Mindfulness Exercises May Support Psychotherapy for Adolescents

Adolescence can bring emotional, social and academic pressures that affect mood, sleep, relationships and self-esteem. For young people experiencing anxiety or other psychological symptoms, psychotherapy can provide structured support to understand emotions, develop coping skills and address patterns of thinking or behaviour. The reported research examined a brief mindfulness exercise introduced at the beginning of psychotherapy sessions. Mindfulness practices typically encourage a person to pay attention to present-moment experiences, such as breathing and bodily sensations, without immediately reacting to every thought or feeling. The findings suggest that a short exercise may help some adolescents settle into therapy and engage with the session. However, mindfulness is not a stand-alone solution for every mental-health condition, and the effect of a brief intervention may differ across individuals. Mental-health professionals should select approaches based on a young person's needs, preferences and clinical assessment. Parents and caregivers can support adolescents by listening without judgment and seeking professional help when symptoms persist or interfere with everyday life.