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Transforming Anxiety in Teenage Girls: The Power of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) at Evangelhouse

June 6, 2023 Categories: Uncategorized Tags: DBT, residential therapy dr.michael.bishop@gmail.com

Adolescence can be a tumultuous time, particularly for teenage girls who may face unique challenges and pressures. One common struggle experienced by many is anxiety, which can significantly impact their well-being and daily lives. In such cases, finding effective therapeutic interventions becomes crucial. This blog post explores the power of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in reducing anxiety among teenage girls at Evangelhouse, shedding light on its proven effectiveness and the transformative impact it can have on their lives.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health issues faced by teenagers. Factors such as academic stress, social pressure, body image concerns, and transitioning into adulthood can exacerbate their anxiety levels. For teenage girls residing at Evangelhouse, a residential treatment center specializing in the emotional and behavioral needs of adolescents, addressing anxiety becomes a top priority.

DBT, originally developed by Dr. Marsha M. Linehan, is a highly effective and evidence-based therapy that combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness and acceptance strategies. Its primary objective is to help individuals develop healthy coping mechanisms, emotional regulation skills, and improve their interpersonal relationships.

Evangelhouse recognizes the value of DBT in supporting teenage girls struggling with anxiety. By incorporating DBT into their comprehensive treatment programs, Evangelhouse provides a nurturing and empowering environment for girls to develop essential life skills and manage their anxiety effectively.

Key Components of DBT

Mindfulness
DBT emphasizes the practice of mindfulness, which enables individuals to observe and accept their thoughts and emotions without judgment. By cultivating mindfulness skills, girls learn to stay present, reduce stress, and manage anxiety more effectively.

Emotion Regulation
Anxiety often leads to intense and overwhelming emotions. DBT equips teenage girls with strategies to identify, understand, and regulate their emotions. They learn healthy ways to express and manage their feelings, empowering them to navigate anxiety-triggering situations with greater ease.

Distress Tolerance
Adolescence can be filled with stressors, both internal and external. DBT helps girls develop distress tolerance skills, teaching them how to tolerate distressing situations without resorting to self-destructive or impulsive behaviors. These skills empower girls to cope with anxiety-inducing circumstances without compromising their well-being.

Interpersonal Effectiveness
Teenage girls may experience challenges in their relationships, which can further contribute to anxiety. DBT equips them with valuable interpersonal skills, helping them establish healthy boundaries, communicate effectively, and build and maintain supportive connections.

The Transformative Impact
Through the integration of DBT, Evangelhouse witnesses the transformative impact on the lives of teenage girls struggling with anxiety. By providing a safe and therapeutic environment, the girls learn skills that empower them to manage anxiety, enhance their self-esteem, and develop a more positive outlook on life.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has emerged as a powerful therapeutic approach for reducing anxiety in teenage girls at Evangelhouse. By implementing DBT principles, these girls gain valuable tools to regulate their emotions, manage stress, and build healthy relationships. The positive outcomes experienced through DBT provide these young girls with the resilience and skills they need to navigate anxiety and lead fulfilling lives beyond their time at Evangelhouse.

Nurturing Positive Self-Esteem: Empowering Teenage Girls

May 31, 2023 Categories: Uncategorized Tags: parents, self-esteem dr.michael.bishop@gmail.com

Adolescence is a critical phase in a person’s life, and it is during this time that self-esteem and self-worth can significantly impact a teenager’s overall well-being. Parents play a crucial role in fostering positive self-esteem in their teenage daughters. By implementing effective strategies, parents can empower their daughters, boost their self-confidence, and help them navigate the challenges of adolescence with resilience and a strong sense of self. In this blog post, we will explore some practical ways parents can promote positive self-esteem in teenage girls.

