And why they need to want to get better to actually get better
Rachel Ehmke
It can be hard to get #kids to agree to see a psychologist or a psychiatrist. In fact this is a common stumbling block for many #parents of #teenagers struggling with anything from #anxiety to ADHD, #depression, or an eating disorder. It’s not enough for you to see them suffering, or for it to be obvious to everyone around them that they’re not themselves and they need some kind of intervention. Adolescents need to want to get better, and be willing to work with someone to make that happen. For treatment to work #kids need to buy into it, at least a little.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
So it is important to get to the bottom of why #kids are being resistant and try to change their minds. Here are some common reasons why a kid might say no to treatment:
- She doesn’t think she needs help. She might say, “This is just how I am.”
- She doesn’t think therapy or medicine would work.
- She’s already tried it and didn’t like it.
- She thinks getting help is embarrassing.
- She’s feeling defensive. Not only is this a common posture for #teens, it’s also an understandable reaction from someone who is tired of repeatedly struggling or getting negative attention over something.
- She’s feeling hopeless. She can’t imagine that it’s possible for her to feel better.
Understanding the reason or reasons your #child has for being resistant will help you tailor how you respond. As parents of #teens know, convincing older #kids to do something they don’t want to do is difficult, to say the least. That’s because #teens are growing up, which means they want — and, developmentally speaking, they need — to have more control and independence.
#Teens might not always be the best judge of what they need, but it’s essential for parents to give them a chance to explain how they feel and then give a thoughtful response. Not only will it improve your relationship with your #teen, it will also make her more likely to listen to you. Here are some strategies to try:
Frame it differently
The way you frame treatment is important. There is sometimes an unfair bias against getting help for #mentalhealthissues. People go to psychologists and psychiatrists for the same reason they go to their other #doctors — they want to feel better. And forget about the Freud stereotype — getting help in this millennium generally does not mean “talking about your deepest darkest feelings with some guy,” as psychologist Jerry Bubrick puts it. “The truth is we now have much more scientifically driven treatments.”
For reluctant patients, Dr. Bubrick sometimes likens therapy to working with a coach: “If your son is playing basketball, of course he’s going to have a basketball coach. Even professional basketball players need coaches to learn new strategies, learn new skills, think about different ways to succeed. Your son can do therapy to learn these skills and practice them over and over, and eventually he won’t need the coach anymore.”
Depending on what your #teen needs help with, it might also be a good idea if the entire family came in for treatment. This is a good strategy to use when #kids are getting defensive because it doesn’t single your #teen out as the patient — the whole family is working on this issue.
Focus on your #teen’s priorities
Sometimes #teens will disagree that they have a problem, or think that what they are struggling with is a part of them that can’t or shouldn’t be treated.
When #kids think that they can’t get better it is sometimes a symptom of their disorder. For example when #kids are depressed it affects how they think, so they might not be able to imagine feeling better. #Kids can also start identifying with their disorder and even find comfort in it, so the idea of getting treatment can actually be scary.
When #kids don’t think they have a problem or are ambivalent about what treatment can do for them, psychologist David Anderson recommends starting by asking the #teen what he wants to get out of it — not what you or his teachers or anyone else wants: “We would work on getting buy-in by focusing initially on his priorities. What is he looking for at this stage? What kinds of things would he like to be able to improve, like homework or making friends? Then we can outline how the things he’s motivated toward might be achieved in our work together.”
This is similar to a technique called motivational interviewing, which is a collaborative approach some therapists use to help #kids resolve their ambivalence and find their motivation for getting better.
Find the right doctor
It is important to find a treatment provider who is a good match for your child’s personality. If she doesn’t like or respect the person that she’s working with, or thinks she can outsmart him, it isn’t going to be a good fit.
Although it’s very frustrating, you may need to keep looking until you find the right person for your #teen. Sometimes parents decide to come in first themselves, without their #child, to meet the clinician and ask some questions (a good one is how she would approach working with a reluctant teen). Clinicians should also have good pointers on what you can be doing at home to help.
If your #teen has already tried getting treatment but it hasn’t helped, or she didn’t like the person she was working with, psychologist Stephanie Dowd recommends asking her why she thinks that is. For example, what wasn’t helpful or what didn’t she like about therapy? What did she like? You can keep these qualities in mind and work together to find a therapist who does more of the positive things. Many #kids prefer working with clinicians who are active participants in conversations — not just passive listeners.
Dr. Dowd suggests, “Find two or three therapists she can interview and tell her that she can choose the one that she feels most comfortable with, and thinks will help the most. Finding a therapist who is a good fit is extremely important, and making the choice hers will help her feel ownership over her own treatment, which is extremely important to teens and sets the stage for effective therapy.”
Don’t give up
If your #child says no the first time you talk about starting treatment, keep trying. Use the strategies above and try asking clinicians what they would recommend.
It’s also important to continue making an effort to listen to how your #teen is feeling and what he thinks he needs. Important things usually aren’t settled in one conversation. Progress may come gradually. “If you lay the groundwork by strengthening your connection with him now, he’ll be more likely to turn to you for support when he’s finally ready,” says Dr. Dowd.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
