What To Do With Teens In Therapy ~ INTERVENTIONS THAT WORK in Teen Counseling Sessions ~

Summary

In this video, Quinby Gallahan, a licensed marriage and family therapist, shares insights and tools for working with teenage clients. She emphasizes the importance of building trust and rapport, especially during early sessions. Quinby introduces practical tools like question cards, art therapy techniques, and collage activities to engage teens and facilitate meaningful conversations. These tools help teens express themselves and provide a comfortable space for therapy. With her extensive experience working with teens, Quinby offers helpful strategies for therapists looking to connect with and support young clients effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 Quinby Gallahan is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with over a decade of experience, focusing on mental health and personal growth.
• 😀 The Grateful Therapist channel offers insights into mental health, personal growth, and tips for therapy practice, especially for working with teenagers.
• 😀 Not all teens warm up to therapy right away. It's normal for teens to take time to build trust with the therapist, especially in early sessions.
• 😀 Building rapport is crucial with teens, and it’s okay to take time before diving into therapeutic interventions.
• 😀 A useful tool Quinby recommends for engaging teens is question cards with prompts that encourage deeper conversation and self-reflection.
• 😀 These question cards can be customized for specific themes, such as family dynamics, and are great for therapy sessions to spark dialogue and assessment.
• 😀 Quinby uses art therapy techniques, including drawing, coloring, and doodling, to help teens feel more comfortable and express themselves in therapy.
• 😀 Art activities can calm the nervous system, making it easier for teens to discuss challenging topics when they are engaged in creative tasks.
• 😀 A favorite intervention is the 'tree drawing' activity, where teens can explore topics such as strengths, values, self-esteem, or family relationships by placing different elements in the branches or roots of the tree.
• 😀 Collage-making is another effective therapeutic activity Quinby uses, offering pre-cut pictures and words for teens to use in expressing emotions, situations, or thoughts that are difficult to articulate.
• 😀 Quinby emphasizes that art activities are not about creating a finished product but about the process of self-expression, and they are suitable for teens, children, and adults alike.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Quinby Gallahan's channel?

Quinby Gallahan's channel, 'The Grateful Therapist', focuses on mental health and personal growth, offering insights into therapy and ways to support mental well-being.

How does Quinby approach working with teenage clients in therapy?

Quinby emphasizes the importance of building trust and rapport with teenage clients, particularly in the early sessions. She recognizes that some teens may need time to warm up and feels it’s important to give them space to build a relationship first.

Why is it important to normalize a teen's discomfort in the early stages of therapy?

Quinby highlights that it’s normal for teens to feel uncomfortable in the beginning, as they may not know the therapist well yet. Normalizing this discomfort helps them understand that it’s okay to take time to feel comfortable and build trust.

What is the first tool Quinby recommends for working with teenage clients?

Quinby recommends using 'question cards' as a tool to engage teenage clients in conversation. These cards contain thought-provoking questions that help teens open up and initiate meaningful dialogue.

How can question cards be customized for individual clients?

Question cards can be personalized by selecting questions that align with the specific issues or challenges a particular teen is facing, such as family problems, self-esteem, or emotions they struggle to express.

What is Quinby’s approach to using art supplies in therapy with teens?

Quinby uses art supplies like markers, paper, and pencils to help teens express their emotions non-verbally. She emphasizes that the goal is not artistic skill but the therapeutic process of expression through drawing or coloring.

How does Quinby use tree drawings in therapy sessions?

Quinby uses tree drawings as a versatile tool where teens can illustrate strengths, values, or challenges. The tree can represent various aspects of the teen's life, such as accomplishments or family dynamics, depending on the therapeutic focus.

What can teens include in a tree drawing during therapy?

Teens can include positive aspects like strengths, proud moments, or values in the branches of the tree, and they may place negative thoughts or challenges in the roots or the ground. This can help explore their self-concept and emotional resilience.

Why does Quinby prefer to use pre-cut collage materials in therapy?

Quinby prefers using pre-cut collage materials because it helps teens focus on the therapeutic activity rather than getting distracted by reading magazine articles. Pre-cut images and words allow for more focused self-expression without overwhelming them.

How can collage activities be tailored to the specific needs of a teen?

Collage activities can be adapted by selecting images and words that relate to a teen's current emotional state, struggles, or experiences. For example, a teen could create a collage about sadness, family issues, or personal growth.