Therapy is an important part of mental health care for teenagers. Patients improve  more when they are connected to a therapist who helps them build healthy coping skills, work on relationship issues and improve their self esteem. There are many different approaches to therapy in teens. Today, Dr. Shanna Garza, Adolescent Medicine physician and expert explains why therapy is helpful for her patients and why she refers them for therapy. Parents, listen to learn more and to see if therapy might help your young adult child.

Parents are the ultimate teachers for their kids and can be role models by showing balance with food, body and exercise. Following up Episode #23 on Why Diets are Not Good for Teens, this episode reviews how parents can help their teen and young adult children see food, nutriton and exercise in a more balanced way. Dr. Shanna Garza, Adolescent Medicine physician and expert, provides parents pearls to guide these discussions and cautions on talking about diet, weight loss and body image with their children.


Here are few books to guide healthy discussions around these issues:

The Intuitive Eating Workbook for Teens: A Non-Diet, Body Positive Approach to Building a Healthy Relationship with Food

by Elyse Resch


Health At Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight

by Linda Bacon

Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating

by Christy Harrison MPH RD

The diet industry targets teenagers during this time of new years' resolutions through social media and marketing. Dieting is never a good idea for teenagers who are still growing and developing. Dieting, which is essentially restrictive eating and weight suppression, increases the risk of developing eating disorders. There are many medical concerns with weight loss and restrictive nutrition in adolescents. Parents, listen to this episode to learn more! Dr. Shanna Garza, Adolescent Medicine physician and host of Total Teen Health and Wellness, explains the risk of dieting on teen health and wellness.