Individual adolescent therapy combines many of the same components as both individual adult and child therapy. As in child therapy, it is important for the therapist to have contact with the patient’s parent or parents. This should be done in a manner that is always supportive and respectful of the teenager’s confidentiality, and is often done with the adolescent present.
One of the primary goals of therapy is to develop a strong, trusting working relationship with the adolescent. It is this relationship that leads to growth and change throughout the course of treatment. As in adult therapy, treatment of a teenager should address both the teen’s behaviors and the thoughts and feelings that drive these behaviors. Treatment goals should include both behavioral change as well as insight, and lead to healthy development.