Working with an effective and compasionate therapist for teens can help you tackle any of the following key issues:

Behavioral or Emotional Problems

Maybe your teenager or pre-teen is oppositional, has trouble taking directions, or is difficult, disrespectful, or defiant. Sometimes sibling rivalry or jealousy causes significant sibling conflict or parental stress. School refusal, mouthing off, or oppositionality may be the kind of behavioral issues a parent is facing. Sometimes parents seek parenting therapy to help teens develop more respectful behavior.

Self Esteem Problems 

Some parents report that their teen does not feel like they deserve good things, has trouble with self esteem or does not feel “good enough”. They may be seeking help with the development of coping skills and improved self-esteem.

Assertive Communication

Sometimes parents are simply seeking therapy for teens, where the goal is the expression of their child’s feelings in a “safe place” or through having a “safe person” to talk to. They might be seeking a therapist’s help so their adolescent can develop tools for dealing with thoughts and feelings in healthy ways.

Anxiety

Parents sometimes seek a compassionate therapist for teens, in order to help them learn coping tools for dealing with feelings of fear and anxiety. Anxiety, and the inability to express it, can lead to lashing out, or problems with inattentiveness or social issues. It is quite common for an anxious adolescent to insist on being in control, so parents often seek therapy to increase their flexibility.

Sometimes a teen or preteen’s anxiety takes the form of Selective Mutism, Trichotilomania (hair pulling, picking at self, pulling out eyebrows and eyelashes), or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which involves rigidity and avoidance.

Depression and Self Esteem Issues: 

Teens and families in Lafayette, CA are sometimes seeking therapy for the child’s depression or to help the teen “enjoy happy moments in life”. Maybe you just want them to know that you care and want what is best for them, that their family loves and supports them. Parents worry when their teen talks about wanting to die or even threatens to (or acts on a desire to) hurt themselves. Maybe you just want to get your depressed teen “out of their funk” or simply just out of their room.

Another issue that prompts parents to bring their teen to therapy is emotional outbursts with lots of screaming, yelling, swearing, or difficulty with emotional regulation and anger problems.

Social Issues or Academic Challenges

Issues related to school, such as bullying, academic pressure, or learning disabilities, are common concerns in an adolescent therapy session. Therapists assist teens in coping with these stressors, which can affect their mental health and overall performance in school. 

Having worked in community children’s/adolescent mental health for more than 20 years, I am an experienced therapist who is thoroughly familiar with IEPs and with supporting struggling students with special needs (and their families) around the challenges they face in school.

Developmental Disorders

Teen therapists sometimes address specific developmental issues, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders. They use tailored strategies to help children manage their symptoms and improve their functioning in daily life.

ADHD

is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. It is characterized by difficulties in paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, and in some cases, excessive activity. The symptoms of ADHD can vary across individuals and may include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It can impact various aspects of a person's life, including academic and professional achievements, interpersonal relationships, and daily functioning.

ADHD is a medical condition that affects brain development and activity, leading to challenges in attention, sitting still, and self-control. It can affect teens at school, at home, and in their friendships. For teens with ADHD, managing their behavior can be challenging, and it's important to remember that they cannot control their behavior. Treatment options for ADHD may include teen therapy, family therapy, parenting therapy, medications, and support at school.

AUTISM

Many teens struggle with social interactions, which can lead to difficulties in forming friendships and maintaining relationships. Reasons for this can include friendship issues, low self-esteem or a lack of social confidence, shyness, or social skills deficits that are a symptom of an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. I can help your teen or pre-teen work on developing communication skills, build self-confidence, and enhance resilience, which are essential for healthy social interactions. 

Not all adolescents naturally learn to pick up social cues. Sometimes

Social Skills Training

is needed. I provide this training in a unique and fun way. Having been trained as a drama therapist, I know that action and interaction is the way to really solidify these new skills by putting them into practice. I use education about social skills, combined with fun and playful interactive role-playing. As a trained drama therapist, my relaxed demeanor and willingness to risk looking silly, make me a good companion on this silly, yet serious, journey. Let’s put social skills into action. 

What about the rest of the family? Parents of teens, I have strategies for you, too. Kids want to please you, even when it appears otherwise. I will partner with you to build on that desire through mentoring and practice in the use of positive parenting techniques, such as those taught in the "nurtured heart approach". This technique, as well as attuned listening skills, help foster self-esteem. I am also experienced with the needs and treatment of siblings of kids with special needs. Sometimes they feel short-changed and need extra support and attention in their own therapy, in order to function optimally.

Trauma, Abuse, and Grief

Teens may have experienced trauma, such as from abuse, neglect, or the loss of a loved one. Therapists provide a safe space for children to express their feelings and work through their grief or trauma, helping them to heal and move forward. As a trauma informed therapist, I know the importance of finding the optimal level of challenge and attuned listening post trauma and am comfortable navigating the healing process.

Some youth are brought to therapy with gender identity-related issues and need a safe place to either explore their identity or their feelings, thoughts, needs, and relationships, or to build confidence, self-acceptance, or self esteem. As an experienced therapist for trans youth, you can count on me to be an ally, both educated and supportive.

Family Dynamics and Changes,
Including Divorce

Significant life changes, such as divorce, the birth of a sibling, or family relocation, can be challenging for teens. As both an experienced divorced family therapist and teen therapist, I am uniquely qualified to help teens process these changes and improve family communication, ensuring that each member feels heard and supported.

Through my years of experience teaching at Kids Turn (for divorcing and separating families), I became especially skilled at supporting children and adolescents when their parents divorce. Some of the ways therapy can help around these issues are through reducing the child’s anxiety, improving problem solving skills, and helping children develop coping skills related to parental conflict.

Sometimes parents opt to work with me on coparenting in this situation, instead. I have strategies for you, too. I will help you restore your teen’s sense of security, build a more neutral and supportive environment, and improve your attuned listening skills.