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Treatment Modalities

There are a variety of treatment modalities available for eating disorders. These include individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and medication.

• Individual therapy can help teens to understand their thoughts and feelings about food, weight, and body image.
• Group therapy can provide teens with a supportive environment to share their experiences and learn from others.
• Family therapy can help families to understand the eating disorder and to develop a treatment plan that works for everyone involved.
• Medication may be used to treat the symptoms of eating disorders, such as depression or anxiety.

Elkind’s Characteristics of Adolescent Thinking

Elkind’s characteristics of adolescent thinking are a set of cognitive distortions that are common in adolescents. These distortions can lead to problems with self-esteem, relationships, and academic performance.

• The imaginary audience: Adolescents often believe that everyone is paying attention to them and judging their every move. This can lead to anxiety and self-consciousness.
• The personal fable: Adolescents often believe that they are unique and special, and that their experiences are unlike anyone else’s. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and a sense of entitlement.
• The illusion of invulnerability: Adolescents often believe that they are invincible and that bad things cannot happen to them. This can lead to risky behavior, such as unprotected sex or substance abuse.
• Centrism: Adolescents often believe that their perspective is the only one that matters. This can lead to conflict with others and difficulty seeing things from another person’s point of view.

Examples

• An adolescent with the imaginary audience may worry that everyone is watching them eat lunch in the cafeteria.
• An adolescent with the personal fable may believe that they are the only one who has ever experienced heartbreak.
• An adolescent with the illusion of invulnerability may drive recklessly without thinking about the consequences.
• An adolescent with centrism may argue with their parents about what to wear, because they believe that their opinion is the only one that matters.

It is important to remember that these are just characteristics of adolescent thinking, and not all adolescents will experience them to the same degree. However, if you are concerned that your child may be struggling with one or more of these distortions, it is important to seek professional help.