Encourage Open Communication: Establishing open and non-judgmental communication channels with your teenage daughter is essential. Encourage her to express her thoughts, feelings, and concerns without fear of criticism or judgment. Listen actively, validate her emotions, and provide guidance when needed. This will help her feel heard, understood, and valued, thus bolstering her self-esteem.
Focus on Strengths and Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate your daughter’s strengths and accomplishments regularly. Recognize her efforts and achievements, no matter how big or small. By highlighting her unique talents, skills, and positive qualities, you help build her self-confidence and reinforce a positive self-image.
Promote a Healthy Body Image: Help your daughter develop a healthy body image by emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and self-care. Encourage a balanced approach to physical well-being, focusing on the importance of nutritious eating, regular exercise, and a healthy lifestyle rather than unrealistic ideals. Teach her to appreciate her body for its strength and abilities, promoting a positive relationship with her physical self.
Teach Self-Compassion and Resilience: Adolescence can be a challenging time filled with self-doubt and setbacks. Teach your daughter the importance of self-compassion and resilience. Encourage her to be kind to herself, practice self-care, and learn from mistakes rather than being overly critical. Help her develop problem-solving skills and provide guidance on coping mechanisms, fostering resilience and self-assurance in the face of difficulties.
Promote Independence and Decision-Making: Empower your daughter by involving her in decision-making processes. Give her opportunities to make choices and take responsibility for her actions. This fosters a sense of autonomy and self-efficacy, enabling her to develop confidence in her decision-making abilities and trust in her own judgment.
Provide a Supportive Environment: Create a supportive and loving home environment where your daughter feels safe and accepted. Encourage positive relationships with friends and family members who uplift and support her. By surrounding her with positive influences, you contribute to her overall sense of self-worth and confidence.
Set Realistic Expectations: Help your daughter set realistic expectations for herself. Encourage her to pursue her passions and interests while understanding that perfection is unattainable. Emphasize the importance of effort, growth, and self-improvement rather than comparing herself to others. Teach her that mistakes and setbacks are part of the learning process and not a reflection of her worth.

Promoting positive self-esteem in teenage girls is a vital responsibility for parents. By fostering open communication, focusing on strengths and achievements, promoting a healthy body image, teaching self-compassion and resilience, encouraging independence, providing a supportive environment, and setting realistic expectations, parents can empower their daughters to embrace their true selves with confidence and resilience. Remember, building self-esteem is an ongoing process that requires patience, understanding, and unconditional love. With the right support, parents can help their teenage daughters develop a strong sense of self-worth that will guide them through their teenage years and beyond.

The Impact of Screen Activity on the Health Development of Teenage Girls

May 22, 2023 Categories: Uncategorized Tags: social media, tech dr.michael.bishop@gmail.com

In today’s digital age, screens have become an integral part of our daily lives. Teenage girls, in particular, are spending an increasing amount of time engaging in various screen-based activities, such as using smartphones, tablets, computers, and watching television. While screens offer numerous benefits and opportunities, it is essential to examine the potential impact they can have on the health development of teenage girls. At Evangelhouse, our therapeutic setting can help mitigate and reverse some of the effects of screen activity on physical health, mental well-being, and social development in teenage girls.

Physical Health

Excessive screen time can have adverse effects on the physical health of teenage girls. Sedentary behaviors associated with screen activities contribute to a more sedentary lifestyle, leading to an increased risk of obesity and associated health issues. Spending long hours sitting and engaging in passive screen activities limits physical activity, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy body weight and preventing chronic conditions. Insufficient physical exercise due to excessive screen time can also lead to weakened muscles, poor cardiovascular health, and compromised bone density.

Mental Well-being

The impact of screen activity on the mental well-being of teenage girls cannot be ignored. Extensive exposure to screens, especially on social media platforms, can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression. At Evangelhouse, topics in group therapy can include how social media contributes to the constant comparison with others, the pressure to conform to societal standards, and the fear of missing out (FOMO). All of these issues can negatively affect self-esteem and body image. Additionally, excessive screen time can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to sleep deprivation, which in turn affects mood, concentration, and overall mental health.

Social Development

Screen activity can influence the social development of teenage girls in both positive and negative ways. On the positive side, screens provide opportunities for social connectivity, enabling girls to maintain relationships, communicate, and collaborate with peers. However, excessive screen time can hinder face-to-face social interactions, leading to a lack of social skills and reduced empathy. Spending excessive time on screens may also contribute to feelings of isolation, as it can limit real-world experiences and inhibit the development of meaningful relationships.

At Evangelhouse, students experience the social atmosphere, group therapeutic process, and spiritual tone of campus life. We nurture a positive peer culture that emphasizes social responsibility, accountability, and leadership. The staff leads weekly interactive small-group meetings to teach students character development within their current social interactions.

Cognitive Development

Excessive screen activity can impact the cognitive development of teenage girls. Continuous exposure to screens can lead to reduced attention spans, decreased concentration, and impaired memory. Multitasking between various screen activities can affect the ability to focus and retain information. Moreover, the reliance on screens for information and entertainment may limit critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and creativity, which are essential for cognitive development.

While screens offer many advantages in terms of information access, communication, and entertainment, it is crucial to strike a balance between screen activity and other aspects of teenage girls’ lives. Excessive screen time can have significant implications for physical health, mental well-being, social development, and cognitive abilities. Encouraging moderation and promoting a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity, face-to-face interactions, and time for hobbies and other offline activities are vital in ensuring the holistic development of teenage girls. By fostering a balanced relationship with screens, we can support the health and well-being of teenage girls in this increasingly digital world.

