Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for teens is a time-tested approach to helping adolescents overcome the symptoms of mental health disorders. With so many teenagers experiencing depression, anxiety, and trauma, a cognitive-behavioral therapy program can truly help their long-term mental health.
Decades of research prove the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for teens in helping with a wide range of mental health symptoms, and it might be right for your teenager. To enroll in a cognitive-behavioral therapy program, reach out to Imagine Boise at 888.597.2807 to learn more about our adolescent-focused therapy programs.
Why Choose CBT for Teens?
Teenagers will often battle the symptoms of mental illness. Research from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that nearly half of all adolescents will experience a mental health disorder, which can severely impact their ability to succeed in school, relationships, and home life.
The most common forms of mental health disorders that affect adolescents include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- ADHD
- Trauma
- Eating disorders
Dealing with any of these disorders can be devastating, but there is hope for parents whose children are suffering from the symptoms.
How CBT Can Help Teens
CBT for teens is a form of talk therapy that emphasizes changing maladaptive patterns of thoughts and behaviors. The core belief of CBT is that a person’s thoughts, behaviors, and feelings all influence each other. This provides therapists with three distinct targets for intervention and can vastly improve the symptoms of mental illness.
For example, imagine that a teenager is struggling with depression and has just done poorly on a test in school. They may think to themselves, “I’ll never succeed in school. I bombed this test, so why should I even try anymore?”
These thoughts could lead to them no longer studying, finishing their homework, or paying attention in class, which would ultimately lead to worsening depression.
In cognitive-behavioral therapy, a therapist would help the teenager reframe this thought in a more productive manner. They might encourage them to think instead, “I failed this test, but that doesn’t mean I failed the class. I’ve done well on my other assignments, and I can study for the next exam.”
While this may seem simplistic, this reframing technique is a powerful tool that can create drastic changes in a teenager’s behavior and emotions.
Cognitive-behavioral therapists teach their patients to use these tools instinctively and have several other techniques to help alleviate negative mental health symptoms. This is how CBT can help teens overcome their challenges and pave a brighter future for themselves.
Benefits of CBT for Teens
Of course, cognitive-behavioral therapy for teens can help with more than just depression. Studies have shown that CBT can help:
- Reduce anxiety levels
- Provide teenagers with ADHD tools to focus
- Improve teenagers’ self-esteem
- Interrupt negative thought patterns and behaviors
- Teach teenagers healthy communication skills
Notably, the tools a teenager learns in CBT can last a lifetime. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is much more than just a short-term fix; it teaches teenagers skills they can use to manage stressful situations, overcome challenges, and thrive in their everyday lives.
Get Started With Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy at Imagine Boise
If your teenager is suffering from the effects of a mental health disorder, reach out to the team at Imagine Boise by calling 888.597.2807 or filling out our online contact form.
With a team of compassionate mental health professionals, several different levels of care available, and a passion for helping adolescents overcome their mental health challenges, there is no better place to help your child achieve recovery.
Do not delay seeking treatment any longer. Your teenager can recover from their mental illness, and the team at Imagine Boise can help show them the way.
