Therapy for Teens

I have experience working with ADHD, anxiety, depression, social anxiety, eating and body image issues, high-functioning autism spectrum disorders, and physical disability.

Being a teenager has never been easy, but it is especially challenging in the context of a global pandemic. I offer a safe space for teens to explore who they are and who they’re becoming. I utilize an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach to help teens move toward what they value so that mental health symptoms don’t keep them from pursuing the life they want. I also help teens learn tools from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help them tolerate distress, manage emotions more skillfully, and communicate better to get their needs met. While therapy can focus on tools and behavior change, I’m also a genuine person who builds strong, authentic relationships with my teen clients. I listen thoughtfully, provide a space to process, and make sure our connection is supportive and warm. Together we can manage depression and anxiety, build identity, and grow.

In-person work is particularly important at this time. If it is appropriate, I can offer teen clients “walks in the woods,” where we meet in Redwood Regional Park to walk and talk.

My training in family therapy means I believe change at the level of the family is one of the most important factors in teens’ development, growth, and healing. Understandably, a teen’s job is to become independent, yet they still need care and family support. Not to mention that parents/caregivers often need a little help knowing how to best support a teenager who is working through difficult things. While I always respect my teen clients’ privacy, I encourage and may request parent/caregiver engagement at the level that would be most supportive of their teen’s health and wellbeing.