How to help my (teenaged) brother

[NinetyWt]

@supergoose

Well, the problem is, he doesn’t really have any hobbies aside from the video games. He is good at them, but I don’t know how many skills gaming could be evidence of - manual dexterity and problem solving, maybe.
<snip>
It does seem to me that my brother simply isn’t suited for academics. He’s a bright kid, he just isn’t motivated to study and do schoolwork.
<snip>
I’m also toying with the idea of suggesting that he take a year off and try various jobs to see if he can find one he really likes and is suited for, but I imagine that isn’t really feasible, given that he has no training and would wind up looking like a job hopper, resume-wise.

You have just about described the situation my son is in, with the addition of this anxiety problem. Currently we’ve talked about several options of things to do, including going to the community college here and taking one class at a time. I very much like your idea in the last paragraph - I think that if your brother is doing something, anything, productive, then he can start to feel capable and build from there. If he ends up working several small jobs, he doesn’t have to report that to anyone (looking like a ‘jobhopper’). He can lump them together on any resume or application he has to fill out.

[Chimera]

@matt_mcl

Let me point out: all therapists are different, both in their methods and as people (they bring their own personal issues to the table, to a greater or lesser extent). If you have a negative experience with a therapist, try a different one – personal recommendations are really great in this regard.

As I say;

“Professionals work for you. If they don’t work for you, try another.”

There is no shame or guilt in walking away from a Doctor, Lawyer or Therapist because they’re treating you poorly or because what they’re doing is not serving your needs. The shame is in NOT walking away, because you are not serving your own best interests by retaining unhelpful services.