Testing a therapy approach for teen social and behavior problems

This study is testing a therapy approach called ACTsocially to help teenagers who struggle with social anxiety or defiant behavior. The therapy focuses on helping teens become more flexible in how they handle their thoughts and feelings, so they can build better relationships and feel more confident socially. Researchers want to see if this approach works equally well for both types of social difficulties.

Many teenagers with social anxiety or behavior problems face rejection and isolation from peers, which can lead to serious long-term problems. Current treatments target these conditions separately, but this study explores whether a single therapy approach that addresses the underlying thinking patterns could help both groups of teens improve their social lives.