Adolescent Counseling
This two minute video will give you an idea about how I will be working with you and your teenager.
I work with teenagers and young adults ages 12 thru 21.
The adolescent years are one of the most difficult and trying times for both parents and teenagers. This is the time right before youngsters enter the adult world and when issues often times get out of hand. Whether it is a school, family, or even an addiction issue dealing with the problem as an adult can be ten times harder to work out than catching the situation at this stage of a youngster’s life.
Types of Issues that Dr. Marty Works with:
Dr. Marty works with adolescents ages 12 thru 21 who have:
- Behavior problems at home or at school,
- ADHD and ADD,
- Learning problems due to emotional difficulties,
- Addiction problems, and
- Adjustment problems.
- Bullying and cyber bullying (which has become a big issue at all ages)
- Peer pressure
Dr. Marty’s Background:
I received my Doctorate in Psychology and as having taught in both middle and high school, I have had the opportunity and experience first hand, to understand adolescents from a variety of different perspectives.
I have also been a consultant and trainer for numerous school systems and educators in New Jersey.
Does My Teenager Need Counseling?
Being a parent is the most difficult and stressful job nowadays, especially when parents are facing issues such as bullying, cyber bulling, peer pressure, college and not always having a great deal of experience to know how to handle these situations. Unfortunately, these problems present themselves at all age levels; from the middle school and right up to high school. As a parent myself, and also a Marriage and Family Counselor for over thirty years, I realize the significance of the title of Mother and Father which means we are always on the look-out for any problems that our teenagers may come up against. We want to find the balance between seeing every issue as an indication of deep disturbance and ignoring important danger signals, in the hope that our child will grow out of the problem.
Let’s take a look at a hypothetical situation and ask some questions. Ronald is 14 years old and seems to be angry a great deal of the time. He also has unexplained bursts of temper. He hits his younger sister and gives her a hard time. Although there are not absolute rules, there are guidelines for age appropriate behavior. The first question I would ask is “How long has this behavior been going on?” Children go through phases; one day’s problems are the next day’s ancient history. Some of the questions I would ask are:
- How is Ronald relating to his parents, his peers, and in school? How is he/she on his/her own? How much time does he/she spend by himself and on the computer?
- Have there been any significant events that have occurred recently (i.e. any deaths, family strife, a birth). One key to evaluating a youngster who needs counseling is to look at: the intensity (how strong his/her temper), the duration (how long do the outbursts last) and frequency (how often to they occur)? Another factor to think about is how dramatic the personality change is?
Based on the responses to these issues there are 2 possibilities:
1. Counseling is not indicated at this time, but the above issues are to be kept in the back of the parent’s mind.
2. Therapy would be advisable. In this case, I have found it to be most effective to work with parents to help them develop understanding and strategies to handle issues as they arise; and to work with the adolescent, to help him/her figure out what is going on with them and to find more effective ways of coping.
To properly assess the need for counseling a therapist should meet with the parents at first to get background and then with the youngster to see first hand what is happening with the child. It is important for parents to realize that counseling is not a science but an art. Parents need to trust their intuition about the counselor they select. They need to be a part of the therapeutic process giving input and getting support and specific suggestions and strategies.
Feel free to contact me at 1-888-281-5850
Dr. Marty
My office hours are:
Monday – Thursday 1:00 – 9:00 PM
Friday – 1:00 – 7:00 PM