Teens (14+)

Navigating the "In-Between" Years.

Adolescence is a massive tug-of-war. For parents, it’s the pain of watching your child pull away behind a closed door. For teens, it’s the overwhelming pressure to figure out who you are while navigating a complex social world. We bridge that gap. We understand that this withdrawal isn't usually an act of rebellion; it’s a developmental instinct to find independence. We provide a space that honors that need for autonomy while giving parents the peace of mind that their teen has a safe, grounded adult to turn to when things get heavy.

The Pressure to Perform.

Today’s teens are growing up in a high-stakes environment with no "off switch." Between the 24/7 metrics of social media, academic competition, and the confusing landscape of modern identity, many teens are exhausted. They are often masking deep anxiety with perfectionism or numbing out because it all feels like too much. We help teens unpack these modern pressures in a judgment-free zone. We help them separate their self-worth from their grades or their likes, helping them build a grounded sense of self that can withstand the noise of the world.

Tools, Not Just Talk.

We know that most teens (and parents) don’t want to just sit on a couch and "vent" endlessly. They want to feel better. We use an active, skills-based approach, utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to teach emotional regulation. We help teens understand their own nervous systems, giving them concrete strategies to "ride the wave" of intense anger, sadness, or anxiety without doing something impulsive. Instead of being hijacked by their feelings, they learn how to self-soothe and stay in control.

We also integrate Mentalizing to help navigate the confusion of relationships. Teens often feel attacked or rejected even when that isn't the intention, interpreting a friend’s silence as hate or a parent’s question as criticism. We help them hit the "pause button" on these interpretations, encouraging them to get curious about the minds of others rather than assuming the worst. By combining emotional regulation with this ability to "think before reacting," we help teens navigate conflict with more maturity, reducing the drama and building stronger, clearer connections with the people around them.

A Confidential Space to Be Real.

For therapy to work, a teen needs to feel like it is their space, not just an extension of home or school. We act as a "third space", a confidential corner where they can drop the performance and be entirely real. While we keep parents informed on safety and big-picture progress, we hold the details of their sessions in confidence. This trust allows us to do the deep work. By giving them a place to process their feelings safely, we often find that the tension at home de-escalates, paving the way for a relationship built on connection rather than conflict.