Group therapy starts for teens with depression
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is offering ongoing psychotherapy groups for depressed adolescents at its child and adolescent psychiatry clinic. The first group will begin meeting in mid-March for 14 consecutive Wednesdays from 4:30-6 p.m.
"This group is designed as an initial treatment for depressed adolescents," said Frances Wren, MD, director of the child and adolescent depression clinic at Packard Children's and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and of pediatrics. Wren and Lina Patel, PsyD, postdoctoral fellow in child and adolescent psychology, will lead the group. "Our goal is to help teens and their families understand depression better and learn skills to cope with their feelings and the effects of depression on their daily life."
The group also plans to include some meetings with parents. "If needed," added Wren, "teens in the group may be eligible for other treatments available through our child and adolescent depression clinic."
For more information call 498-9111 or visit http://childpsychiatry.stanford.edu/clinical/depression.html.