Helping Your Teenager Beat Depression: A Problem-Solving Approach for Families

by Katharina Manassis

The adolescent years can sometimes be trying, but are especially difficult for parents of a teenager with depression. Depression is a real and serious condition that can derail lives and put a child at risk. HELPING YOUR TEENAGER BEAT DEPRESSION offers parents a strategy that enables them to become active partners in the treatment of their child’s depression. Chapters begin with an overview of teenage mood problems followed by an explanation of the authors’ unique treatment approach, known by the acronym, LEEAPP (LEAP for short). Based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)–a recognized and successful problem-solving strategy for changing distorted behaviors and thoughts–LEAP offers parents a plan to change a troublesome situation or negative pattern of interaction with their teen. Parents first identify what behavior (e.g. refusing to get out of bed) or attitude (e.g. unprovoked anger) they want to change, then create a LEAP plan LABEL their own thoughts and emotions related to their teen’s behavior EMPATHIZE with their teen’s perspective EXPLORE ways to respond to this perspective APPLY an alternative way to respond PICK a follow-up time to evaluate the result PLAN ahead for the next step The LEAP approach can be used by parents to address minor mood problems and reduce the risk of relapse, and in conjunction with professional therapy for more serious depressive disorders. The commitment is minimal-–perhaps 10-20 minutes per week-–and the benefits can be substantial. Most families begin to see improvement in their child’s mood and interactions after employing the LEAP approach for 6 weeks. Case studies throughout the book present a variety of situations and illustrate how to use this method to tackle mood problems. Exercises and checklists help parents monitor progress and be effective in improving their teen’s outlook.

201 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

Dr. Katharina Manassis is the author of eight mental health-related books for parents and professionals. She is a retired Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist with two wonderful adult children, one on the autism spectrum.
Career highlights included developing and directing a clinical-research program in Childhood Anxiety Disorders at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto; studying the causes and cognitive behavioral treatment of Anxiety Disorders with over 90 related peer reviewed papers; being a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and supervising numerous graduate students at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and the Institute of Medical Science; and managing a diverse private practice in her home community of Pickering, Ontario.
Since retiring from practice, she continues to write, teach, and volunteer with her church and with Parks Canada.