Adolescence is a time of significant growth and development within your teenage brain.

During this time unused connections in the thinking and processing part of the teenagers brain (called the grey matter) are ‘pruned’ away. At the same time, other connections are strengthened. This is the brain’s way of becoming more efficient, based on the ‘use it or lose it’ principle.

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The prefrontal cortex is the decision-making part of the brain, responsible for your teenagers ability to plan and think about the consequences of their actions. It also helps them solve problems and control impulses. This is the last part of the brain to be remodelled and continues into early adulthood.

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Because the prefrontal cortex is still developing, teenagers may rely on a part of the brain called the amygdala to make decisions and solve problems. This part of the brain is associated with emotions, impulses, aggression and instinctive behaviour, which can make them more unpredictable than adults. 

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Adolescence is also the time when they are finding their own way in the world and friendships and appearances become all encompassing.

For most adolescents this struggle is all part of normal growth and development.

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For some adolescents the combination of the changes in the brain, social, environmental and educational demands, can become overwhelming, leading to significant deterioration in their emotional welfare, mental health, social or behavioural presentation. 

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Changes during these years may also strain parent / parents and teenage relationships.

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These behaviours may go beyond Boundary Pushing and present challenges.

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In the above situations there may be a need for therapeutic support for the adolescent, parents and or the whole family. 

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I have many years experience providing therapy to adolescents.

During this time I have found that using creativity, alongside models such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy can lead to an improvement in their lives and your families lives 

By utilising Creative activities alongside

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, EMDR and years of experience working with this age group,

can lead to an improvement in their lives and their families lives 

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