TREATMENT OF ADOLESCENTS
Dr. Herrick sees teens in both her DC and Virginia offices. The initial goal of treament is to establish trust and a comfortable relationship with Dr. Herrick. Therapy for teens then focuses on helping them explore their feelings and the source of their difficulties. Together, Dr. Herrick and her clients, look for ways to resolve their problems or alleviate their distress while growing more confident, more mature, and more thoughtful about themselves and their own behavior.
When working with adolescents, issues around their privacy in the therapy and confidentiality boundaries are often important and sometimes difficult. These clients are sometimes experimenting with drugs, or alcohol, or sexual activity, and those topics need to be addressed in the treatment. The boundaries of confidentiality are thoroughly addressed with both the client and his or her parents as you begin work with Dr. Herrick. Her aim is to balance the privacy of the sessions, with protecting the safety of the teenager. She also works to help her teenage clients talk more openly with their parents, and works to help the parents listen in ways that encourage increased openness.