(Please don't let it be) Puberty
Not puberty! This is a more difficult cause to determine. Also, it is a longer-term situation that will not be corrected anytime soon. Hormonal changes can produce powerful reactions and be especially difficult when the client does not understand what is happening.
If puberty is suspected, there may be other physical indicators that can be documented on the behavior graphs. Below are signs of puberty (source):
In Girls
- Growth of pubic and other body hair
- Growth spurt
- Breast development
- Onset of menstruation (after puberty is well advanced)
- Acne
In Boys
- Growth of pubic hair, other body hair, and facial hair
- Enlargement of testicles and penis
- Muscle growth
- Growth spurt
- Acne
- Deepening of the voice
Given it’s association with hormonal changes and pain, tracking a client’s menstrual cycle might be helpful for predicting and supporting crisis behavior.
Begin with Compassion
A problem with puberty is the unpredictable ups and downs that are often caused by emotional turmoil. A strength is that puberty is a relatable state to all adults. It might be the case that beginning with personal experience will help inform which behavioral interventions will be most successful. Below are some examples of starting with what we already know about teens.
They like space.
Opportunities to leave
They need privacy.
Things that are exclusively theirs
They want autonomy.
Expanding the classroom – visiting the nurse or professionals and relationships with them
They seek peer validation.
Identifying preferred interactive activities and supporting the development of social skills.
They need to feel connected.
Noncontingent attention
They need to feel valued.
More opportunities to engage in important tasks. Opportunities to help others, such as younger peers.
They need to feel capable.
Noncontingent attention
They are scared.
More opportunities to engage in important tasks. Opportunities to help others, such as younger peers.