Therapeutic and Counseling Approaches for Teens and Families

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a short-term (approximately 12-14 counseling sessions), strengths-based, therapeutic family therapy approach for youth ages 11-18 that involves the participation of the whole family. FFT can be provided both in the home or the counselor's office and comprises 5 elements: Engagement, Motivation, Relational Assessment, Behavior Change and Generalization.

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FFT has been found effective in treating oppositional and defiant type behavior, anger, substance abuse, among other challenging behavior while improving school attendance and behavior. FFT also helps parents to learn additional parenting strategies effective in helping maintain long term change.

Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) is a strengths-based, neurobiologically grounded, relational approach in resolving problems while teaching teens & young adults the skills needed to solve problems effectively. This approach allows parents to address the challenging behaviors exhibited in the home through empowerment, empathy and mutual (or collaborative & proactive) problem solving pertaining to the shared problem(s) that lead to the challenging behaviors.   

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Collaborative & Proactive Solutions is very complimentary to Functional Family Therapy. While parents still maintain structure, rules, discipline in the home, CPS brings the teen and other children into the process thus strengthening family relationships plus increasing the likelihood of long term change.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

ART is a form of psychotherapy with roots in existing, evidence-based therapies. ART has been shown to be effective in as many as 1-5 sessions.

ART addresses struggles such as anxiety, social anxiety, performance anxiety, panic attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), phobias, depression, PTSD, & trauma. 

The client is always in control of the sesison guided by a trained ART therapist. In ART when specifically addressing trauma or PTSD, clients are not required to talk about the trauma in order to resolve the trauma.

Motivational Interviewing is a short term therapy approach that has been shown to be effective for those who start off in counseling unmotivated or not ready to make changes. Motivational Interviewing can help one move through the emotional stages of change required to help find and increase motivation to make changes in thought and behavior in order to make healthier life choices.

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Do you have a teen, young adult, or other family member who may not be super highly motivated in attending counseling? Motivational Interviewing has been found effective in helping individuals find the motivation needed to engage in counseling to find the peace that change can bring into one's life.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is typically a short term therapy approach that is solutions-oriented and centers on how one's thoughts and perceptions influence behavior.  CBT has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of problems, including lack of motivation, anger management, emotional regulation, teen depression, teen anxiety, teen trauma, teen PTSD, among others. 

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Cognitive Behavior Therapy can help children, teens, and young adults challenge irrational thoughts and beliefs which have led to emotional, mood, and/or behavioral struggles. Let us help you 'untangle' those unhelpful and complicated thought and belief patterns that have prevented you from living a full and rich life.

Research has shown that the therapeutic relationship which is developed between the counselor and the client is essential to the client's success.  In fact, it can be the most important factor in the therapy process.  

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You know your teen or young adult better than anyone else. It is likely that your teen or young adult will not see just any counselor. There must be a personality fit and connection that helps your teen or young adult feel comfortable in participating in the counseling process.

We have 50+ years of combined experience in teen therapy, young adult counseling, and family therapy. 

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At Katy Teen & Family Counseling, we will work with you to select a counselor who will not  only meet your teen, young adult, and family's needs, but also be able to connect with you and your teen or young adult strengthening the therapeutic relationship.