Monisha Motiwala, PsyD, Supervising Psychologist at the Teen Girls’ Program at Princeton House Behavioral Health, attributes the difference to several factors:
- Girls tend to interact with peers on a more relational level and may internalize emotions, whereas boys more often release stress by acting out or using aggression.
- Girls may struggle more with body image and its unrealistic media portrayals, and they can put greater pressure on each other to live up to certain expectations.
- In the age of social media, peer bullying is no longer left behind when the school day ends. Rather, it can be a vicious, continuous cycle — especially for teen girls, who use social media more than their male counterparts do.2
“Today, the extensive use of social media and texting among this age group can mean constant pressure to fit in, making life incredibly stressful for any adolescent,” explains Dr. Motiwala. “This can precipitate depression — especially for those who internalize conflict or lack effective coping skills. Mindfulness skills can help by enabling teens to become more grounded and to identify value-based approaches to conflict.”
Dr. Motiwala suggests that therapists practice mindfulness skills with teens to help them more easily incorporate these skills into daily life. Even something as simple as awareness exercises to observe breathing or the sounds in the room can help, she adds.
“Mindfulness is a key part of the Teen Girls’ Program at Princeton House,” says Dr. Motiwala. “We empower girls with mindfulness tools that enable them to cope more effectively, and we also have family counseling sessions to teach these skills to family members who may have trouble dealing with their own emotions or relating to their teens during this challenging stage of life.”
Click here for more information about the Teen Girls’ Program, or call 888.437.1610.
Phone Coaching Helps Teens Regroup
Sometimes bullying or social pressures can lead to school avoidance. As part of the Teen Girls’ Program at Princeton House, patients can call therapists from anywhere — including from a school counselor’s office — for immediate coaching when they are faced with a potentially disruptive issue. Therapists
offer skills to help them regulate emotions in the moment so that they can return to class. This service is offered to patients from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
Article as seen in the Summer 2017 issue of Princeton House Behavioral Health.
