Teen Therapy
Finding the right therapist for your teenager can feel overwhelming. You want to help, but you're not always sure what to say to them or what to do next.
Is your teen struggling with any of these?
Anxiety: Excessive worrying, overthinking, social anxiety, panic, and difficulty managing uncertainty
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Intrusive thoughts, compulsions, reassurance seeking, checking, and mental rituals
Depression: Low mood, loss of interest, irritability, withdrawal, and feeling stuck
Perfectionism: Fear of making mistakes, unrealistic expectations, and feeling like nothing is ever good enough
Social and Relationship Challenges: Friendship difficulties, social pressures, people-pleasing, and navigating relationships
School-Related Stress: Academic pressure, performance anxiety, procrastination, and difficulty balancing responsibilities
Life Transitions: Changes in friendships, family dynamics, identity, independence, and other challenges that come with growing up
What will therapy with my teen look like?
My goal is to create an environment where your teen feels comfortable being themselves, asking questions, and even having a little fun. I know that not every teenager is excited about starting therapy. Some may be hesitant, unsure what to expect, or feel like they don't need it. That's okay! Building a genuine therapeutic relationship is an important part of the process. Rather than simply telling your teen what they should do, we work together to understand what's getting in their way and identify strategies that make sense for them.
Our work may include:
Understanding the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors:
Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we explore how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence one another. Your teen will learn to recognize unhelpful thinking patterns and develop more effective ways of responding to challenging situations.
Facing fears instead of avoiding them
For teens struggling with anxiety or OCD, avoiding uncomfortable situations can provide temporary relief but often makes anxiety stronger over time. Through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), we gradually practice facing fears, resisting compulsions, and learning to tolerate uncertainty.
Learning to get unstuck
Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we work on making room for uncomfortable thoughts and feelings without allowing them to dictate every decision. The goal is to help your teen move toward the things that matter to them, even when anxiety shows up.