Dr. Brenner Adolescent Therapy - Sherman Oaks Adolescent Therapy - Los Angeles Adolescent Therapy

Adults benefit from their ability to “talk through” their issues and feelings. They have learned through time to verbalize complex and contradictory feelings and reactions. Rules without relationship leads to rebellion. In contrast, adolescents generally find it more difficult to eloquently verbalize their emotions. Issues surrounding competitive performance, social acceptance and physical changes are front and center. In addition to these competing conflicts, most teens also experience inflated expectations from their parents and feelings of being misunderstood.

For adolescents, the approach of the therapist needs to reflect their own culture of life experience. Therefore, in addition to “talk therapy”, therapy should also involve activity or experience around music, art and even play. These activities allow for powerful symbolic expression and release of internal conflicts.