Teen Issues

Adolescence can be a confusing time with so many changes happening internally and externally. Not to mention social and academic pressures. I help teens and tweens learn skills to regulate their emotions and get curious about their uniqueness and individuality. I have extensive work with adolescents in both individual and group therapy.

I have worked with adolescents for the past 3 years, working on issues such as school and peer struggles, anxiety, depression, trauma, self esteem, and family conflicts.

In my counseling practice, I support teens, college students and young adults who are struggling with the stressors and anxieties of the pandemic, school, friends, families, life, and self. Many teens and young adults may also be experiencing other emotional or behavioral responses to the challenges they are enduring, as well as past traumas. Add in a pandemic and todays youth’s lives have been flipped upside down. Together we work collaboratively as we navigate through the up's and downs.

I have spent many years working with teens as a teacher, camp counselor, facilitator, and now therapist. I love supporting teens in growing in their identities, finding their individual values, and becoming more independent.

I have 10 years of working with children ages 11-18. I have 5 years of experience as a school-based counselor in middle school working with children with recent ADHD diagnoses, gender and sexual identity support, parenting adolescents, transitioning to middle school, peer/social conflict, depression, and anxiety.

Adolescence is an extraordinary and sometimes tumultuous chapter of life. It's a period of self-discovery, personal growth, and profound transformation. However, it can also be a time when intricate emotions, identity challenges, academic pressures, peer interactions, and family dynamics come into play. I embrace these adolescent experiences with deep empathy and an authentic commitment to comprehending their perspective.

Navigating the teen years can feel like trekking through a maze with no map. As an adolescent, you might grapple with self-esteem issues, feel unheard, or struggle with fitting in. I'm here to tell you, it's okay, and you're not alone. Using my knowledge of narrative and cognitive-behavioral therapies, we'll explore these feelings together. We'll work on building your confidence, identifying your unique strengths, and creating coping strategies that help you conquer the challenges you're facing.

Teens today struggle with confidence and the pressures of success in school, sports, and home to balancing social media, technology and life. They are surrounded by a world sending them confusing messages causing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress and more. Sessions with preteens and teens are fun, interactive, and challenging to help them discover who they are and who they want to become.

My professional journey began working in a residential treatment program for teenagers. My work with teens needing a high level of support guided my path to connecting with teens. I'm focused on helping teens with life's struggles including substance use, depression, anxiety, and all around adjustment challenges that so often challenge teens as they mature. My counseling style focuses on building connection and creating a safe space to openly share about their struggles without judgement.

Adolescents work through the many challenges (self-esteem issues, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, identity issues, substance abuse, peer/family conflict, self-harm, etc.) they face in that stage of life, with my experience as a middle school counselor, I have a specific set of tools to support and foster growth in children/teenagers.

I have worked with adolescents who are actively "at-risk" of eating disorders, suicide, alcohol and/or substance(s) usage, cutting, depression, anxiety, etc. I am open to discussing my layered approach to these issues. Mostly , it begins with CBT....

Your teen isn't always going to feel comfortable approaching you with hard topics. A lot of my clients discuss their discovery of sex or drugs with me whenever rapport is built, and I always want to foster open communication and trust regarding those topics. I always tell my clients that I wasn't their age too long ago and how

The intensity of navigating life during the teen & young adult years can overwhelm a highly sensitive young person's ability to manage and cope. Mood support and learning effective stress coping skills and positive life-management techniques can make an incredibly stressful time period much easier and for a young person.

In teen therapy, I create a safe, non-judgmental space for teens to explore their feelings, challenges, and identities. I assist teens in dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, peer pressure, and self-esteem by promoting self-awareness and emotional resilience. I help teens understand their emotions, develop healthy coping strategies, and build stronger relationships. Together, we work towards creating a more balanced, confident, and empowered self.

I address the various developmental, emotional, and social challenges faced by teenagers, as well as effective therapeutic approaches tailored to their needs. My therapeutic understanding encompasses topics like identity formation, peer relationships, and mental health issues common in adolescence. I can provide insights into evidence-based techniques, communication strategies, and ways to create a supportive therapeutic environment for teens.

I love working with adolescents -- it may take a second to gain trust (understandably) but once you do, they dive deep (and are hilarious). I work to be the kind of therapist I needed as a teen. I help teens work through anxiety, depression, family issues, relationship issues while exploring their own identities & finding their place in this world. I want teens to know their value in a society where they are often devalued. And I want parents & teens to connect in healthy ways.

Being a teenager is hard, especially when you feel misunderstood. You may clash with your parents, who don’t see that your experience is different from theirs. Home and school values might conflict, leaving you feeling like you’re living a double life, constantly adapting but never truly seen. Feeling trapped, angry, or alone can take a toll on your mental health. Adolescence is a time of self-discovery—figuring out who you are and where you belong. Therapy can help you!

I thrive when working with adolescents & their families/support systems. I appreciate the openness of children & teens because I genuinely respect their authenticity to show up as themselves in most environments. I learn more from teens than any other single demographic of the population. They are the future and I am constantly in awe of their resiliency & capacity to overcome increasingly difficult circumstances. Teen issues are societies issues and they have the solutions if we listen closely.