Are you wondering if your teen’s mood swings are normal for this season or is it something more serious?

What if your teen had a safe place to open up without fear of judgement? 

What would it feel like to worry less and connect more with your teen?  

Adolescence Isn’t Easy—For Teens or Their Parents

The teenage years are full of physical, emotional and social change. It’s a time when teens are trying to understand who they are, how they fit in, and what it means to belong. This season of life often brings insecurity, self-doubt, and overwhelming pressure to meet expectations at school, in extracurriculars, and in social circles. Add in the constant comparison culture of social media, and it’s easy to see why many teens feel like they’re falling short.

For some, these pressures can lead to low self-esteem, self-doubt, anxiety or even depression. They may start to withdraw from others, question their worth, or even engage in risky behaviors or self-harm as a way to cope. They might feel alone and like no one could possibly understand how they are feeling when they don’t even understand it themselves.  

This can also be a very difficult time for parents while they watch the child they love struggle to be accepted by peers, have feelings of inadequacy or isolate themselves. Watching your child pull away, struggle socially, or doubt themselves can leave you feeling helpless. You may try everything to connect or offer support, but feel shut out. Many teens don’t open up to their parents, believing they won’t understand or fearing judgment. They may even insist everything is fine even when you can clearly see it’s not.

If any of this sounds familiar, therapy can help.

How Therapy Supports Teens

Therapy gives teens a private, judgment-free space to be themselves. It’s a place where they can talk openly about what they’re feeling without fear of disappointing anyone. Through therapy, they begin to understand the connections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. They also learn that their struggles don’t define them and that change is possible.

A big part of teen therapy is building skills. Teens learn how to manage emotions, cope with stress, communicate more effectively, and set healthy boundaries. As they begin to understand what’s going on beneath the surface, they also grow in confidence and gain tools they can use well beyond their teenage years. 

How do I know if my teen needs therapy?

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if what your child is going through is just part of growing up or something more.  Here are a few signs that may indicate your teen could benefit from therapy:

• Withdrawing from family and friends.

• Frequent irritability or emotional outbursts.

• Difficulty sleeping or noticeable changes in appetite.

• Struggles with low self-esteem or negative self-talk.

• Persistent sadness, worry or feelings of hopelessness.

• Avoiding school, activities or responsibilities.

• Talking about feeling overwhelmed or like “something’s wrong.

• Engaging in self harm or other risky behaviors.

What to Expect in Teen Therapy

In our first session, parents are invited to join for approximately half of the first appointment.  During this time, we will talk together about what brings your teen to therapy, what goals you and your teen hope to accomplish and any important history or information you feel would be helpful for me to know. After that initial appointment, ongoing sessions are just with your teen. This creates a confidential and trusting space where they can speak freely and begin making progress. While the focus of therapy is on your teen, I also support parents throughout the process.  I will provide updates and offer guidance on how to support your child at home. 

There may be times when I invite you to briefly join a session so we can check in on progress and see how things are going at home and school.   While I will respect and honor your child’s confidentiality surrounding what they talk about in session, you will never be left in the dark. Sessions are grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which gives teens practical, evidence based tools to better understand how their thoughts, feelings and behavior are connected. In therapy, teens learn to identify and challenge negative thoughts, build self-esteem, regulate their emotions and develop better decision making skills.