how to work with teenagers resistant to treatment

^{3 Tips for Working with Resistant Teens}

1. Alter your View of What Resistance Actually Is Oftentimes resistance is looked at as something negative; something that needs to be eliminated in order for your work (teaching, therapy, ...
2. Manage Yourself In The Moment Viewing resistance as a protective mechanism is the underlying paradigmatic lens to approach resistant behavior, but in the moment you may not remember this ...
3. Use Reflective Statements and Questions

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How to work with resistant teens?

3 Tips for Working with Resistant Teens 1 Alter you View of What Resistance Actually Is#N#Oftentimes resistance is looked at as something negative; something... 2 Manage Yourself In The Moment#N#Viewing resistance as a protective mechanism is the underlying paradigmatic lens to... 3 Use Reflective Statements and Questions More ...

Is it possible to engage resistance in teen counseling?

It can also be very challenging. Teens can test boundaries and become resistant to counseling interventions, classroom curriculum, or even towards us as adults personally. Ultimately this has the potential to make our work lives more difficult. But what if there was a way to engage resistance for both the benefit of the teen and yourself?

How can therapists help avoidantly attached teens?

Therapists love to focus on internal motivators and lofty treatment goals, but this isn’t useful with avoidantly attached teens, who want one thing — to leave and never come back. You’ll get further by helping them identify external motivators, such as fulfilling probation requirements or keeping parents happy.

What if my teen doesn’t think therapy will help?

If your teen does realize they might have a mental health or substance abuse problem but doesn’t think therapy will help, which is often the case for teens with depression, there are a few ways you can approach this. First, you can ask them how they know it won’t help if they’ve never tried it.

How do resistant teens work in therapy?

Engaging Resistant ClientsMake them as comfortable as possible. You can try to put them at ease by introducing yourself, being personable, reassuring them of confidentiality, and explaining, in an appealing way, how your role works. ... Acknowledge their perspective. ... Find out what they want. ... Use what they find motivating.

How do you deal with a resistant teenager?

7 Keys to Handling Difficult TeenagersAvoid Giving Away Your Power. ... Establish Clear Boundaries. ... Utilize Assertive and Effective Communication. ... When Dealing with a Group of Difficult Teens, Focus on the Leader. ... In Mild Situations, Maintain Humor and Show Empathy. ... Give Them a Chance to Help Solve Problems (If Appropriate)More items...•

How do you work with a resistant patient?

Here are five general considerations when dealing with what seems to be resistance from a client.Reframe the idea of 'control' ... Allow for any response with greater choice. ... Use permissive language. ... Give credit to your clients. ... Encourage the resistance, then direct it towards helping them.

What are some ways to get the client to engage in therapy if they are resisting?

Quick tips“Stay out of the 'expert' position,” Mitchell says. ... “Don't collude with clients' excuses,” Wubbolding says. ... “When you encounter resistance, slow the pace,” Mitchell says. ... “Don't argue,” Wubbolding says. ... “Focus on details. ... Leave blame out of it, Wubbolding says.More items...•

How do you discipline a teenager who doesn't care about consequences?

Be clear about expectations: Give kids a chance to succeed by reminding them what is expected of them. Embrace natural consequences: When the punishment is specific to the offense and logical, kids have a better chance of modifying their behavior. Praise the right actions: Don't just punish the wrong behaviors.

How do you engage troubled youth?

Go With The Flow: 10 Ways to Easily Engage TeenagersAsk How They are Going. ... Make it About Them. ... Let Teens Teach You. ... Use Culture. ... Do Something Active. ... Get Them To Perform. ... Give Them a Choice. ... Set Them A Challenge.More items...•

How do you address resistance in therapy?

Resistance is a normal part of the therapeutic process and therapists should be prepared to deal with it. By establishing a positive relationship, using paradoxical interventions, and working toward mutually created goals, you can tear down the walls of resistance and help your client make the progress they desire.

How should you deal with a resistant or reluctant client?

Here's advice from practitioners who have eased stressful encounters with their clients:Calm yourself. ... Express empathy. ... Reframe resistance. ... Cultivate patience. ... Seek support from your peers. ... Consider terminating the relationship.

How do you reframe resistance in therapy?

