Therapy With Teen Males (Its About Trust)

I have worked with teen males in therapy over the years. I really enjoy this work. In this bridge between childhood and adulthood there is so much rapid development happening. It can be really fun. It can also be really hard for this same reason. Amongst the many things my teen clients have taught me over the years, the trust is paramount. 

If he feels that I don’t care, or that I’ve not held to my word about what I will keep confidential- there is a rupture that is difficult if not impossible to repair. But if that level of trust in tact, that young man has a conduit to share with me and confide some things he just might not want his parents to know about. And as long as that is not a safety issue or something I am mandated to report (i.e child abuse), thats something we keep between us. 

I have found that bolstered with this safe place to check out ideas, share feelings, hard experiences, real feelings- these young men can really begin to thrive. And over come many different struggles including struggles with belongingness which is a big issue for any teen I have worked with. For my part, its such an amazing thing to be a part of these young men growing up before my eyes. And watching in session, in the moment, when the lights come on about how many people go through this same thing; how their parents actually do have their back; that they aren’t as messed up or weak as they thought; that they are actually pretty normal kids, with unique personalities and special gifts and abilities waiting to be shared with the world.