7 Tips for Parents of Teens

"The experience I have had in therapy over the last few years have been so profound and so very important to me that I hope you will allow me to take this opportunity to share some of my feelings about it. First, I must admit that I came into therapy with something of a misconception. My feeling was that if I could only delineate the problem, discuss it in detail, lay out some sort of strategy for change, that somehow everything would automatically be different. When they were not, I became frustrated. I was, as you so often have said, "entirely in my head." It was only through your patience and guidance that I began to understand an entirely new language, that of the emotions, of the body. The work was slow. My reason fought every step of the way. But you persevered. Now I am learning to communicate with my own inner guidance, to understand how my body speaks to me through my feelings. I can notice where my emotions are located in my body, how they feel, how to "be with them" and, ultimately, how to release them. In addition, I have learned that the little boy in me, the real creative self of me is still alive, still willing to create. This has been such an enormous revelation, as though I had discovered that the very essence of life still flows deeply within me. I feel the work has been most competent and professional, of that you can be certain, and yet there has been a great deal more: a profound sense of caring and safety, kindness and understanding, which has meant every bit as much to me personally. I don’t know if I could ever properly show my gratitude, but of this you can be sure, I would heartily recommend the care I’ve received without reservation. With Heartfelt Thanks."