James Barrett, PhD

One of the things I often tell parents who consult with me is that half the battle in dealing with their troubled adolescents is just getting them through the teen years safely.  Now there is some new research to back me up: http://bit.ly/d65X5H.  It turns out that adolescence is indeed a time of storm and stress: some mental health problems first appear, other existing problems become worse.  The good news?  Once teens reach about 23-25 years old their frontal lobes are fully developed in their brains and they are better equipped to manage mental health issues.  Until then, buckle up, pick your battles, find good help, and remember that it doesn’t last forever!