Teen Counseling

Helping teens sparkle + thrive

You’re worried about your teen. Lately, everyday life seems to be more and more difficult.

Maybe you’ve been getting calls from school…

Maybe there’s constant tension at home…

Or maybe your teen seems withdrawn, anxious or depressed.

You catch yourself wondering if your teen will ever be able to feel good about their friendships, their school work, or themselves. You wonder if they’ll ever fit in.

You’ve been trying to help. Trying to reach your child. Trying to guide them to become the happy, confident person you know they can be.

But it’s not easy. It’s not always intuitive. And it’s not uncommon to feel at your wits end.

Which is where I can help.

As a teen therapist, I can teach your teen how to navigate the tricky emotions and interactions that come with growing up.

I can also teach your teen how to identify their feelings and learn new skills to thrive and confidently shine at school, among their peers, and at home.

If you’re ready see your child smile more, feel more secure in their skin and navigate school and life with more joy and ease, please consider therapy for your teen. 

It’s not easy growing up!

In some ways, growing up is the same as it’s ever been…but in other ways, it’s most definitely not!

With a world that can sometimes feel scary, unbelievable academic pressure (it’s not enough to have a 4.0 GPA anymore), and the distortions and constant connectivity of social media, it’s no surprise that anxiety and depression among children, tweens and teens is on the rise.

Often, children are faced with many of the same pressures as adults, but don’t have the skills to get through them on their own.

Fortunately, they don’t have to face these pressures alone.  

In my practice, I love working with kids who are sensitive, creative and/or quirky. Sometimes they’re shy or socially inhibited. Sometimes they’re overwhelmed by perfectionism and feel like they have to be top achievers. Other times they just feel misunderstood and out of step with the world.

For some, therapy may focus on new ways to express emotions or change behavior and unproductive thinking. For others, therapy may be about learning new social skills or building self-esteem. 

As I take each individual teem’s needs into account, I focus on healthy emotional, social and behavioral development in my teen clients. 

And since we can probably all agree that getting adolescents to talk is not always an easy feat, therapy begins by creating a place where teens can feel supported and free to express themselves so we can effectively work through the issues they’re facing.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What if my teen or tween doesn’t want to come to therapy?

You may want to let your child know that going for therapy doesn’t mean that something is ‘wrong’ with them or that they’re ‘crazy’. It’s simply a valuable opportunity to learn new skills – like riding a bike or learning to swim – that will help them feel better and more confident.

In addition, it’s important to make your teen feel like they have a choice and some control over therapy. I recommend letting your teen meet with a couple of therapists from your vetted list so that they can decide who makes them feel most comfortable.

What is your perspective on medication for teens?

I view medication as one option in a toolkit filled with many tools. When used wisely and in the right circumstances, medication can be a very effective temporary solution to help a child get from point A to B.

For example, if a teen is so anxious and panic attack-ridden that they can’t leave the house to go to school or therapy, medication may be an excellent option until other interventions (like therapy) can take effect.

Please note that I do not prescribe medication, but I can refer you to a practitioner who does. Also, I’m always happy to collaborate with other service providers so that your child gets the comprehensive care he or she needs.

Is my teen’s therapy confidential?

In my experience, the best breakthroughs happen when my teen clients see therapy as a safe place to open up and explore the issues with which they are dealing. This usually happens when my client knows that I won’t share private information with parents.

Exceptions to this policy include situations where I think the child may harm themselves or others. Issues like sex and drug use may also be considered harmful, so we will determine boundaries around what is private and confidential at the beginning of your teen’s therapy.

Beyond this, I will give you general updates about your child’s progress, without breaking confidentiality.

In terms of others, your child’s file and diagnoses are 100% confidential unless required by law and/or you choose to share information in your child’s file (for example, with your family doctor). Please keep in mind that if you decide to use your insurance company to get reimbursement for your child’s session fees, your child’s file will no longer be confidential.