Find the right doctor for your teen
Find the right doctor for your teen
Teenagers need a different kind of medical care than children do -- and their own relationship with the doctor.
Granted, the transition to the solo visit is not always easy for parents, Yen says. “What we talk about,” she tells parents about her closed-door conversations, “is confidential unless they are hurting themselves, someone is hurting them, or they are hurting someone. Then I will definitely tell you.”
Here’s the good news: Learning to navigate the doctor’s office as a teen is good practice, Yen advises parents. “They will end up in the emergency room without you [someday],” she says. “They need to know their medical history and how to interact with a physician.” Having time alone with the doctor also makes it easier for your child to broach delicate questions about new hair growth, odd smells, periods, and sex.
Enlisting a doctor who really understands teens can ease the process of turning over the medical reins. Was it difficult for Sally King to cut the cord and give her daughters the privacy they needed? “No,” she says. “Dr. Yen made it easy for them to take responsibility.”
After they left the doctor’s office, the trio celebrated with a ritual that appeals to all ages: ice cream.
Finding the Right Doctor for Your Teen
Teenagers need a different kind of medical care than children do -- and their own relationship with the doctor.
When Teens Should See Doctors Alone continued...
Granted, the transition to the solo visit is not always easy for parents, Yen says. “What we talk about,” she tells parents about her closed-door conversations, “is confidential unless they are hurting themselves, someone is hurting them, or they are hurting someone. Then I will definitely tell you.”
Here’s the good news: Learning to navigate the doctor’s office as a teen is good practice, Yen advises parents. “They will end up in the emergency room without you [someday],” she says. “They need to know their medical history and how to interact with a physician.” Having time alone with the doctor also makes it easier for your child to broach delicate questions about new hair growth, odd smells, periods, and sex.
Enlisting a doctor who really understands teens can ease the process of turning over the medical reins. Was it difficult for Sally King to cut the cord and give her daughters the privacy they needed? “No,” she says. “Dr. Yen made it easy for them to take responsibility.”
After they left the doctor’s office, the trio celebrated with a ritual that appeals to all ages: ice cream.
