What Teens Can Expect When Working With Me

It’s natural to wonder what therapy is like, especially if you’ve never tried it before. Here’s a glimpse into what you can expect when you come to see me:

  • A Safe Space: This is a safe and inclusive space where all are welcome. You can talk about anything you’d like- school stress, friends, family, or anything else on your mind. My office is a place where you can be yourself, explore your thoughts and feelings, and be heard.

  • Someone Who Listens: I’m not here to tell you what to do or lecture you. Instead, I’ll listen, ask questions, and genuinely try to understand your world. We’ll work together to figure out what’s going on and what support you need or steps you might want to take.

  • Building on Your Strengths: You already have so many unique qualities and strengths, even if you don’t always see them. We’ll discover and highlight these strengths because they’re powerful tools for overcoming challenges and learning to trust yourself.

  • Privacy Matters: What we talk about in our sessions is confidential. This means I won’t share what you tell me with anyone else, including your parents, unless you give me permission or there’s a serious safety concern (which we’ll discuss upfront).

  • Emotional and Life Skills: Therapy isn’t just about talking, it’s about expanding your skills. We can also explore practical strategies to manage stress, handle emotions, communicate better, and navigate tricky social situations. These are skills you can use long after our sessions end.

  • A Collaborative Approach: If you come to see me, we’ll work together. You’re the expert on your own life, and I’m here to offer support, insights, and different perspectives. Your parents may have goals for you, but the most important thing is that we’re focused on what you want to work on. We’ll set goals together that make sense for you.

Common Reasons Teens Seek Support

You might be surprised at how much better it can feel to come to therapy. You might find therapy helpful if you’re dealing with:

  • Feeling Overwhelmed: Stress from school, extracurriculars, or future plans.
  • Friendship Challenges: Navigating friend drama, feeling left out, or dealing with conflict.
  • Family Stuff: Disagreements with parents or siblings, conflict in your family, or adjusting to changes at home.
  • Gender or sexual orientation: My office is a safe space where you can expect to be met in who you are without judgement, and talk as much or as little as you’d like about gender and/or sexual orientation and get the support that you need.
  • Grief and loss: Losing a family member, friend, or pet can cause such heartache, and there isn’t always a place to talk and feel about it.
  • Emotions: Feeling anxious, sad, angry, or overwhelmed and not sure how to handle it.
  • Self-Doubt: Struggling with self-esteem, body image, or feeling unsure about who you are.
  • Suicidal thoughts or self-harm: You can expect that I will listen, ask questions to understand, and help with safety planning, if this is what you need.
  • Social Media Pressures: Feeling constantly compared to others or overwhelmed by online interactions.
  • Coping with Change: Moving, changing schools, or other big life transitions.
  • Just Needing to Talk: Sometimes, you don’t need a specific problem to talk about; you just need a neutral person to listen and help you process your thoughts and feelings.

For Parents of Teens

Seeking therapy support for your teen is a sign of your commitment to their well-being. Here are some things you can expect from me when I provide therapy services:

  • Seeking to Understand Your Teen’s World: Adolescence is a time of incredible change, both for teens and for family dynamics. My role is to provide a supportive, confidential space where your teen can talk about anything they need to express or get support with.
  • Supporting Growth and Independence: My aim is to empower your teen to develop more ways to cope with stressors, build resilience, and strengthen their sense of self. This process often involves nurturing their independence while also strengthening family connections.
  • Open Communication (Within Limits): Confidentiality with your teen is paramount for building trust, and therefore unless there are serious safety concerns, I won’t be discussing the things your teen tells me in session without getting their consent first. However, we can discuss how to work together as a family system, and I can offer insights on how to best support your teen, while respecting their privacy.
  • A Collaborative Partnership: I’m here to be a resource for you as well. We can schedule separate parent consultations if you have concerns or questions about how to best support your teenager.

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