Engaging adolescents in the process of treatment

Every day, more than 90 Americans die after overdosing on opioids. The Opioid Epidemic has become a national crisis affecting public health, as well as social and economic welfare. According to Newport Academy, “More than 10 percent of children are taking medication for ADHD. Meanwhile, another 5 million American youth, ages 17 and under, are using antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs.”

Elizabeth Driscoll Jorgensen, CACD, Director of Insight Counseling LLC, will be joining her colleagues at a professional conference on teen’s mental health and sustainable healing.

Jorgensen, a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, will speak on “How to Engage the Highly Resistant Adolescents in the Process of Treatment.” Her talk will explore how Motivational Interviewing techniques, in conjunction with Self Medication Theory, can facilitate a more effective therapeutic relationship with teens.

"Many parents do not understand how much anxiety and stress their teens are experiencing in our current culture of overachievement and how it can cause some teens to become extremely vulnerable. Unfortunately, adolescents are very susceptible to abuse and addiction if they even "experiment" with marijuana or prescription drugs. I am very grateful to be able to share my experience in successfully helping teens and families with parents and professionals. There is hope!” says Jorgensen.

Jorgensen has 26 years’ experience as a psychotherapist, specializing in adolescent psychotherapy and substance abuse counseling. She is a nationally recognized expert in substance abuse counseling, engaging resistant teens and motivating them to change. She is also a consultant to independent schools and agencies and is a popular speaker on parenting pre-teens and teenagers. She has presented nationally, including at Harvard University and Dartmouth College. She is also a recipient of a Congressional Award for her work as an educator and community prevention activist. Liz worked for 18 years at Danbury Hospital, where she helped develop all the adolescent substance abuse and Dual Diagnosis programs. Liz is a gifted speaker and her parenting programs routinely receive outstanding reviews.

To learn more about Elizabeth Driscoll Jorgensen, CADC and Insight Counseling, please visit http://insightcounselingllc.com/