The Power of Therapy for Teenagers: How Professional Help Can Improve Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being.
Noor Ahmad / Al Ain UAE
Thursday, 25 May 2023
The Power of Therapy for Teenagers: Managing Mental Health Issues with Professional Help
Mental health issues among teenagers are a growing concern, and therapy is an effective intervention to help teens manage their symptoms, improve their overall well-being, and lead happy and fulfilling lives.
Mental health issues among teenagers have become a growing concern in the world nowadays. While mental illnesses are treatable, many teenagers still struggle to access the help they need. Adolescence is a challenging period in one's life, marked by physical, psychological, and social changes. Transitioning from childhood to adulthood can be overwhelming for many teens, leading to several emotional and behavioral issues. Approximately one in five adolescents have experienced a mental health disorder. In such cases, therapy proves to be an effective intervention that helps teens manage their symptoms, improve their overall well-being, address these issues, and enable them to lead happy and fulfilling lives.
Teenagers often encounter challenges that if left untreated could be very harmful. There are numerous challenges that a teenager may face, such as depression, eating disorders like obesity or anorexia nervosa; substance abuse; self-harm; suicidal thoughts; relationship problems with friends or family members; academic stressors like performance anxiety, or pressure from parents or teachers.
Therapy offers several benefits for teenagers struggling with various issues. Firstly, it provides them with a safe space where they can freely express themselves without any judgment while receiving guidance from trained professionals who assist them in developing effective coping strategies tailored to their individual needs. Secondly, therapy teaches valuable skills such as emotion regulation empathy, communication, problem-solving interpersonal effectiveness which helps build resilience against future difficulties. Further, therapy has been proven to be an effective treatment option for various mental health issues such as anxiety and depression among teens. Additionally, therapy is vital in improving overall teen well-being as it helps them learn coping mechanisms that enable them to deal with life stressors effectively. Teens learn how emotions affect behaviors and hence gain the ability to recognize and control their emotions. Long-term studies show that adolescents who undergo therapy have better outcomes compared to those who do not. For instance, emotion-regulation training and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy have been proven to reduce introspection and social anxiety in teenagers that are inclined to addiction.
While therapy has its benefits and advantages, it is not always smooth sailing; there are potential negative effects that may arise during the process. In some cases, therapy may temporarily increase a teenager's distress as they confront and explore difficult emotions, memories, or experiences. This can be a necessary part of the therapeutic process, but it can be challenging for some teenagers. Furthermore, some teenagers may become overly dependent on therapy and rely solely on their therapist for emotional support. This can prevent them from developing coping mechanisms or seeking support from other sources, such as friends or family. It can also develop an intense emotional attachment to their therapist, which can create challenges when the therapeutic relationship ends. This dependency can lead to a sense of loss or abandonment, especially if the transition is not handled properly. The risk of a misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment should also be taken into serious consideration. There is a chance of misdiagnosis if the therapist fails to accurately assess the teenager's needs. In case of such event, it can lead to ineffective or potentially harmful interventions. Additionally, engaging in therapy may contribute to feelings of stigmatization or self-labeling, as some teenagers may perceive themselves as "broken" or "mentally ill" due to their participation in therapy. Such thoughts can affect their self-esteem and overall well-being.
Studies show that therapies such as acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), and art therapy telehealth-based dyadic ACT have proven successful in improving adolescent mental health concerns by reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression and improving overall well-being. A randomized controlled trial evaluating ACT for adolescents with obesity showed significant improvements in physical health, psychological flexibility, and self-efficacy compared to the control group. Art therapy was found remarkably efficient and effective in developing coping mechanisms among children and teenagers dealing with trauma or stressors. Similarly, telehealth-based dyadic ACT has shown promising results in reducing anxiety and depression among teens living with cystic fibrosis.
In summary, adolescence is a critical period marked by physical and emotional changes that can lead to mental health disorders if left unaddressed. Therapy offers several benefits such as developing resilience through skill-building interventions tailored towards individual needs aiding recovery from emotional distress. Despite the challenges therapists face, such as communication barriers while working with teenage patients, they should foster open communication channels to build trust. Thus, it is essential to normalize therapy and encourage teenagers to seek help because early intervention can lead to better outcomes.
