For Parents of Teens
As a parent, supporting your child through adolescence can not only feel stressful and overwhelming, it can feel somewhat terrifying. Even in ideal circumstances it is a time of profound transition for youth that involves struggling to cope with intense emotions, to form an authentic and positive sense of identity, and to seek belonging and supportive relationships with peers. In many ways, the challenges you yourself faced at their age have become more extreme–from the toxicity and addictive qualities of social media and the dangers of experimenting with substance use to school violence and the academic pressures of college admissions. And while it’s natural for teens to distance themselves from their parents as they seek to establish their individualized sense of self, it’s a time when they need the support of trustworthy adults with their best interests at heart more than ever.
I have extensive experience treating youth who struggle with a wide spectrum of social-emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges, such as:
Social anxiety and relational challenges with peers that can negatively impact their ability to engage in school as well as their sense of self-worth.
Neurodivergence (i.e. ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, learning differences) that can impact social and academic functioning and contribute to depression and anxiety symptoms.
Difficulties managing intense emotional distress that can contribute to frequent and escalating conflict in the home, substance use, and self-harm behavior and suicidality.
Perfectionism and rigid or obsessive thinking that erodes mental well-being and can contribute to eating-disordered or other restrictive behavior.
Traumatic experiences and separation or loss in caregiving relationships that can contribute to behavioral problems, mental health symptoms, and difficulties forming healthy relationships with others.
The effects of discrimination and cultural stress related to social identity (i.e. race and ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status).
Whether you are here simply because you feel your teen will benefit from additional support in managing stress or because you are aware your teen is emotionally suffering and in need of targeted intervention to address emerging symptoms of a mental health disorder, I can help by providing them a confidential, supportive space in which they can freely express themselves, build self-awareness, and learn coping skills and communication strategies that will serve them for the rest of their lives.
Ready to take the next step forward?
Please contact me to get started or for a free, no-obligation 15 minute consultation.