There are many mental health issues among adolescents that can be addressed with the help of a guide or workbook. Consult with a physician specializing in mental health before assuming a workbook is the first step in treatment. It may be that your teen requires a higher-intensity treatment. Upon consultation, use workbooks and guides on specific emotions, thoughts or behaviors as a way to begin helping your teen explore mental health and wellness.
Workbooks and Treatment
Mental health professionals use treatment workbooks in group, family and individual therapy. Workbooks are used in session or as homework in between sessions. You and/or your teen you may be referred to workbooks or guides. Teens who meet criteria for a psychological diagnosis should not rely solely on a treatment workbook. Teens can also benefit from workbooks as a way to understand themselves better, even if they are not suffering.
Anxiety
Anxiety can indicate stress, excitement, nervousness, uncertainty and pressure. It is a natural and healthy experience to have a certain amount of these feelings but it is important to understand anxiety and keep a balance. The American Psychological Association offers workbooks that do just this. Workbooks on anxiety assist your teenager to explore anxious feelings, increase awareness of the physiological responses to anxiety and balance the strain that anxiety can bring.
Depression
Depression hits many teens. You may not even realize that what appears as shyness or anger may really be depression. Lack of motivation and the ability to become engaged in any activity are also symptoms of depression. Workbooks assist your teenager to become more engaged. It helps her understand and consider her experience of depression such as thoughts that bring her down.
Learning Disorders and Attention Deficit Disorder
One great hurdle you and your teen may be facing is exploring current and future education options. You may feel more challenged with a teen who has special learning issues, ADD or a learning disorder diagnosis. Workbooks can assist your teenager by providing organizational skills for tasks such as applying to college. Other workbooks can be helpful in understanding learning styles and providing exercises for better study-skills habits.
Adjustment Disorder
Your teen is adjusting to many changes. She is adjusting with issues like dating, athletics, hobbies, school, sex, body image, individuality and group acceptance, to name a few. Workbooks can assist your teenager to safely consider these many changes and where she is in the midst of them. Workbooks provide skills training in problem-solving skills, navigating through peer pressure and exploring how she may feel about her changing body.
Anger
Anger is a very common emotion in teens. Teenagers express anger that can impact the entire family. Offering ways for your teen to explore his anger is a way to begin easing the rage or irritability he feels. Workbooks can assist your teenager to work through his rage by providing activities and exercises that de-escalate his angry responses and focus behavior on positive outlets.
References
- Adolescent Anger Control: Review and critique. Progress in behavior modification; E.L. Feindler; 1990.
- American Psychological Association: Magination Press Children's Books
- American Psychological Association: Identifying Signs of Stress in Your Children or Teens
- American Psychological Association: Parenting: The Teen Years
