Being a rebellious teenager has long been viewed as a rite of passage in American culture. In most cases, it’s just a natural emotional sidekick to growing pains.
Not all teenage angst can be categorized this way, however. For some individuals, the rollercoaster experience of adolescence can spur on serious mental health issues that will follow a teen into adulthood.
Thankfully, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls has some excellent resources to add clarity to this topic. That includes a seminar titled "Teen Rebellion: Is this Normal?" set for Thurs., April 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Taylorview Junior High (350 Castlerock Lane).
Working out of EIRMC’s Behavioral Health Center, Dr. Matthew Larsen is a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist who specializes in suicide prevention. His work centers on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). According to the National Institutes of health, both approaches focus on “building positive repertoires of behavior linked to life values and goals, in addition to their focus on mindfulness and acceptance.”
Since moving to Idaho Falls, Dr. Larsen was elected the Chairman of the local chapter of the Suicide Prevention Action Network. He also happens to be an Idaho Falls native and graduate of Skyline High School . He earned his fellowship and residency from the University of Nevada, and attended medical school at Des Moines University.
For more details on this seminar and other EIRMC events, check out the facility's calendar page at www.eirmc.com.