Dear scatterbrained teen:
This will be quick. Let's get straight to the point, there are many types of people in the world, and you, scatterbrained teen, are among my favorite types of people.
You, who has a million brilliant ideas swirling in your head. You, who stares out the window in class wondering how many miles that bird on a tree nearby has flown.
You, teen who finds themselves with boundless energy in a world that expects you to sit down and shut up.
You, who unapologetically speaks your mind even if it pisses off the occasional teacher or principal. You, who may have struggled with school because you're in a system that doesn't cater to true brilliance.
You, misfit teen, are among my favorite types of people.
I'm going to share a little secret with you: I grew up as a scatterbrain too. I was a smart ass too. I used to stare out the window and wonder how far away I was from the ocean, or where I'd be in 20 years, or any other random factoid that had nothing to do with what my history teacher was saying.
I too got yelled at for not properly loading the dishwasher or leaving my stuff everywhere. As an adult, I still leave my stuff everywhere. Some people believe that this disqualifies me from being a good therapist for scatterbrained teens. I disagree.
Having walked in your shoes gives me a unique superpower to help the adults around you try to see the world through YOUR eyes, not theirs.
As your future therapist, here are my promises to you:
I will always believe that you really do care...even if you tell me "Dr. Stephanie, I really DON'T care."
I will work with your parents so that they see you as more than a kid who's lazy or uninterested.
I will help your teachers figure out how to help you learn.
If you'd rather draw or play Among Us instead of talk about your feelings or school work with me, I'll be flexible.
I will help you learn to like yourself. Because I already like you. No BS.
I promised this would be short. You, my fellow brilliant scatterbrain, can have a future that doesn't suck. Let's work with your parents and teachers to get you there. Can't wait to meet you.
Note: This blog post was originally published on February 3, 2021 and republished with minor revisions on April 16, 2021
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