Therapy a New Awaking: Five Reasons People Choose Therapy
Mariam Bahwan/ Al Ain UAE
Thursday, 25 May 2023
Attitude toward therapy is evolving, people are actively choosing therapy, there are five key points why people go to therapy.
“Therapy” a word that terrified many in the beginning, is changing emotions, mindsets, and lives for the better. There are countless reasons why people end up going to therapy, but there are factors that connect them.
First is the sense of being lost and
having no one to talk to, a lot of people
result to therapy because they don’t know
what to do, the feeling of being stuck or
lost enables them to continue in their daily
life that’s why they choose to seek help.
Nino Fincher a rapid transformational
therapist stated,"People find it difficult to
trust others when others don't keep
confidence, or judge and condemn instead of hearing them and helping find solutions, so, they go to therapy because it is a therapist job to hear and keep client's information private ".
Second, several individuals seek therapy because they believe they have a specific illness, such as anxiety or even Bohemia.
People used to feel certain things but didn't know how to express them, but as technology has advanced and access to information has increased, certain difficulties have become more apparent, leading them to seek therapy to discuss them.
The third factor is trauma. Trauma may be caused by a variety of situations, such as abuse, sexual harassment, or even a traumatic birth. There are degrees of different traumas all resulting in mental scars if not tended to.
Relationship difficulties are a significant factor. Plenty of people seek the support of a therapist when their relationship begins to have challenges and is gradually developing into a toxic relationship; they want to know how to deal with their partners and how to cope with certain changes in their relationship life.
This can also venture into family therapy to help the family dynamic be better to build a healthier lifestyle.
Finally, a life changing transition. It can be hard for a person to process, especially when it is unexpected, such as the death of a loved one, a breakup, or the loss of a job.
When you are going through a difficult transition in your life, it may provoke anxiety, stress, and even panic attacks. Going to therapy to talk about a painful life shift could prove really useful.
Therapy can alter your whole mindset and view on life, and these are only a few of the reasons why people seek it. At the end of the day, therapy is a unique experience for each individual where everyone has their own story.
"Breaking the Silence: Mental Health and Therapy in the Middle East"
Leen Nasser / Al Ain UAE
Thursday, 25 May 2023
Culture and religion seem to always prevail over almost every topic in the middle east, even when it comes to the mental health and general well-being of members in the society.
In the middle east, most Arabs would admit to having medical issues, being in a bad financial position, or even say they are battling a drinking problem, but you will rarely ever see an Arab admitting to having a mental health problem and seeking help like therapy. That is the unfortunate reality that has sustained for a very long time around the MENA region.
With more than 15% of the gulf’s region population battling mental health issues in 2022, it is a topic that is still considered taboo for people living in the middle east specifically Arabs. For decades, people living in the middle east struggled with admitting to having a problem due to the old and outdated view for mental health issues and therapy from the previous generations.
“Stigma further perpetuates the lack of awareness around the topic and puts those struggling at an unfair advantage against years of cultural programming,” says Latifah Al Essa, founder and CEO of mental health platform Ayadi.
Mental health and therapy have been a topic of great importance in the west and a lot of development has occurred because society focused on it and made it a priority among other issues, but since there are less discussions about mental health and therapy in the MENA region, the issue is increasing in magnitude and a small amount of people are seeking help and going to therapy.
The problem is that even when people in the Middle East do seek help and ask for therapy, they come to find that there is a shortage of mental health providers since it is a profession that is not pursued by many people. There is less accessibility for people struggling and it all goes back to the fact that this problem needs to be openly addressed among Arabs and the Middle East in general.
Beyond that, the GCC's limited insurance coverage for mental health issues and high service costs make it difficult for ordinary citizens to access mental health care. For instance, a therapy session in the UAE might cost up to AED 1000.
The idea of therapy /seeking help and talking about mental health should be introduced to new generations and emphasized like any other topic. Schools play a big role in educating children that it is okay to admit something doesn’t quite feel right and book therapy sessions to help them.
School administrators in the UAE stressed the need of teaching young students not to dismiss mental illness. “Be honest about how you’re feeling and seek help,” stated The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai principal Clare Turnbull.
“What we do in the 10 years before university is really important. What we need to do is to make sure children understand that from really a young age, so that they know it’s OK to feel low or depressed.”” said David Cook, headmaster at Repton Dubai.
Admitting there is a problem is the first step to recovery, and in this case it applies perfectly.
