Advice columnist Corrie Lynne Player responds to a woman whose 16-year-old stepdaughter is pregnant and wants to keep her baby. In addition to being pregnant, the teen has been in trouble at school and has suffered significant trauma.

"My first point to this stepmom was that the girl is a child and, by definition, needs therapy and parental input in making such important decisions. Teenagers operate on emotion; the logical centers of their brains are disconnected and re-forming, so they have little ability to think abstractly..."

Player emphasizes the importance of helping teens, especially those struggling with issues like substance abuse or pregnancy, to make wise and healthy choices. Read more at TheSpectrum.com.

Youth Care is a residential treatment program that offers pregnant teens a safe, nurturing environment where they can earn school credits, get counseling and therapy, and prepare for the birth of their child.

Labels: pregnancy, therapy, trauma