forward to seeing what comes of all this.
References
Litke, S. G., Resnikoff, A., Anil, A., Montgomery, M., Matta, R., Huh-Yoo, J., & Daly, B. P. (2023). Mobile Technologies for Supporting Mental Health in Youths: Scoping Review of Effectiveness, Limitations, and Inclusivity. JMIR Mental Health, 10(1), e46949.
Preyde, M., Parekh, S., Wei, Y., & Heintzman, J. (2023). Are attitudes, mental health literacy and clinical characteristics predischarge related to perceived stigma reported by adolescents discharged from inpatient psychiatry? Psychiatry Research Communications, 3(1), 100099.
Yamaguchi, S., Bentayeb, N., Holtom, A., Molnar, P., Constantinescu, T., Tisdall, E. K. M., & Ruiz-Casares, M. (2023). Participation of children and youth in mental health policymaking: A scoping review [Part I]. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 50(1), 58-83.
Is Therapy Cool Now?
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28.04.2024
Twenty years ago, I looked over the desk at the school receptionist as my mother explained my lateness: "She had a doctor's appointment."
"Actually, I had counseling!" I chimed in.
"We call that 'a doctor's appointment,' Sweetie."
It wasn't too long before I learned that therapy might not be something to talk about out loud. My Monday night group therapy sessions were "meetings"; a teacher encouraged me not to disclose to others the special services I received at school (because I was bullied and didn't seem to follow or recognize social norms quickly). Yet, in the same breath, I was told that this was nothing to be ashamed of.
Today, psychotherapy is becoming an institution for adolescents. Teens are encouraging each other to reach out when needed. Mental health jargon is becoming commonplace, and we are rejecting stigma. A recent study of adolescents released from psychiatric hospitalization found that these adolescents generally held positive........
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