Would you like to gain a better understanding of what your teenage child is going through?
Diagnosis of emotional difficulties in adolescents
STEP BY STEP
You’re starting the diagnosis – here’s what the whole process looks like.
Pre-diagnostic consultation
A meeting between a parent and a specialist, during which a detailed history is taken to tailor the diagnostic process to the individual’s needs.
Diagnostic package
Initial assessment appointment
1 hourThe assessment enables us to evaluate a teenager’s overall level of intellectual functioning and to examine their cognitive abilities. It helps to identify their strengths and the areas in which they may need additional support.
Second diagnostic appointment
1 hourSENA is a standardised tool used for the multidimensional assessment of emotional and social functioning. The assessment provides an insight into, amongst other things, a teenager’s well-being, ways of coping with emotions, relationships, behaviour, personal resources and difficulties affecting their daily life.
Discussion of the results
1 hourDuring the debriefing session, the psychologist discusses the results of the assessments with the parents, explains the key findings and identifies areas where support is needed. Parents also receive recommendations on possible next steps, tailored to their teenager’s individual situation.

Ready to get started?
The first step is a pre-diagnostic consultation. Book a suitable appointment online or give us a call
A diagnosis is the first step
How does a diagnosis help a teenager and their family?
Once a diagnosis of emotional difficulties has been made, the next step is to put in place appropriate support to help the child function better in their day-to-day life – at home, at school and in their relationships with peers. At the Dialog Centre for Children and Families, we offer professional therapeutic support tailored to the individual needs of the young patient and their family. We provide individual and group therapy, supporting the development of emotional and social skills, as well as attention span.
Specific services for your child
A better understanding of the difficulties
A diagnosis helps to make sense of the symptoms observed and to view them in a broader context. It enables a better understanding of what might be affecting a teenager’s well-being, behaviour and relationships.
Identifying strengths
The diagnostic process does not focus solely on problems. It also helps to identify resources, skills and areas on which further support can be based.
Support tailored to your needs
The findings of the assessment help to plan further steps, such as a consultation with another specialist, psychological therapy, support for parents or appropriate interventions within the school environment.
Better communication within the family
Understanding a teenager’s needs and how they experience life can make it easier to talk to them, reduce misunderstandings and help parents respond more calmly and effectively.
A more comprehensive picture of how it works
Combining an interview with a parent, an assessment of cognitive abilities and an evaluation of emotional and social functioning allows us to view the young person’s situation from several perspectives.
A clear direction for future action
Parents are not left to make sense of the results on their own. During the follow-up meeting, a specialist explains the findings and suggests possible next steps.

Would you like to start with a consultation?
You don’t have to wait for a diagnosis to get support. Book your first appointment and we’ll plan the next steps together.
Why choose us?
Why should you choose to have your child’s emotional difficulties assessed
at the Dialog Centre for Children and Families?
A comprehensive overview
We assess the teenager’s cognitive, emotional and social functioning. This ensures that the diagnosis is not limited to a single symptom or a single area of life.
Standardised diagnostic tools
We use the Stanford-Binet 5 test and the SENA test as part of the process. This enables us to base our conclusions on structured and reliable diagnostic data.
Two-stage substantive supervision
The reports issued by our diagnosticians are also approved by our managers — this ensures the highest standards of quality and accuracy.
A team of specialists all in one place
If the results indicate a need for further consultation or support, you can seek help from the specialists at the Dialog Centre for Children and Families.
A package tailored to the needs of teenagers
This is a unique combination of an assessment of intellectual ability using the Stanford-Binet 5 test and a multidimensional diagnosis using the SENA test. This enables us, in a single process, to examine not only a teenager’s cognitive abilities, but also their emotions, behaviour, relationships, personal resources and everyday challenges.
SEE FOR YOURSELVES
When should one consider the possibility that a teenager is experiencing
emotional difficulties?
It is worth booking a consultation if you notice that your teenage child:
often feels sad, tense, anxious or irritable,
withdraws from contact with their family or peers,
has difficulty forming or maintaining relationships,
experiences frequent conflicts at home or at school,
has low self-esteem or has lost faith in their own abilities,
has more difficulty with their studies, concentration or everyday responsibilities,
reacts with very strong emotions or finds it difficult to regulate them,
avoids school, activities or situations that previously posed no difficulty for him,
it has started to behave differently from before, and the reason for this change is unclear,
is going through a difficult situation at home, at school or with their peers.
Occasional difficult days are a natural part of growing up. However, it is worth considering seeking advice if worrying symptoms persist, worsen or begin to affect the daily life of the teenager and the whole family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Diagnosing emotional difficulties in teenagers:
questions and answers
We’ve put together a list of the questions parents ask us most often. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for here, please write to us or give us a call – we’ll be happy to help.
Do you have any doubts? Start by having a chat.
A pre-diagnostic consultation is a relaxed meeting with a specialist,
during which you will work together to determine whether a diagnosis of emotional difficulties in your teenager is
what your child needs.