Content Vocabulary

1. Content Vocabulary • therapy • psychotherapy • behavior therapy • codependent • enabling

2. Many teens seek therapy to help them through troubled periods in their lives, such as divorce in the family or an episode of bullying at school. Seeking help for your problems is healthy. therapy Any activity or treatment that helps a person cope with a mental or emotional problem

3. Reasons for Seeking Help • People may seek therapy for a variety of reasons. It is important to find a qualified therapist who is a good fit for you.

4. Reasons teens seek help may include: Depression, anxiety, stress. Eating disorders. Learning or attention problems. Painful life events. Substance abuse or other destructive habits. Anger management, peer pressure, or improving self-confidence. Reasons for Seeking Help

5. Reasons for Seeking Help Seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it means you are willing to deal with your problems. Serious problems, such as depression, addiction or eating disorders, will not go away on their own. Do not view a therapist as a “stranger.” Therapy is completely confidential and the therapist is there to help you.

6. Types of Therapy Those who seek professional help for their problems will most likely experience one-on-one psychotherapy. psychotherapy A type of therapy in which a patient discusses problems with a trained therapist Reasons for Seeking Help

7. Types of Therapy Behavior therapy is often used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and phobias. It works through a process of confronting and overcoming fears. behavior therapy Therapy in which a therapist helps a person break an unhealthy pattern of behavior through a system of rewards and desensitization Reasons for Seeking Help

8. Types of Therapy Therapy is based on the patient’s needs. Family therapy involves a family meeting together with a therapist to discuss problems that affect them as a group. Group therapy involves a counselor and several people with similar problems that support each other. Reasons for Seeking Help

9. Types of Therapy Some mental illnesses, such as depression or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may benefit from medications or drug therapy. Reasons for Seeking Help

10. Seeking Help Look to parents, guardians, teachers, school counselors, religious leaders, doctors, community health centers, crisis hotlines, or support groups for help. Pick a therapist you are comfortable with. You can change therapists at any time if you feel the treatment isn’t meeting your needs. Reasons for Seeking Help

11. Seeking Help Mental health professionals who are qualified to offer therapy include: Psychiatrists. Psychologists. Psychiatric nurses. Social workers. Counselors. Reasons for Seeking Help

12. Helping Others • Recognize when it is possible to help a friend and when professional help is needed.

13. Helping Others A person who hopes to help may become codependent and ignore their own needs. codependent Focused on the needs of others to the extent that the person’s own needs are neglected

14. Helping Others Enabling behavior allows the problem behavior to continue. enabling Misguided “helping”

15. Helping Others Listening and offering support can help a friend work through problems or troubling times. Some problems require the help of a trained professional. In some cases, an untrained person can do more harm than good by saying or suggesting the wrong things.

16. Helping Others Caring and support are important. Encourage those with signs of a mental illness to seek professional help. Talk openly and honestly about the condition. Avoiding the subject may make the person feel isolated.

17. Section Review: Reviewing the Vocabulary • Therapy is __________. therapy Any activity or treatment that helps a person cope with a mental or emotional problem

18. Section Review: Reviewing the Vocabulary • A type of therapy in which a patient discusses problems with a trained therapist is called __________. psychotherapy A type of therapy in which a patient discusses problems with a trained therapist