How to Know When Your Teen Needs Clinical Intervention

How to Know When Your Teen Needs Clinical Intervention Basics Print How to Know When Your Teen Needs Clinical Intervention By Kathryn Rudlin, LCSW Updated on December 02, 2019 SolStock / Getty Images More in Psychology Basics Psychotherapy Student Resources History and Biographies Theories Phobias Emotions Sleep and Dreaming The term clinical refers to help provided to teens by mental health professionals. The term intervention refers to therapy techniques and therapeutic programs specializing in providing help to a troubled teen.   When the two words are put together, clinical intervention describes numerous professional methods designed to help a teen who is having problems they can’t or aren’t handling successfully on their own. When this happens, adults have to intervene to provide the much-needed help, which comes in a variety of different forms.   Common Reasons Why Teens May Need Clinical Intervention Teens who are suffering often do not get better on their own and the sooner they get help, the better chance they have to heal successfully. The best clinical intervention for a teen at any particular time depends on the specific problems they are experiencing, how long they have existed and how severe they are. Common reasons teenagers might need clinical intervention include: AnxietyDepressionCuttingAlcohol and/or drug useSuicidal thoughts or behaviorNot eating or binge-eatingActing outViolent behaviorNot sleeping enough or having trouble getting out of bedLoss of interest in normal activities, particularly activities that normally bring enjoyment If you or your teen are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. Types There is a wide range of clinical interventions to help teens, depending on the severity of the problem, including: Self-help booksPsychiatric hospitalIndividual therapyGroup therapy  Psychological evaluation  12-step programs Types of Psychotherapy for Teens There are several available types of therapy for your teen. Here are the most common: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on helping teens to change their negative or harmful thinking patterns to positive ones. CBT is especially good for teens with depression and anxiety.Dialectical behavior therapy  (DBT), which helps teens take responsibility for their own behavior and problems. DBT is particularly helpful for teens with borderline personality disorder or who engage in suicidal thoughts or self-harming behavior.Family therapy, which helps the entire family learn how to support the teen and stop enabling her problematic behaviors.Group therapy, which can help your teen learn to cope in a more social setting.Interpersonal therapy, which focuses on how life events affect your teens emotions and then works to solve problems in relationships.Psychoanalytic psychotherapy, which involves figuring out the internal struggles your teen has that are causing the issues and what is motivating his behavior and thoughts. Potential Focuses Clinical intervention can have several different focuses, including: Solving a specific problemImproving your teens potential to deal with the behaviors, thoughts and/or feelings that are causing him difficultyPreventing a specific problemHelping your teen find mental balance, peace, and happiness in her life to cope with her circumstances Questions to Ask to Determine a Need for Clinical Intervention If you think your teen is having issues that could need outside help, here are some questions to ask yourself to help determine whether or not they may need clinical intervention: When did the problem start and how long has it been going on?Did anything trigger the problem, like the loss of a loved one, divorce, or a move?How much is the problem affecting your teens life? Are they just sad or are they struggling to get out of bed in the morning and losing all enjoyment for activities they used to love?Is there evidence of extreme anxiety, depression, lack of energy, changes in behavior, and/or eating or sleeping difficulties that have been going on for more than two weeks?Is your teen using drugs or abusing alcohol and/or engaging in risky behaviors? Why Early Intervention Is Key If you think your teen may need clinical intervention, be sure to seek it earlier rather than later. The sooner you deal with your teens difficulties, the sooner they will be on a road to healing.