Research indicates that co-occurring depression and anxiety are prevalent among adolescents, with studies estimating that approximately 20%–50% of young individuals experiencing depression also exhibit the symptoms of anxiety. Adolescents are highly sensitive to external pressures, making them vulnerable to disruptions in healthy emotional development. This study highlights the urgent need for timely support to address these challenges. This case study looked at how emotion-focused therapy (EFT) could help an adolescent experiencing both depression and anxiety. A 15-year-old inpatient was assessed through interviews, rating scales, and projective tests. He took part in 18 sessions of EFT, which focused on building emotional awareness, reducing avoidance, and working through painful experiences. Techniques included chair dialogs, safety planning, and family psychoeducation. By the end of therapy, he showed fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, better sleep and appetite, and was able to return to school and daily routines. These gains were sustained 6 weeks later. EFT offered a safe and effective way to support emotional processing when avoidance made cognitive behavioral therapy difficult to engage in.
Kulhari et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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