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Emotional Supports for Teens with Heart Defects

Ages 13 - 17 Years

When teens with congenital heart defects (CHDs) struggle to understand, manage, and respond to emotions, parents often feel overwhelmed. Luckily, many experts in the community are available to support emotional development and emotional well-being in teens with heart defects.

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Help through Special Education

In the United States, students (ages 3-22) with disabilities often qualify for Special Education. Special Education services can teach and support emotional skills. 

Special Education services that can support emotional development include:

  • Occupational Therapy (OT)

  • Speech and Language Therapy

  • Behavior support with a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA)

  • Counseling with a psychologist or social worker

  • The help of an aide

  • Social skills groups

  • Home services

  • Placement in a therapeutic classroom or school

Families can request a meeting with their school district if they believe their teenager should receive services for emotional skills.

Psychotherapy

Many therapists are experts in helping adolescents to recognize, respond to, and regulate emotions.  Therapists can be psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, or mental health counselors.

There are many different types of therapy, and families should find a therapist who is a good fit with their values and goals.

Types of therapy that can help teenagers include:

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Exposure Therapy

  • Family Therapy

  • Group Therapy

  • Parent Guidance

  • Psychodynamic Therapy

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Families can ask their medical or developmental care team to refer them to an appropriate therapist and type of therapy. Many therapists accept medical insurance.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapists (OTs) have many different areas of specialty, but all are focused on helping people to participate fully in all aspects of their lives.

OTs can support emotional learning and emotional regulation by:

  • teaching teens to recognize what they are feeling

  • teaching teens to identify the cause of their feelings

  • teaching teens how to calm themselves

  • teaching teens how to cope with distress and work through challenging emotions

  • finding ways to reduce negative emotions in daily life

Families can access OT through their public school system, or through outpatient clinics. Many outpatient OTs accept insurance.

Prompt Intervention, No Regrets

When emotional problems remain untreated, they tend to get worse. When families notice that their teenager is struggling with emotional development, they should feel comfortable seeking help promptly.

This content was reviewed by a psychologist at Boston Children's Hospital .

Developmental care is best when it is local. Families local to Boston can receive care from the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program (CNP). Families from other regions can use the link below to find their local care team.

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If your child is at immediate risk for self-harm or is a danger to others, immediately call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

If your child requires an urgent mental health assessment, call or text the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line at 833-773-BHHL (833-773-2445) or visit masshelpline.com for initial guidance. Experienced mental health clinicians are available at this line 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide clinical guidance, and direct you to appropriate resources. This may include your local Mobile Crisis Intervention (MCI) team, who could come to your home to perform a psychiatric assessment, if appropriate. This may enable you to avoid waiting in an emergency department. The Behavioral Health Help Line clinicians can also determine the most appropriate type of care for your child, help with referrals, and guide you through the next steps in the process. This service is available for all ages regardless of insurance coverage.

If you are looking for non-urgent mental health or substance use resource referrals for your child, you can also call or text 833-773-BHHL (833-773-2445) or start a chat at masshelpline.com/chat.

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