Many Positive Outcomes for Sports Participation with Teenage Girls

May 15, 2023 Categories: Uncategorized Tags: activities, peer group, sports dr.michael.bishop@gmail.com

Playing sports has numerous benefits for teenage girls, from improving physical fitness to building social skills. Each day at Evangelhouse, students exercise aerobically for 45 minutes and then participate in 45 minutes of team sports activities such as soccer, volleyball, softball, and flag football. Other recreational sports include ultimate Frisbee, kickball, and Capture the Flag. Students also participate in a weeklong summer intensive training camp for soccer, tennis, and basketball. Team sports are beneficial for exercise, motor skill development, self-confidence, and winning attitudes.

At Evangelhouse, we’ve noticed that one of the most significant advantages is the positive impact that sports can have on mental health. Studies have shown that participating in sports can improve mood, self-esteem, and overall mental well-being. Below are a few beneficial areas where we’ve seen significant improvements to the girls we serve after sports participation at Evangelhouse.

Increased Self-Esteem

Sports participation at Evangelhouse can help teenage girls to develop a positive body image. In a world where the media often promotes unrealistic beauty standards, girls can feel immense pressure to look a certain way. By participating in sports, they can shift their focus away from appearance and instead concentrate on what their bodies can do. This shift in mindset can help girls to appreciate their bodies for their strength and ability, rather than just their appearance. It can lead to greater self-confidence and self-esteem, which in turn, can contribute to better mental health.

It is completely normal to lack self-confidence and feel insecure as a teenager. However, whether a youngster needs confidence for that straight left arm golf stroke or facing an algebra test, sports participation at Evangelhouse can be a terrific method to increase self-confidence and help them fulfill their full potential. Young athletes develop a greater sense of self through practice and in-game perseverance by knowing their own strengths and places for development.

As a result, this improved understanding will eventually enable them to have more confidence in themselves to complete any tasks or obstacles that are presented to them – whether on the court or off. Playing sports teaches teenagers how to remain committed and motivated regardless of any achievements or disappointments along the way, which almost surely results in higher levels of confidence both inside themselves and with others around them.

Respect for Authority

Because participation in sports frequently requires abiding by the rules and obeying the advice of coaches and other leaders, sports can be an effective technique for teaching respect for authority figures to teenagers. Teenagers may internalize leadership principles such as accountability and maintaining composure under pressure as a result.

Teens who learn these skills may be better able to identify their own legitimate authorities and comprehend their position within a particular group or culture. Teenagers who receive sports-related counsel may even learn to appreciate the opportunities that have been made possible by their hard work and dedication, as well as the value of looking for mentors who can give them advice on pursuing more ambitious ambitions.

Improved Mental Health

Sports can teach important life skills that can contribute to good mental health. Through sports, girls can learn the value of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. They can also develop skills in communication, leadership, and teamwork. These skills can be transferred to other areas of life, such as school and work, and can help to build confidence and resilience.

Playing sports can reduce stress and anxiety levels. Regular exercise has been shown to be an effective way to manage stress and improve overall mood. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. It can also serve as a healthy outlet for negative emotions, such as anger and frustration. For teenage girls, sports participation can provide a much-needed break from the stresses of school and social life. It can give them a sense of control and accomplishment, which can translate to greater mental resilience.

Better Capabilities for Solving Issues

According to a 2017 study, physical activity fosters the development of brain circuitry that gives people the mental ability to tackle complicated problems with ease. Teenagers who play sports, even if it’s just for a few hours a week, have been found to gain self-assurance and comfort in challenging settings, both on the field and in the classroom.

Teenagers who engage in this kind of physical activity also develop their ability to think strategically, analyze their options, and make choices that are in line with their long-term objectives and the interests of society at large. If such advantages are fostered throughout adolescence, they will undoubtedly last well into maturity.

Enhanced Teamwork Abilities

Sports may teach teenagers the value of cooperation while also fostering teamwork and leadership abilities. At any age, but especially throughout adolescence, teamwork is a fundamental component of life.

Teenagers build lifelong social skills that will help them on and off the field by discovering cooperation and teamwork. It is advantageous for teen athletes to develop relationships with people from different sports, as this is a skill that is tough to acquire outside of team sports.

Enhanced Relationships and Social Interaction

Adolescent teens can learn improved social skills through team sports participation, which will help them form lasting friendships and develop teamwork skills. Additionally, when young athletes join leagues and clubs for organized sports, they frequently experience a greater sense of belonging to the larger community.

Teenage girls may feel more at ease making close friendships with others, both on and off the field, with a better sense of self-worth. Further, girls who participate in team sports have the chance to establish good bonds with adults like coaches who act as positive mentors and provide direction, inspiration, and stability outside the family.

