Developing empathy helps teen tackle conflict

Overview

14 year old Bethany* lived with her grandparents and had complex family relationships which often left her feeling angry, anxious and aggressive.

She referred herself for therapeutic counselling sessions at Parenting 2000 in Sefton for a two month period, with the intention of exploring her feelings about her family and learning strategies to control her anxiety and anger.

Response

During her counselling sessions, the team helped Bethany explore some of her worries and concerns around issues at school, feelings of being treated unfairly and her problems she encountered in relationships with friends and her family.

The therapist helped her to look at some of the issues with an increased level of empathy, to see things from a different perspective.  The intention was to help Bethany understand why conflict occurs, and to learn to calm and soothe her anxious or angry feelings when she felt overwhelmed.

Outcomes

At the end of her sessions Bethany found that her levels of anxiety, stress and low mood were reduced and she was benefitting from learning self-soothing techniques as well as asking for support when she needed it.

 *Name changed for anonymity