The Role of Therapy in Youth

"It's hard to live in a body and mind that you don't like."

With depression so common among adolescents, these heart-wrenching words of a 14-year-old could very well represent the feelings of countless other youth. This is one of several quotes written on a wall at SGA Youth Services in Chicago, an organization which works in conjunction with the Chicago Public School system to provide school-based counseling services for thousands of elementary and high school students per year.

Children are referred to the SGA program, which is approaching its 95^th year of operation, by teachers and school counselors, often for "acting out" in schools. Pamela Brown, School Based Counseling Supervisor for SGA, says that depression often isn't reflected in children the same way it is in adults, and that "sometimes acting out is masking the feelings of depression that are really kind of manifesting themselves as irritability and anger."

SGA counselors primarily work with at-risk youth, and recognize that environmental factors such as where they live, not having certain resources or seeing hope for opportunity contributes to the problems these children are having, as well poor relationships at home.

Therapists have a variety of methods for working with the children, but the most important factor seems to be that they have someone who they can turn to with the pressures they are facing. Brown said she definitely thinks there is a chemical component in some cases of depression, but believes that even if there are chemical issues, therapy is still important.

"I think a lot of kids have really good experiences and establish really good relationships with the counselors that work with them." She says that a lot of times these children may just need someone to talk to. "I think the relationships that they build with counselors are one of the most important factors, because it's a place where they can come and talk to someone safely and not feel judged, and they have this person that is pulling for them, that is supporting them in a sense."