I love working with teens. Middle schoolers, high schoolers, college-aged students — at each stage of life, they are full of feelings and wisdom as they figure out who they are and how to be in this world. People think I’m bold or brave for working with adolescents, but truly, I find that people at this age question, learn, and grow with an eagerness and curiosity most adults could use.

I work with teens who:

Have experienced trauma such as bullying, assault, or abuse
Are feeling anxious or depressed and don’t know how to manage it
Have low self-esteem
Are figuring out their sexuality and gender identity
Need a safe space to just be themselves.

If you are looking for therapy for your teen (or if you are a teenager!), read on!

Are you looking for therapy for your teenage child? Here is what to expect.

Confidentiality.

Unless your child reports something that I am mandated to report — child abuse & neglect and if your child or someone else is in severe danger — what happens in the therapy room stays in the therapy room.
Sometimes parents want to know more specific information about what we talk about. I get it, I’m a parent, too. However, in order to gain your child’s trust, it’s imperative that they know that I won’t tell you what they just confided in me.
If it’s something important that I think should be discussed, we will plan on talking to you together.

Commitment to Time

I ask that you commit to weekly sessions for your child, at least for the first two months. This helps us to establish trust and safety and for your teen to more quickly heal. After two months, we can reevaluate if weekly sessions are still needed or if they’d benefit from an every-other-week slot.

Change

I use what I call a “sandwich approach” to help each person heal. We will learn tools and techniques to help them manage their emotions in the moment, whatever that may be. However, I don’t leave it at that. I also go deeper to address the source of the trauma, anxiety, and depression. This work can take longer, but ultimately leads to long-lasting and healing results. Not only will they know how to manage their anxiety when it comes up, but eventually, it will become less intense and frequent, too.

Are you in your teens and looking for therapy? Find out more here.

Therapy isn’t just talking.

Of course, we talk. But I don’t like to leave it there. In fact, I find “just” talking not always helpful. I will invite you to move, to be in your body, to play (because we’re never too old), to create.
And if you’re not comfortable with that, that’s okay — we’ll start slowly, such as by learning coping skills and mindfulness techniques.

I want you to get better and back to your life.

Of course, I want you to be here. I am honored to accompany you on this journey. And I also want you to heal and to not need me anymore.
This means learning how to cope with your emotions on your own and using proven therapy techniques like Brainspotting and IFS to help you heal your trauma, depression, and anxiety so that you can function in everyday life.

We’ll also do the hard work together.

I ask you that you come in here with an open mind and heart, even if it’s only cracked open. I will do my best to create a safe environment for you so that you feel secure to be yourself, to ask the hard questions, to explore your own wonderous inner world.
I won’t leave you alone on the journey. But I also can’t do it alone. Together, we can do magic.

Therapy for Teens in Baltimore, Maryland

Managing adolescent trauma, depression, anxiety, & identity questions with care and respect