How It Works
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How Does it Work?
My doctorate proposal adapts an evidence-based screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment protocol for adolescent mental health in primary care.
It begins with the idea that teens need agency and they thrive on self-directed choices. Teens are guided to identify small achievable wins across three mental health domains that produce incremental momentum. The small wins increase perceived control and self-efficacy, counteracting the helplessness and lethargy of depression. The intervention moves the teen from focusing on symptoms to taking action.
Parents are asked to work with their teens in the skill-building process by doing a strengths-based identification project together. This helps shift the parent-child dynamic from corrective to collaborative.
Teens and parents come out of the visit with a brief overview of the three primary drivers of mental health improvement, a road map for taking first steps, and referral to care as needed. It does not replace specialty care for adolescents who require it.
How Can We Leverage Existing Visits More Effectively?
Integrated behavioral health models show that structured psychosocial support can be delivered within primary care, as we've seen with weight management or smoking cessation. These interventions do not wait for specialty referral, they equip patients with practical tools during the visit.
Health behaviors are foundational to well-being and they can be built and strengthened. Mental health should be no different. This is an extension of the same behavior focused, prevention-oriented model used to address chronic disease and substance use in primary care.
Primary care environments offer a valuable chance to make skill development routine by including short, age-appropriate interventions as part of regular care.
Focused on transforming adolescent mental health care through practical, scalable solutions. Bridging the gap between research and real-world implementation within primary care systems.