Academic Help for Struggling Teens

The amount of both outside pressures and internal pressures that are commonly placed on the youth of America to be academically successful is immense.

Unfortunately, this pressure does not always result in academic success, and in many cases and lead to a teen struggling academically. There is a common misconception that young people that struggle academically simply need to be more dedicated and/or focused when it comes to schoolwork. In reality, there are many reasons why a teen may be struggling with their academics. Obtaining the help of a mental health professional, in addition to academic assistance can be invaluable for a teen.

Every teenager is different and will require specialized assistance when it comes to helping with academic challenges. At Pacific Teen Treatment, we create catered academic support for the young people who are in our program. In addition to the therapeutic modalities we utilize in our personalized treatment plans, we feel that academic success can lead to many positive shifts in a teen’s life.

The possible reasons behind a teen’s academic challenges are innumerable and can seem impossible to pinpoint. This is where the help of a mental health professional can be beneficial. One of the ways a mental health professional can assist a young person is by helping the adolescent uncover the core emotional issues related to their academic struggles. There are many different challenges teens go through on a day-to-day basis.

Working with a mental health professional to help obtain useful coping mechanisms and tools to confront and work through their challenges can remove one or several layers of difficulty that can contribute to a teenager’s daily life. This can open up space for the young person to focus more on their academic success, as some emotional weight is lifted from their shoulders. In most cases academic struggles will go hand in hand with social and/or emotional difficulties, regardless of whether a young person’s academic struggles originated from social/emotional challenges, and a mental health professional can help navigate this aspect.

Parent Tips

There are many ways a parent can help support in alleviating some of the academic struggles their teen may face. Below is a list of tips that can be useful when helping your teen:

• Help your teen be properly prepared for school by prioritizing adequate sleep and instilling healthy eating habits.
• Build homework into your adolescent’s at-home routine and daily schedule and offer studying help.
• Be an example and show that school is a priority by making sure to attend back to school nights and conferences.
• Be aware of the school’s bullying and disciplinary policies.
• Make sure your teen knows that school attendance is to be taken seriously.
• Help your adolescent learn to implement daily organizational skills with regard to their schoolwork.

It is imperative for parents to keep an open line of communication with their adolescent. This can give a parent a window into the world of their teenager and provide an essential framework into understanding some of their choices. Additionally, fostering open communication with your teen can give a parent a forum for providing feedback, and possibly helping their child to avoid making poor and/or dangerous choices. An open line of communication can also help a parent recognize when their child may need additional support and help to secure the needed assistance for their teenager.

For Information and Support

Seeking help is never easy, but you are not alone! If you or someone you know is in need of mental health treatment, we strongly encourage you to reach out for help as quickly as possible. It is not uncommon for many mental health difficulties to impact an individual for the long term. The earlier you seek support, the sooner you and your loved ones can return to happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.