Table of Contents
Updated and Fact-checked May 2024 by: Christine Zambos, LMFT
Update list:
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- Updated concepts based on new research
- Updated Case-studies and added more details
- Updated Resources list
- Added CBT Vs Medication Comparison
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most popular approaches to treating a variety of psychological problems and emotional issues. It plays an important role in aiding teenagers with their mental health journey by providing better insight into how their thoughts and feelings shape behavior patterns.
Adolescence is a stage accompanied by rapid emotional and psychological development. CBT provides a valuable skill set that teaches teenagers to identify negative thinking patterns. Guided by a trained therapist, it provides tools to manage stress, PTSD, anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
CBT is one of the leading evidence-based treatments used by a majority of counselors, therapists, and psychiatric centers across the United States. CBT follows a structured approach often using handouts, worksheets and other problem-solving tools to build resilience and teach emotional regulation.
How Do Negative Thoughts Affect Your Teens’ Behavior?
Negative thought loops can greatly impact your teen’s daily life. Teenage years are particularly sensitive to the challenges of becoming conscious of the world, navigating their identity and exploring relationships.
These thought patterns can influence the kind of decisions that teenagers make affecting academic achievement, peer connections and self-esteem.
CBT helps to build awareness with the teen to help them recognize these patterns and build a valuable toolbox of coping skills to help overcome these negative cycles to construct a more positive mindset.
What is CBT for Teens?
CBT is a widely practiced psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on helping individuals recognize and modify negative thought patterns that influence their mood and can cause unwanted behaviors. When applied to teenagers, it is adapted to suit their developmental needs.
- Brain-Body Connection: The basis of CBT is that our thoughts and feelings have a direct role in behavior. Negative thought patterns can lead to negative emotions which in turn can lead to negative behaviors. CBT aims to rewire the brain with positive thinking tools leading to better emotional health and well being.
- Identify Distorted Thought Patterns: CBT tools build self-awareness and teach teenagers to become aware of cognitive biases such as catastrophizing, projection and black-and-white thinking.
- Modify Behavior: The patient and therapist work closely together to develop coping strategies that help reinforce positive behaviors.
- Problem-Solve and Set Goals: Therapy is a collaboration between the therapist and the patient. Setting goals and sticking to them is a great tool that a teen can learn during treatment.
- Developmental Considerations: Therapists adapt CBT techniques to align with the developmental stage and cognitive abilities of adolescents. This includes using age-appropriate language and considers their evolving self-identity.
- Recognizing Family System: CBT for teenagers often involves work with family dynamics to build a specific plan and system of support.
CBT empowers teens to navigate their intense emotions and address negative behavior patterns.
CBT vs. Medication
As a parent of a teen struggling with depression, anxiety or another behavioral health problem, you may be asking yourself if medication is a better option. There are a variety of benefits and limitations when weighing the two choices, while keeping in mind the individual needs of your teenager.
Medications such as SSRI antidepressants often kick in faster than the effects of CBT. They can help manage symptoms typically within 4-6 weeks, while the process of CBT typically is at least a 12-week program, depending on your teen’s issues and personality. On the other hand, CBT targets the root of the problem rather than just masking symptoms.
Limitations of Medication
A few limitations with medication exist for teens, including unwanted side effects, building a medication schedule and your teen’s commitment to take medication.
Side Effects
One great benefit of CBT is that there are no potential side effects that exist with medication. Sometimes teens go through a series of medications and doses to find what works best for them.
Unfortunately psychiatric medications do run a risk of side effects for some teens, including trouble sleeping, irritability, headaches, stomach pain and in the most severe cases thoughts of suicide.
Remembering to Take Meds
As most parents know, it can be difficult to get your teen to remember and follow through with tasks. It is very important that once medication for psychological problems is started, the routine is followed to reduce potential side effects. Teens often have so much on their minds that it can be difficult for them to follow through with this.
Developing a routine mediation schedule will be important. Suggestions include: having your teen set an alert on their phone, physically handing your teen their medication each morning, or even working with the school nurse to set up a designated time to distribute their meds.
Limitations of CBT
Although there is plenty of evidence for the positive role CBD can play in supporting teenagers, as with anything, limitations can exist.
Finding the Right Therapist
The relationship between the therapist and patient is the most important part to ensure positive outcomes with CBT. Building trust and rapport is a critical step in the CBT process in order for the teen to feel vulnerable enough to share parts of their inner world.
Insurance providers, personality, whether the therapist treats adolescents and the kind of disorders the therapist treats can all be barriers to parents when finding the right CBT therapist for your teen.
Time and Commitment
Unlike medication, CBT can take longer for your teen to feel an improved mood or to see any changes in behavior. Practicing CBT takes commitment from your teenager to put in the work to practice the skills they learn in therapy and then apply them to their daily life. CBT is a pretty structured approach that may also require your teen to fill out worksheets or even do “homework”. This can be extra challenging with teenagers who may not follow through on tasks. Encouragement and positive support from family members outside of the therapy office will be essential to making sure the skills they learn stick.
Key Takeaways
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- Emphasize the value of CBT in supporting teenagers’ mental health and overall well-being.
- Encourage parents and guardians to consider CBT as a viable option for their teens.
- Provide information on what to consider when looking for qualified CBT therapists for adolescents.
Resources
Books for Teenagers
“The Anxiety Workbook for Teens” by Lisa M. Schab
“The CBT Toolbox for Children and Adolescents” by Lisa Phifer and Amanda Crowder
“The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens” by Lisa M. Schab
“Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety: A Workbook for Overcoming Anxiety at Home, at School, and Everywhere Else” by Christopher Willard and Mitch Abblett
Books for Parents
“Parenting a Teen Who Has Intense Emotions” by Pat Harvey and Jeanine Penzo
Offers guidance on helping teens with emotional regulation using DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and CBT principles.
“The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” by Edmund J. Bourne
Although not specific to teenagers, this book provides valuable insights into managing anxiety disorders, which can be helpful for parents.
“The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children” by Ross W. Greene
Focuses on understanding and addressing challenging behavior in children and teenagers using a collaborative problem-solving approach.
Websites
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA
Online Courses and Apps
Please note that while these resources can be helpful, they are not a substitute for professional mental health care. If a teenager or parent is dealing with significant mental health issues, it’s essential to consult with a qualified mental health professional such as those at Clearfork Academy for personalized guidance and treatment.
Anna graduated from Texas Tech University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and from Texas Wesleyan University in 2015 with a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling. Anna has been in the mental health field since 2015 and held a variety of leadership roles since 2017 in Residential, Inpatient, PHP/IOP and private practice levels of care. Anna approaches therapy and leadership with the mindset that we are all one life event from seeking care ourselves and aims to foster an environment in which both the client and staff well-being are the priority. Anna is an introverted foodie who enjoys reading, watching dateline/sports and spending time with her husband, daughter, and fur babies, Dora & Teddy.