Reframe resistance If the client is resisting and the therapist gets irritated or annoyed, you have two people fighting one another, and the therapeutic relationship breaks down. Instead, encourage the client to explore and explain their feelings and show that you recognize and understand them.

How do you build rapport with resistant clients?

Building rapport requires:Managing eye contact appropriately.Helping clients feel a sense of relatedness to you. ... Keeping negative topics neutral—avoid framing statements using negative connotations.Using the client's name.Setting the tone.Letting clients get to know you—that is, being a real person.More items...•

What are the four types of client resistance?

The four categories described by Otani are response quantity, response content, response style, and logistic management. Response quantity resistance is viewed as the client's noncompliance with the change process.

What to do when a youth becomes resistant?

Whenever a youth becomes resistant, consider that the youth is in some way protecting her or himself. This takes the focus away from the idea that the youth is “doing something to you” (i.e., an ego-based interpretation of what’s happening) and towards the idea that the teen is in some way protecting him or herself.

What is the situation when a youth becomes resistant to your curriculum?

Situation 1: Your teaching core curriculum (math, English, etc.) and a youth becomes resistant to your curriculum in the form of being the class clown, disrupting your class. Possible Reflection (potentially ask the youth to talk to you one on one and not in front of the class): “You seem to have a lot of social power.

Why is resistance important in therapy?

A skillful approach to resistance helps the youth become more aware of what they’re doing (the resistant behavior) and why they’re doing it (insight) and helps you prevent burnout and maintain a model of self-care.

Why is resistance considered negative?

And oftentimes we as youth providers fall into this trap because it can be very uncomfortable when a youth becomes resistant. We want to “just get on” with our curricula, counseling, etc. The issue with trying to eliminate resistance is that it doesn’t address the root cause of the resistance and or lead to ability for that youth to gain insight into his or her resistant behavior.

What is the best practice for coping with anger?

The best practice I’ve come across is mindfulness . Mindfulness is the practice of being present to your experience (thoughts, emotions, sensations, etc.) with an attitude of non-reactivity. That is, when anger or frustration or anxiety arises inside of me as a result of a young person presenting with resistance, rather than quickly reacting to those emotions and saying or doing something I might regret, I take a few breaths, notice the experience, and let it ultimately pass away. Then I respond (rather than react) to the situation.

Is working with teens challenging?

February 9, 2016. Working with teens can be a very fulfilling and rewarding endeavor. It can also be very challenging. Teens can test boundaries and become resistant to counseling interventions, classroom curriculum, or even towards us as adults personally. Ultimately this has the potential to make our work lives more difficult.

Why are adolescents resistant to therapy?

Why Some Adolescents Are Resistant to Therapy. One challenge of raising a teenager is that everything is in flux. Your child is indeed thinking, feeling, and acting differently. You know that a teenager’s brain, and body are changing dramatically (something Dr. Dan Siegel calls a brainstorm ).

How to help a teenager who is not ready for therapy?

Your teen may not be ready the first, second or third time you suggest going to therapy. Keep showing you care. Be present to listen to your teenager as much as you can. Let your child know that you’re concerned, and that his or her wellbeing matters. You want your child to know you are there for support.

What to do if your child is resistant to therapy?

If your child is still resistant to therapy, and continues refusing to go, you may need to limit some privileges so your teen sees what consequences are in his or her control. Gently but firmly stating your limits can do a lot to help get your teenager to go to counseling , even if he or she is not happy about it.

Why do teens need counseling?

You may have decided to get your teen into counseling because an issue has you concerned. But your teen is resistant to therapy. It doesn’t matter how obvious the signs are that your teen may need therapy. Signs that counseling is warranted include: Your teen’s life seems full of anxiety or stress. You’re worried about how much time they spend ...

What to ask a therapist about a teenager's experience?

You also want someone with solid skills in dealing with your specific issue. Ask the therapist about experience with: Substance use. Addiction. Trouble with authority. Concerns about mood, such as anxiety or depression.

Why do teenagers want privacy?

Your teenager will naturally seek out new relationships and experiences over which you have little control. He or she wants more privacy. They want to solve issues on their own. You can’t just pick them up and put them in the car anymore to make them go along with your plans.

Why is family therapy important?

