How do I know if my teen
needs therapy?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell. We can help with that.

Is your teen experiencing any of the following?

  • Anxiety (excessive worrying, racing thoughts, mental breakdowns) 

  • Depression (low motivation, staying in bed all day, apathy or indifference)

  • Dating Issues (poor or rigid boundaries, irresponsible sexual behavior) 

  • Drug exposure or experimentation (lying behavior, lack of coping skills)

  • Exposure to bullying or violence (self-esteem issues, peer pressure, cyber bullying)

  • Eating disorders (body image issues, low self-image, feeling out of control)

  • Grief, loss, bereavement (prolonged grief, difficulty adjusting to life, lingering sadness)

  • Identity development (issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, or other)

  • Other

Did you notice any of the following changes?

Dramatic shifts in personality, behavior or affects

Increase or decrease in appetite

Cutting behavior or other self-inflicted harm

Significant weight loss or gain

Excessive sleeping or difficulty sleeping

Unexplained attitude or behavior changes

Other

If so, your teen might benefit
from teen therapy.

How does teen therapy work?

Upon booking an appointment with the therapist best suited to your teen’s needs, we meet with your teen alone for an initial 50 minute session. During this appointment, we establish a therapeutic rapport with your teen and observe their initial presentation of symptoms. To gain a fuller understanding of the teen’s development, we may meet with their parents. Parent sessions thereafter, as needed, may be recommended depending on the treatment. 

The next 2-3 sessions are a continuation of these steps, as well as an opportunity for us to gather more information and form an initial impression of their needs. A treatment plan is then formulated out of which future sessions are designed, and for each session thereafter, clinical interventions are utilized in service of meeting the established treatment goals.

Meeting weekly is our recommended frequency for beginning the process. Meeting in-person is our recommended mode for conducting teen therapy. 

What happens
in a teen therapy session?

Our teen-lead approach allows your teen to pick among a variety of styles for talk therapy. Some of these styles include, but are not limited to: talking and drawing, talking and laying down, talking through writing, talking through photography, talking and walking, talking via text (via Simple Practice text feature) or just plain talking -with or without fidget toys such as slime, magnetic marbles or playdough. Clinical observation and treatment occurs within your teen’s free associations and verbal expressions as our clinical eye detects underlying themes or conflicts needing repair. Our methods allow us to deeply engage with your teens in ways that allow them to gain insight and change their problematic behaviors. Problem solving and emotional regulation skills are taught along the way.

You have questions, we have answers

  • The severity of symptoms, the level of need and the rate of progress are all factors which influence the length of therapy. Certainly, therapy beyond what is necessary for your teen’s mental health will not be entertained out of respect for your time, finances and your teen’s independence. When the majority of treatment goals are met, the frequency of therapy may be reduced to bi-weekly, monthly or as needed.

  • Explicit information, such as verbatim thoughts or expressions, are kept confidential. General information around themes, conflicts and progress, may be shared depending on the treatment. Parental involvement will be recommended when there is clinical value. Mandatory disclosures will be made for legal and safety reasons.

    For custody issues, in cases where divorced parents are each required to consent on behalf of their teen’s participation in treatment, we require a copy of the court order.

    We do not testify in legal proceedings unless subpoenaed.

  • Depending on the clinician best suited to meeting your teen needs, you may be supported differently. Be sure to ask your clinician prior to the first appointment, and they will be sure to give you some helpful feedback. If your teen is resistant to coming to therapy, your clinician can help you directly.

  • When your teen has reached the therapeutic goals previously established in the initial treatment plan, we will have a discussion with you about a termination date. Our door remains open in case new challenges arise.

What if I have more questions?

For additional questions not answered here, please feel free to contact us.
At your first appointment, you may learn all you need to know.