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As a parent, it is hard not to worry about our kids. Of course, this is what we have been doing since they were born. Is it possible that we are already thinking about them leaving the nest and living away from home? We want to take inventory of what we are doing as parents to support our children at home because (as well meaning as we are) we will not be there to provide this support when our children are living away from us at school.

Questions that you might consider when you are wondering if your child can thrive at school are:

• Does my child have good hygiene habits?

• Does my child know who to ask for help if he/she/they need it?

• Who does my child go to when they have a problem?

• Does my child know how to solve problems when they are faced with stress?

• Does my child know how to cope with multiple tasks at one time?

• How does my child face challenges in his/her/their life?

• Does my child know how to make healthy choices with regards to nutrition?

• Does my child have healthy sleep habits?

Of course, while no child is perfect, and realistically, teenagers are notorious for unhealthy habits, it is important that they are internally aware of the choices that are best for them, even if they do not always make the best decisions possible. It is also important that they know who they can go to if they do not have the answer to a problem and need help.

As a clinical psychologist, I have seen many cases in which teens who struggled with mental health issues in high school such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and trauma have gone off to college without the appropriate level of support and have significantly regressed in their mental wellness. The reason for this decline is often due to:

• Difficulty with emotional regulation causing the teen to retreat to their bed and skip classes, miss assignments, and isolate themselves.

• Lack of ability to cope with conflict combined with the lack of psychological support required to help the teen resolve conflicts that present themselves, especially during the transition to college.

• The teen becoming overwhelmed with academic and social demands of college without the proper level of psychological and psychiatric support, again, especially as they are transitioning to college

• Avoidance of assignments or social situations that cause anxiety, which can result in social isolation or avoidance of academic tasks such as an assignment, or studying for a test.

• The teen having difficulty making friends or finding their social group, causing them significant anxiety, stress, or even depression.

• The teen procrastinating when they become overwhelmed with academic demands due to executive functioning deficits such as time management deficiencies, as well as difficulties with planning, organization and prioritization.

• Difficulty with tolerating stress or disappointment due to social rejection or poor grades and regressing in terms of their depression or anxiety.

• The teen requiring psychiatric treatment due to increasing mental health issues or side effects of their current medication.

If you are concerned that your child might need support when they go away to school, consider getting them assistance through our First Semester Consultation Program. In this holistic preventative program, your teen will receive:

• Psychological support weekly from a doctoral-level therapist who specializes in helping your teen have a smooth and easy transition to college

• Bi-weekly psychiatric support from a member of the psychiatric team

• Team meetings by the psychiatric and psychological staff who will consult on behalf of your child’s treatment to create the best outcome for your teen and ensure success for their first semester (these meetings will be held with and without the parents)

• A review of their previous psychological records, assessments, and IEPs, which will identify their strengths and weaknesses and will make recommendations for continued success in college

• Connections with your child’s school’s Student Service Support Center, helping your child learn the services they offer and how they can take advantage of these support services

With this supportive team approach, we believe we can help teens who struggle with mental health issues avoid the pitfalls that we have seen many times in our collective practices. Being in a supportive program can make the difference between a teen being successful in college and coming home after having an emotional, difficult setback that could potentially hold them back from the important independent, young adult trajectory that we hope for them.

If you have any questions about this program or want to learn more, please reach out to our team at: (917) 526-0766, or visit our website here: https://applepsychological.com...

You can also book a FREE consultation call here: https://applepsychological.jan...

Staci Weiner is a Psychologist in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
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