Your teenage son may benefit from a mental health evaluation if you’re concerned that he’s exhibiting symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma. There are signs indicating when it’s time to get a mental health evaluation for your teen. Let’s consider what to do if you observe them. Our team at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® provides comprehensive testing for a range of mental health disorders. To learn more about our psychological evaluations, please contact Foothills at Red Oak today at 828.519.5047.

Signs to Get a Mental Health Evaluation For Your Son

For teens, this testing process can provide insight into why they feel, think, or act the way they do. In some teens, this type of testing can help reveal negative thought patterns, inaccurate beliefs, or high stress levels. Left untreated, this can lead to complications with relationships, academics, and careers. Some signs a teen may benefit from this type of testing include:

• Feelings of anxiety that seem out of place
• Changes in academic performance
• Difficulty with emotions, experiencing extreme highs and lows
• Displaying aggressive behavior, especially if it is new
• Using drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism
• Conflicts with friends or family consistently
• Changes in weight or eating habits
• Self-harming behaviors

While these signs don’t necessarily mean your teen needs a mental health evaluation, they may indicate an underlying issue that could benefit from further exploration. If you notice any of these signs in your son, it’s essential to take action and seek professional help.

What Happens During a Teen’s Mental Health Evaluation?

There are several methods a therapist may use to during a mental health evaluation. Some examples of this include:

• Assessment of intellectual functioning – This is more commonly known as an IQ test. It measures a person’s cognitive ability. This can serve as a way to measure a person’s current abilities as well as their potential.
• Clinical interview – Structured clinical interviews and clinical diagnostic interviews allow a therapist to interact with a teen less formally. This can shed some light on conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
• Behavioral assessment – Therapists use this diagnostic tool to consider emotions and behaviors, including why they may occur. This is a common test when problematic behaviors arise, but the cause is unknown.
• Personality assessment – This type of testing looks at how environment, social interactions, and genetics play a role in the individual’s personality, emotions, mental health, and behaviors.

We may use any one of these evaluations to determine what treatment your teen needs.

Why Is a Mental Health Evaluation So Important?

Using the testing results, therapists can create a mental health treatment to address the teen’s unique needs. This treatment may include the use of medications for some who have hormonal imbalances or hard-to-control symptoms. It also enables therapists to develop psychological strategies for helping a teen better manage stress, triggers, and daily life.

At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®, we provide this type of testing to create a path forward. Through our understanding of a person’s mental health, healing and improvement occur. Our comprehensive programs include:

• Family therapy programs – Strengthen relationships and improve communication within the family unit through guided therapy sessions designed to help families heal together.
• Equine therapy programs – Discover the therapeutic benefits of working with horses, building confidence, emotional awareness, and trust through this unique approach.
• Academic assessment and support – Ensure continued educational growth during recovery with personalized academic assessments and tailored support plans.
• Holistic healing services – Explore alternative and complementary therapies like mindfulness, yoga, and nutrition to support overall well-being.
• Trauma treatment programs – Receive compassionate care and evidence-based therapies to address and heal from past traumas, promoting long-term recovery.

To know which type of mental health treatment is best for a teen, we need to understand what is happening in their mind and, in many cases, why. This information empowers change and creates new opportunities for a person to live a productive, healthy life after treatment.

Find the Support You Need at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®

View psychological testing as a way to help a child that’s struggling. Our team at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® wants to help you ensure your teen gets the care necessary to live a long, healthy life. To learn more about our service and schedule an appointment, call 828.519.5047 or use our online contact form.