“I want to give you my full attention, but I need to take care of this first. I’ll be done in about half an hour. Is that ok?”
And remember once the conversation begins, DON’T INTERRUPT. It’s important to let them finish their thoughts and feel empowered to express themselves completely without interjection.
3. Provide tangible support and encouragement
While your compassion and empathy are extremely important, professional support is typically the best way to improve symptoms.
If therapy isn’t something they’re comfortable with at first, reach out to their school counselor, family pastor, or favorite teacher. They can help build a support network for your child so that they are more comfortable with the idea.
They might be more willing to consider therapy when other trusted adults they’re familiar with introduce the concept to them. It’s an added bonus if the other adults share that they’d utilized therapy themselves and share the positive results.
We hope this helps the teen in your life!