Therapy with Teens

 

“As long as you’re learning, you’re not failing.” – Bob Ross

I have worked with teens from diverse backgrounds and with parents seeking support for their teenagers. This is how I work with youth and their families:

1) All legal guardians must consent to therapy: If your teen has legal guardians residing in separate households, please be aware that I require consent from all legal guardians before beginning therapy.

2) If determined to be of value, and in conversation with my teen client, I will ask to meet with parents/guardians for some sessions: I value being honest with my teen clients, so I will be upfront with them if I think it might help to have a few sessions with their parents. Parents should also be aware that in order to better support your child, I may need you to come in for some sessions — because you are an important part of your teen’s life!

3) Therapy with me does not need to be forever: Many teens don’t want to be in long-term therapy — which I generally think is great and healthy. Some teens don’t want to go to therapy at all and it can feel like a forced choice. If that’s the case, you are welcome to meet with me for a session or two to get a sense of who I am and what I have to offer.

My favorite therapy joke is: “How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb?” The answer: “One, but the lightbulb has to want to change.” It’s a little corny, but it’s also true. If you’re a teen who feels like you don’t want to be in therapy, you’re probably not going to get that much out of it right now — and I respect that.

Most of my clients work with me for about 3 months. If we work together, we can be clear upfront about what you want to get out of therapy and how long you want to be there. If you’re unsure, we can explore that together when we meet.

4) Read over my Adolescent Consent Form: It will give you more details about how I handle confidentiality with teens and young adults in my practice.

Ready to find out if it’s a good fit? You’re more than welcome to call for a free 15-minute phone consultation: (510) 761-6706

 

Why Teens Seek Out Therapy…

“You believed in Santa Claus for 8 years, you can believe in yourself for 10 minutes.”                                      – Anonymous

There are many reasons why teens come to therapy. Below are some situations that have commonly brought teens to me:

  • When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by stress or anxiety — related to school, social situations, friends, or life in general
  • When you find yourself pulling away from people, isolating yourself, and wanting to be alone more, but still feeling badly
  • When you often find yourself thinking about the past and wishing you had done things differently, and/or worrying a lot about the future
  • When you feel like you are always fighting with your parents
  • When things you used to enjoy are no longer enjoyable and you don’t know why
  • When you feel so stuck or overwhelmed that you’ve thought about hurting yourself, or have started to
  • When you find yourself struggling at school and/or getting in trouble
  • When something really terrible has happened to you or someone you care about and you’re not sure how to deal with the feelings
  • When you are having some issues around drug use or experimentation
  • When you have experienced bullying, harassment, teasing, or abuse
  • When you feel really bad — or even just unsure — about yourself

If any of these issues, or something similar, are what you’re looking to address, we’ll meet, talk through what you’re experiencing, and start building a plan to address it.

Most teens I work with start to see real results within about 3 months.

A good experience in therapy will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Ready to take that step? To make an appointment, you can click here or call (510) 761-6706

 

Contact Me

Ask a question or book an appointment below. For emergencies call 911 or visit your nearest hospital