therapy for your teen
Your teen may be showing obvious signs of anxiety or OCD, or may be asking to talk to someone. Their symptoms may be easy to see, or they may seem fine to you but in reality they’re carrying their burdens inside. It is important that they feel comfortable with their therapist and one of the things I make sure to tell every client is that “the click” is very important. If they don’t feel that click with me I invite them to tell you so that we can find someone they do connect well with.
Every teen is different, but many prefer to see their therapist alone. It is developmentally appropriate for a teenager to be practicing independence and it can be easier for them to open up when their parent is not there. Many teens invite or prefer their parent to be present with them in their sessions - you are a support for them. I feel it is important to let them decide what they prefer, to be autonomous. If, however, it ever seems clinically relevant to invite you to leave so that they can build their confidence or work on separation anxiety, we will make that part of the treatment.
intake process
With teens there is more flexibility in the intake. You as a parent may request the intake with just you so that we can discuss details and complexities without your child present to save them boredom, shame, or embarrassment. You may feel that privacy is not needed and your child may be ready and wanting to start immediately. They can join the intake with you and we can all meet together the entire time, or we can split the intake up to give you and/or them some one on one time.
the work
I’ll work to make sure that your adolescent feels comfortable and safe with me and the time this takes varies on the child. I will teach them about their brain and nervous system and how and why their symptoms are showing up. They will learn tools to help with their thinking patterns, strategies to manage their symptoms, and they will be able to use these for the rest of their lives no matter how their anxiety or OCD shows up. I use the gold standard CBT and ERP (cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure and response prevention) along with methods from a wide variety of therapy approaches based on their needs and agenda.
current availability
Right now I am accepting new clients on a wait list. When openings become available they will be during the morning and early afternoon.
