Group and Family Therapy

Troubled Teen

It is often hard to know whether a teenagers behaviour is Typical or Troubled, as they can often look the same. Amanda has been working with Adolescents for more than 20 years, and knows the signs of typical teenage behaviour and when it’s becoming problematic.

Teenagers are undergoing rapid and significant changes from as young as 12 years old. Hormones are racing, resulting in physical changes, emotional outbursts, new social interests and of course brain-based changes.

Parents or guardians may notice attitude from your adolescent; disrespect, rudeness, sullen or withdrawn behaviours – all of which are typical but can also lead to a troubled teen if not responded to appropriately.

Teenagers want more privacy and have a greater interest in fitting in with their friendship groups, pursuing romantic relationships and developing independence. However, withdrawing from family and friends, or spending all day and night locked up in their bedroom or online can also be a warning sign that something is not right.

This is a difficult time to navigate as parents/guardians. You may find yourself wanting to impose more boundaries and restrictions on your typical/troubled teen, which often results in them having an outburst. Let them know you are concerned about their behaviour, and maybe you don’t quite know how to get it right yet, how best to help them, or if they even need help. The most valuable gift for a child is for an adult to be present, just to be available to listen.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Amanda can help understand your teenagers’ behaviours and discuss whether there is cause for concern, while offering some targeted strategies to try and stay connected with your teenager. With more than 15 year’s experience in education, justice and health sectors in Australia and internationally, Amanda has a wealth of experience and expertise to quickly recognise problematic behaviours and apply early interventions to ensure safety and avoid a troubled trajectory.

Amanda works with parents/guardians, the individual teenager, or both parents and teen. We will discuss with you the best approach over a phone consultation prior to a first appointment.

Tele-health is available for young people and families. Amanda provides phone and online face-to-face sessions to individuals wherever they are. Catering for commitments both within Australia and overseas. Amanda will arrange a time to meet with you online in your time-zone. She has supported young people based in Melbourne, California, Malaysia and Mongolia.

Group Therapy

Integrate Therapy & Consulting Perth offer a range of group therapies at various times throughout the year. Please check back here for updates or email us if you have a specific interest.

Current Groups are scheduled for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

Please contact us to discuss our intake processes. DBT is currently offered in person and on-line for our regional areas.

Family Mediation

Our family mediation specialist provides a professional and confidential service for couples and individuals at times when their relationships are difficult or are being dissolved. The approach ensures each party is heard and understood through helping you to improve relationships with others by better connecting with yourself.

If children are involved, their best interests are paramount and we will work with the adults to ensure a safe and respectful resolution to your current situation.

Separation guidance is available for individuals considering separation and in need of advice of where to start, how to navigate the system, and support through the emotional, financial and legal impact.

For parents separating, important decisions for both short and long term need to be made in the best interest of the child/ren. Support with transition into new relationships as parents and consideration of future parenting and financial arrangements is mediated in a safe and respectful way.

Services aim to reach agreements around:

Parent plans/agreements for care of the children, including living arrangements, education and holidays
Financial agreement
Living arrangements
Separation of assets

Mother and Daughter

Mothers are Daughters themselves; a mother has been a teenager and has her own life experiences. As a mother’s daughter begins to individuate and explore her own identity, communication between the two changes, often resulting in conflict. A daughter may no longer wish to tell her mother everything. A mother may find herself worried or anxious about this separation, or even resentful of her daughters finding her own way, wanting to protect her from making mistakes, perhaps feeling like she is no longer needed, or is still needed too much and her daughter lacks independence!

Amanda has over 20 years of experience working with adolescents, and uses her therapeutic skill to listen to both a mother and daughter, interpret and even translate what is meant by what each is saying. At times of change, emotions often erupt in new ways as we try to find a way to feel understood and heard. This often presents as anger, however Amanda is highly attuned to recognising and naming the underlying emotion, ensuring that each person feels understood and supports both the mother and daughter to express their true feelings and needs.

Working collaboratively, unique issues are teased apart to work towards a healthy and happy relationship that extends beyond the mother/daughter to the wider family and friends. Often these issues affect other parts of life too, and once understood and overcome – improvements in work and health are evident also. Adopting new boundaries and practices will enhance both the individual and mother/daughter relationships and sense of self. Repairing broken patterns of communication or emotional wounds will ensure each party is better able to understand individual views and experiences while appreciating individual needs.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Amanda first meets with both the parent and daughter separately, with each having their own 50-minute session. This is an opportunity for you to express your current experience and what you hope to achieve from this process. All subsequent sessions are with the mother and daughter together. Amanda mediates and translates where necessary to dig down deeper to the root cause of the current symptom evident in the dynamic or relationship. Our actions are often a conscious choice, but at a subconscious level, are subtly influenced by generations of history and often trauma.