Scott, a teenager, has just moved across town with his family and has been forced to transfer to a new high school. Once an excellent student, he is now skipping classes and getting very poor grades. He has had trouble making friends at this new school.
For most teenagers, "fitting in" is a critical part of adolescence. Scott is attempting to make a major life transition under difficult circumstances. He has been separated from the network of friends which made up his social structure and allowed him to feel "part of the group."
Young people often respond to troubling circumstances with marked changes in behavior. Thus, an excellent student starting to get poor grades, a social youngster becoming a loner, or a leader in school affairs losing interest in those activities would not be unusual. A psychologist, knowing that adolescents tend to "test" first and trust second will likely initially spend time focusing on developing a relationship with Scott. Next, the psychologist will work with Scott to find better ways to help him adjust to his new environment.
