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Teen Therapy

Adolescent/Teen Individual Therapy - Ages 11-19

Is your teen under a lot of stress? Do they not seem as happy as they once did? Are they suffering from low self-esteem or self-worth? Have they been irritable or argumentative more than they used to be?

Many of us think of teenage years as a combination of great fun, burgeoning freedom, and a tremendous amount of stress. But teenagers can really struggle during this particularly difficult time; hormone levels are skyrocketing, making teens feel emotionally out of control. They also feel a greater need to perform well academically and can be desperate to fit into social circles. All of this stress can take its toll on a teen’s mental health and overall well-being.

Now more than ever, it's hard to be a teen.  We use creative and evidenced-based modalities and interventions from talk, music, art, and sand tray therapies to help engage your adolescent or teen - and to help them learn emotional self-regulation, age-appropriate coping skills, and to empower them to make better choices with their behaviors.

These sessions are typically 50-55 minutes.

Updates on progress towards clinical goals or new parental concerns are done during parent sessions - private from the child's sessions. Parent sessions allow our counselors to teach the neurobiology behind their child's behavior, learn how to support the child at home, and to give parents an opportunity to report on their child's behavior witnessed at home or school.

Some of the areas we specialize in with adolescents:

  • ADHD

  • Anger Management

  • Anxiety

  • Behavior/Acting Out

  • Body Image

  • Bullying

  • Depression

  • Divorce

  • Grief/Loss

  • Self-Esteem

  • Self-Control

  • Self-Harm


Common Life Challenges Among Teens

Teens can often face some serious life challenges that impact their mental health and well-being.

  • Loss - Loss can come in the form of a death of a loved one, including a pet, and it can also come in the form of parental separation or divorce. A loss also happens when a family moves to a new location and the teen must go to a new school.
  • Stress - A little stress is normal in life and can even be motivating. But too much stress can cause burnout at any age. Many teens face tremendous amounts of stress to do well in school, hold down a job, and be accepted by their peers.
  • Violence - Teens that are bullied at school or at home suffer, and are often alone. If not dealt with, the aftermath of violence can result in PTSD symptoms.

This is not an exhaustive list of reasons why a teen may want to speak with a therapist by any means. If you think your teen could benefit from therapy, please reach out to us.

What Are Some of the Best Types of Therapy for Teens?

There are three general types of therapy for teens experiencing mental health issues:

Individual Therapy

In these private, one-on-one sessions, a therapist will typically use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help the teen make a connection between their thoughts and feelings, as well as understand how these impact their behavior.

Group Therapy

Group therapy can be very effective because it allows teens to see how their peers handle their problems. Most groups have five to seven teens and one leader who will ask questions and guide the conversation.

Family Therapy

In this scenario, the teen would go to therapy with their parent(s) and sometimes even with siblings. This style of therapy can be very beneficial as it allows the family to communicate effectively and respectfully.

Which type of therapy will be best for the teen will be determined by a trained therapist. Often, he or she will use a combination of all three of these types of therapy.

If your teen is struggling right now and could benefit from therapy, please reach out to us.