Therapy for Teens (Ages 13-19)
A lot of growing and changing happens during adolescence. For some kids it is smooth and for others it’s quite painful. Adolescents begin to pull away from their families in order to clarify their own identity and they turn mostly to their peers for input and support. Adolescents tell you less than when they were children and yet they need you more than ever. I work with parents to help them maintain strong connections with their teens while also supporting their increasing independence.
Here are some of the issues I commonly treat in adolescents:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma
- Family Problems
- Body Image Issues
- Poor Self Esteem
- Eating Disorders
- Self Harming Behaviors
- Issues Related to Identity and Sexuality
I use a variety of different approaches in my work with children and teenagers including the following:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Family Systems Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Attachment Based Therapy
The transition from childhood to young adulthood can be stressful even in the best circumstances. The support of therapy during this critical period can make it easier to navigate the many developmental tasks facing your child and can mitigate the long term impacts of stressful life events. If your child is dealing with any of the following, therapy is a great next step:
- anxiety,
- depression,
- strained family relationships,
- friendship challenges,
- difficulty in dating experiences,
- trauma,
- identity confusion,
- disordered eating,
- general withdrawal,
- and just not feeling like themselves.
Even though you know that gradually pulling away from parents is developmentally appropriate as a child grows older, therapy offers you the comfort of knowing they're getting guidance from a trusted adult. In fact, many parents contact me not because their child is in crisis, but so they have one additional support in their lives to help them thrive during their foundational years.
Getting support can only help. It's helpful to have a place to step away from everything and look inward. There is no such thing as too much support and guidance and we know that the more children have the better they fare. Your child deserves as much support and guidance as they need to thrive. That’s what I want to help them do: thrive.
I work with children, adolescents, young adults and families with problems of all sorts, little and big. I believe solutions and healing often aren’t as far off as they might seem.