Why Fixing Teens Doesn’t Work and What Actually Helps Youth Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Will Dobud
The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie VernoyShow Notes
Why Fixing Teens Doesn’t Work and What Actually Helps Youth Mental Health: An Interview with Dr. Will Dobud
Curt and Katie talk with Dr. Will Dobud about what therapists often get wrong when working with teens, why adolescent behavior is so often overpathologized, and how connection, play, risk, and mastery can better support youth mental health. They also explore the so-called youth mental health crisis, the impact of overmanagement and disconnection, and what therapists can do to better engage young people in meaningful, developmentally appropriate ways.
About Our GuestDr. Will Dobud is a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families in the United States, Australia, and Norway. He is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University and an award-winning researcher focused on improving therapy outcomes for teenagers and promoting safe, ethical practices. His work has also examined America’s Troubled Teen Industry, especially wilderness therapy.
Key Takeaways
Teens are often overpathologized when they may be showing developmentally normal behavior.
Youth therapy should focus on engagement, interaction, play, and doing things together, not just sitting and talking.
Social disconnection, fewer third spaces, and less unstructured play may be contributing to youth distress.
Young people will seek connection wherever they can find it, including online and through AI relationships.
Therapists can help teens build resilience by supporting autonomy, mastery, and meaningful participation.
Find the full show notes and transcript at mtsgpodcast.com.
Join the Modern Therapist Community: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mtsgpodcast Podcast Homepage: https://mtsgpodcast.com Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyreimagined Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined
Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits: Voice Over by DW McCann: https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/ Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano: https://groomsymusic.com/
More from The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy
The Therapist as Expert Witness: Standard of Care, Objectivity, and Staying in Your Role - An Interview with Nicol Stolar-Peterson, PsyD, LCSW, BCD
Why Is It So Hard for Therapists to Delegate? Letting Go of Control Over Scheduling, Billing, and Bookkeeping - An Interview with Bibi Goldstein
Private Practice Has Changed. Now What? How Therapists Can Find Clients and Stay Profitable - An Interview with Dr. Ajita Robinson, LCPC
Skill Issue or Systemic Reality? Systems, Platforms, and What Therapists Are Still Responsible For
Knowing When They're Ready: Navigating the Shift from Stabilization to Deeper Work in Psychotherapy