A good family therapist can give you new tools and ideas to approach problems new ways. Seeing you happier, more confident, and calmer under stress are powerful actions that can speak louder than words. When you start feeling better when you get help, the benefits become clear.

What is the formula response for a youth therapy session?

Formula Responses: It’s essential that young clients or students not be “dragged” into the therapy office. Therefore, the youth is simply informed that the session (s) will proceed without the youth present but that the session will still be “about” the youth.

Why do youth cease and desist?

After a few interpretations of the youth’s underlying psychodynamics, the youth usually will cease and desist with the attacks because he or she sees that every attack comes back to him or her in the form of an interpretation. Resistance Style: The Apathetic Youth.

What is the seventh resistance style?

Seventh, the therapist encourages the youth to conduct an experiment to see how people treat him/her one day when using lots of eye-rolls and another day while not using eye-rolls. Resistance Style: The Absent Youth. There are at least two types of absent youths.

Why do Analytic Theorists believe that they deserve to be treated poorly by others?

Analytic theorists believe this is because they have such profound self- hatred that they unconsciously believe they deserve to be treated poorly by others, especially adults (Willock, 1986, 1987).

What are the two types of absent youth?

First, there are young people who arrive with their parent or parents, but who refuse to leave the waiting room. Second, there are young clients who, after an initial appointment, keep missing their subsequent appointments. In either case, resistance is high.

Why are youths keeping adults at a distance?

These youth are often keeping adults at a distance because they don’t trust that the adults will understand or appreciate their adolescent dilemmas. These youths also are notorious for being able to “piss off” their parents, teachers, probation officers, and therapists.

Who buried resistance in his backyard?

If we can buy into using the word resistance—despite the fact that Steve de Shazer buried it in his backyard and had a funeral for it, we would be likely to conclude that resistance behaviors are especially prominent among youth who view their presence in therapy as involuntary.

How to help teens overcome resistance?

1. Understand Resistance 2. Develop a personal philosophy on dealing with resistance. 3. Understand reasons teens are often resistant to treatment 4. Learn tools to help teens gain motivation to engage in treatment

What is resistance in psychology?

resistance is what we do to protect ourselves from awareness of that which we fear will overwhelm us

When is resistance normal?

o Resistance is ‘normal’ when being asked to change o Telling others what to do is often deemed confrontational and met with resistance o Seek to clarify and understand o Invite consideration of and openness to new perspectives

Is Ambivalence to Change normal?

Ambivalence to change is normal. Help client recognize it in order to avoid getting stuck.

Is there a right way to change?

There is no “right” way to change. Support all clients

Can you change your clients?

You cannot change your clients; you can only change how you interact with your clients

Can a client fail in therapy?

The client cannot fail in therapy/school; the therapy/school fails the client

How to help avoidantly attached teens?

Focus on what they’re willing to do. Therapists love to focus on internal motivators and lofty treatment goals, but this isn’t useful with avoidantly attached teens, who want one thing — to leave and never come back. You’ll get further by helping them identify external motivators, such as fulfilling probation requirements or keeping parents happy. Helping avoidantly attached teens move toward these concrete goals proves that you’ve actually listened to what they’ve said, makes you an ally, and keeps them coming back.

How old is Ben from Engaging Avoidant Teens?

Engaging avoidant teens. Ben** is a 16-year-old high school sophomore. He completed a mental health assessment about four months ago, following a referral from his school due to behavioral concerns, poor attendance and “possible issues with marijuana and other substances.”. He previously attended school-based mental health counseling in seventh ...

Why do teens ask questions of a personal nature?

When teen clients ask questions of a personal nature, some therapists view this as a form of resistance, as a way to avoid the topic at hand or as behavior that interferes with treatment. I disagree, at least sometimes. Perhaps the teen is making an initial attempt to cultivate a relationship with us. Perhaps these questions are a sign that we’re becoming a secure base for the teen. Perhaps we’re witnessing a little nugget of change. Why would we shut that down?

What does avoidant attachment mean for children?

Young children who develop an avoidant attachment style predictably have caregivers who are emotionally unavailable and ignore the child’s needs. These caregivers may reject the child when hurt or sick, typically encourage premature independence, and sometimes are overtly neglectful. As a result, the child learns, “I’m on my own.”