About teenagers
Adolescence brings changes in identity, relationships and emotions. Therapy offers a confidential space to talk about anxiety, low mood, self-esteem, relationships or school pressure, with the involvement of the family when appropriate.
Family therapists work with the whole family or several of its members to improve communication, resolve conflicts and go through changes such as separations, losses or a child’s difficulties. They look at relationships rather than at one person alone.
Getting mental health care in Trinidad & Tobago
Public health system · Regional Health Authorities (Ministry of Health)
Public psychiatric care is provided free of charge through the Regional Health Authorities, including community mental health clinics and St Ann's Psychiatric Hospital. Access is usually through a health centre or hospital.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Trinidad and Tobago Association of Psychologists (voluntary professional association). No law licenses psychologists or psychotherapists and there is no government register. Membership of the association, which requires a master's-level qualification for full members, is voluntary; ask about qualifications and membership.
- Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago. Psychiatrists are doctors who must be registered with the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago. Search the official register
Urgent help in Trinidad & Tobago
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 811 · Ambulance
- 800-5588 · Lifeline (Trinidad and Tobago)
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: ttparliament.org, mbtt.org
Signs to look out for
Mood swings, wanting more privacy and clashes with parents are part of adolescence. It may be time to seek help when a teenager seems persistently sad, anxious or irritable, withdraws from friends, loses interest in activities, has big changes in sleep or eating, drops in school performance, uses alcohol or drugs, self-harms, or spends most of their time isolated online.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Approaches with good evidence for teenagers include cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy for depression, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) adapted for adolescents when there is self-harm, and family-based therapies. Child and adolescent psychologists, clinical psychologists and family therapists usually lead the work; a child and adolescent psychiatrist may be involved when symptoms are severe or medication is being considered.
When to seek urgent help
Take any talk of suicide or self-harm seriously. If a teenager has a plan, has harmed themselves seriously, has taken an overdose or is in danger, contact your local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. Seek urgent help too for signs of severe intoxication, sexual exploitation or online extortion, and do not leave them alone if at risk.
What you can do in the meantime
Keep communication open by listening more than lecturing, and choose relaxed moments, such as car journeys or meals, to talk. Respect their growing independence while keeping clear, agreed limits. Encourage sleep routines, physical activity and time away from screens. Show interest in their friends and activities. If they are reluctant to seek help, offer options and let them have a say in choosing.
What does a family therapist do?
A family therapist works with families as a system, seeing several members together or in different combinations. Day to day they help families improve communication, manage conflict, adapt to changes such as separation, illness, migration or the arrival of a child, and support a member who is struggling. They look at roles, rules and patterns in the relationships rather than blaming one person.
When to see a family therapist
Family therapy makes sense when tension at home is constant, when a child or teenager’s difficulties affect everyone, after a separation or blended-family transition, during a loss or serious illness, or when communication has broken down between generations. If one person has a severe mental health condition, family therapy can complement, not replace, individual treatment. Couple-only problems may suit couples therapy better.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Trinidad & Tobago cover psychological care?
Public psychiatric care is provided free of charge through the Regional Health Authorities, including community mental health clinics and St Ann's Psychiatric Hospital. Access is usually through a health centre or hospital.
How do I check that a family therapist is licensed in Trinidad & Tobago?
Trinidad and Tobago Association of Psychologists (voluntary professional association): No law licenses psychologists or psychotherapists and there is no government register. Membership of the association, which requires a master's-level qualification for full members, is voluntary; ask about qualifications and membership.