Individual Teen Therapy
Parenting a teen can seem like a losing proposition.
Being a parent is tough; being a teen’s parent is even more challenging. Knowing what to say and how to talk with a teen can feel like a lose-lose situation.
You can tell when teens go through something because their attitude completely changes. It gets more argumentative; they spend more time in their room; and their phones seem glued to their hand.
Grades slip, showering becomes an argument, and the once sweet and loving child becomes an up-and-down emotional roller coaster. Their grades are dropping, and you become concerned about their future, but nothing you say motivates them.
Your teen’s isolation, low motivation, and excessive sleeping could be signs of more profound emotional struggles, such as anxiety or depression.
As a “cool” non-traditional therapist, I quickly get along with teens.
They open up with me about friends, feelings, school, identity, and even you. Getting a teen’s trust is the #1 goal of a therapist who works with teens. Teens need complete privacy and space to work through these new difficult emotions. In therapy, we’ll build trust so your teen can talk openly about what’s going on – whether it’s bullying, gender identity issues, or feelings of isolation.
Hormones have a huge part to play in the emotional roller coaster, so as we build trust, the more they take my advice about coping with these new feelings seriously. I’ll work with them to create a toolkit of coping mechanisms they can rely on daily, helping them confidently navigate school, relationships, and personal growth.
It’s important to me to work with teens who are going through a tough time with their identity, especially those who identify as LGBTQ+ and are dealing with anxiety and depression. I have a soft spot for teens who are more “creative” or put tremendous pressure on themselves.
I know teens have a lot going on, but they often struggle to express their feelings. It’s been a particularly challenging time for them, especially after everything that’s happened with the pandemic. I understand that teens may show their emotions through behaviors that can be difficult for their parents to handle.
With the correct attitude adjustment, everybody wins.
I use a family systems approach to build trust, improve communication, and work closely with parents and clients to create a team-like approach to your teen’s healing. In our monthly family sessions with your teen, we’ll establish routines and habits to help your teen find more balance and motivation to get back into school, enjoy time with friends and hobbies, and improve communication with the family.
Let’s chat and work together to create a plan to help your teen feel great emotionally and succeed academically. If your teen is struggling and you’re feeling lost on how to help, therapy can provide the support they need.
I provide online psychotherapy for teens from 14 to 18 across California. Contact me for a consultation, and we’ll create a plan to help your teen thrive emotionally and academically.