Puberty & teen issues
Viveka has a team of specialists who are sensitive and encouraging and very experienced with teenagers. Our aim is to guide you through this phase of your life and help you develop a balance of playful exploration and healthy respect for safe boundaries. We work with individual young people and with family groups.
The teenage years may be a time of emotional and physical upheaval, with new joys and adventures and a range of challenges inside and outside the family. Many young people enjoy discovering and exploring their passions. It's also common to feel pressure from school and from peers, to be confronted by low body image, eating or weight issues, uncertainty about sexuality, and the dilemmas posed by alcohol, cigarette and drugs.
Our paediatricians are highly skilled in working with young people, whether an illness needs addressing or life feels difficult. Dr Stan Rom and Dr Andy Raffles have a great rapport with teenagers, and Dr Rashna Chenoy is on hand specifically for adolescent girls who may value gynaecology and sexual health advice. All our doctors offer support with emotional and social issues as well.
Medical treatment will be tailored to your needs. Girls may benefit from HPV vaccination to prevent cancer of the cervix and they may need contraception.
Emotional advice and support may come from your doctor or you may wish to meet Kitty, our psychotherapist or Ann, who is a counsellor and family therapist: both have teenage children. We also have a hypnotherapist. Consultations are confidential. Many young people are pleased to have a 'safe place' to air their thoughts and to thrash out troubling feelings. It often leads to boosted self-esteem and improved relationships. We also offer family consultations and sometimes find that the teenage years provide a wonderful opportunity for renewed or even first time bonding between parent and child.
Complementary therapists at Viveka are experienced working with young people to address a huge range of issues. If you are unsure which therapy may suit you we will give you advice, matching you with a specialist who we think you'll get on well with. Homeopathy and cranial osteopathy are particularly powerful for teenagers. Our nutritionists are used to dealing with eating issues in the teenage years.
Lifestyle support is available if you would like fitness coaching or style advice either within your family group, or on your own.