Finally, it should be noted that sports have a favorable impact on a teen’s growth. Team sports provide kids with important lessons like bettering teamwork skills, boosting self-confidence, and improving problem-solving ability. Along with the mental benefits, physical exercise, and more peer interaction are also shown to be good for teen growth.

Playing sports can have a positive impact on the mental health of teenage girls. It can help them to develop a positive body image, reduce stress and anxiety, build social connections, and teach important life skills. As such, it is important to encourage and support girls’ participation in sports, not just for physical health benefits, but for the significant mental health advantages as well.

Addressing Self-Harm in Adolescent and Teenage Girls

May 8, 2023 Categories: Uncategorized Tags: cutting, depression, self-harm, trauma dr.michael.bishop@gmail.com

Why Do Young People Cut Themselves?

In order to deal with their anxiety, rage, low self-esteem, self-hatred, or other unresolved emotional distress, teenagers sometimes self-harm. Teenagers who self-harm repeatedly do so because it provides them with a sense of almost euphoric release and catharsis.

According to research, a teen’s brain releases a rush of dopamine soon after self-harming that is comparable to the rush felt by drug users. The brain also releases painkillers called beta-endorphins into the body in reaction to self-injury pain, which heightens the dopamine-induced “good” feeling.

Teens crave all kinds of sensations, even agony. Teenagers who cut frequently claim to feel emotionally numb, cut off from their classmates, and alienated from reality. They seek distraction from suicidal thoughts. It is painful and needs effort and concentration to cut, burn, or carve words into someone’s skin. By making the brain dwell on the purgative experience of self-harm, self-harm temporarily dispels suicidal ideas.

When teens are unable to “treat” their emotional wounds, they find solace in being able to heal physical wounds. They want to test their physical pain threshold since they are experiencing such intense emotional suffering.

Factors at Risk for Self-Harming Behaviors

Teenagers who have experienced sexual abuse are most likely to harm themselves. Self-harming behaviors are more likely to occur in adolescents with eating disorders, borderline personality disorder (BPD), PTSD, anxiety disorders, and depression disorders.

Self-harm is committed by youth who identify as LGBTQ at a rate that is close to 50%, which is twice as often as teens who do not. The main causes of LGBTQ teen self-harm include anxiety and stress from bullying, feeling excluded from society, and having little or no parental support.

All teenagers, regardless of their sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or ethnicity, may engage in self-harm behavior as a means of coping with mental and emotional health issues. Adolescents who have attempted or threatened suicide at some point in their lives.

What Must Parents Do If They Think Their Adolescent or Teen Is Cutting?

Self-harming behavior is an indication of significant emotional problems that need for immediate parental and professional intervention. Cutting and self-injury behaviors hardly ever “go away” on their own, even with parental help.

Never yell at your youngster or threaten punishment if you’ve truly witnessed your teen self-harming. Recognize the emotions you are experiencing right away, such as wrath, guilt, shock, and panic, and restrain yourself from acting on them.

Step away from the situation and take some time to thoroughly consider your sentiments if you don’t think you can begin a cool, collected dialogue with your daughter at that particular time. Recognize that no one is to blame for what your daughter is doing to themself.

Recognize that your daughter is going through emotional pain and requires your love, care, and support more than they have in the past. Ensure your daughter that you care about them and are not upset with them. If teens are certain that their concerns won’t be judged or ridiculed, they will be more willing to discuss them openly.

Talk calmly about what you believe is best for your daughter, and then invite them to share their own opinions on what they believe will best help them deal with their emotional issues. Tell your daughter that it’s OK for now but that you will be back later to talk about their self-harming behavior if they refuse to engage in a dialogue about cutting. This break will give your teen some time to consider what to say and how to express their feelings before speaking with you.

Treatment Self-Harm at Evangelhouse Christian Academy

Christian residential treatment can be a powerful tool for addressing self-harm behaviors in teenage girls. Evangelhouse offers a holistic approach to treatment that combines therapy, counseling, and spiritual support to help teenage girls overcome self-harm behaviors. Our program is designed to provide a safe and supportive environment where girls can address their underlying issues and develop healthy coping mechanisms.

Through individual and group therapy sessions at Evangelhouse, teenage girls can explore the root causes of their self-harm behaviors and learn new ways of coping with stress and emotional pain. Christian therapists can provide a faith-based approach to therapy that incorporates biblical principles and teachings into the healing process.

Girls can receive individual and group counseling that focuses on addressing any underlying mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, or trauma. They can also receive support and guidance from trained counselors who understand the challenges of self-harm behaviors and can offer practical strategies for managing difficult emotions.

Finally, Evangelhouse offers spiritual support that can be a powerful source of strength and comfort for teenage girls. By incorporating prayer, scripture, and spiritual guidance into the healing process, girls can develop a deeper sense of purpose and meaning that can help them navigate the challenges of life.