Therapy for Teens & Adolescents

Therapy isn’t another place where your teen will be told what’s "wrong" with them. My first priority is building a genuine connection. We’ll focus on creating a space where they feel safe enough to put down their guard, and I’ll get a sense of their own goals and understanding of the challenges.

If you’re teen is hesitant or new to therapy, getting used the space and building trust can take a little time. Sometimes that means involving parents more or less frequently, but the goal is that therapy becomes a positively rewarding process where they can engage meaningfully and authentically.

While your teen’s sessions are a private space for them to build autonomy, I believe healing happens within the system. I typically check in with parents periodically to provide "blueprint" updates - helping you understand the patterns we’re seeing and how you can best support their growth at home. We work together to ensure the family environment feels like a secure base.

That said, if clinically the teen would best benefit from no contact with family or parents, I’ll explore this as an ongoing matter in session, but will be truthful about expectations with you as early as possible.

The teen years are naturally a massive developmental shift, so it makes sense wanting to support them at home.

That said, if you’re seeing persistent panic, school refusal, social withdrawal, or relentless self-criticism, these are often signs your kid would benefit from intervention. Not to mention, given the intensity of academic & social pressure at this time, many teens and adolescents need more support than what a typical home or school environment can offer.

Early intervention isn't about pathologizing their behavior or making them feel insecure; it’s about giving them tools they need now so they can perform and feel at their best.

This largely depends on age and presenting challenges. If you’re teen would like to do their own intake, I’m certainly open to that. If you’d prefer to be a part of that process, or meet for a parent-intake first, to assess fit, that also is possible.

This is largely determined case-by-case, and with teen comfortability as a consideration. We’ll make sure to discuss all this during the free introductory call.

Absolutely, affirming care is the baseline of my practice.

My early training specialized in these populations, particularly 2e (twice-exceptional) youth. I don't ask teens to mask or fit into a standard mold. Instead, we look at how their unique wiring interacts with the world around them and advocate for a life that feels authentic and supported.

There really is no rule. When someone is experiencing dysregulation, particularly during key developmental periods, it can take time to regulate and reorganize.

Often in the beginning, sessions aren’t able to be transformational or create huge amounts of change, because safety and trust takes time. Anyone who tells you differently isn’t thinking long-term, and those tools will fall to the wayside.

But, with regular care and time, your teens can begin to turn towards resilience, confidence, and flexibility. Sometimes this occurs within a few months, other times it can take longer.