I specialize in helping teens and their families with struggles faced during this critical phase of development. I offer therapy, guidance counseling, and life skills training tailored for the challenges that face today’s adolescents and their families.
Teenagers have four years to transition from childhood to young adulthood. Ideally, during this time teenagers develop the habits and capacities they will need to live productive and fulfilling adult lives.
Teens often struggle to successfully negotiate the many demands placed upon them. Now more than ever, they face incredible pressure to envision the rest of their lives and to plan and perform accordingly. Managing these pressures while simultaneously fulfilling their more immediate needs for social acceptance and authentic self-expression is extremely challenging.
As a result, teens may experience stress, confusion, lack of focus and a sense of alienation. Many teens develop more acute difficulties, such as severe anxiety, substance abuse, mood cycling or patterns of compulsive and self-destructive behaviors.
Parents of teens often have concerns similar to the following. If any of this sounds familiar, you aren’t alone. I help families and teens successfully navigate these struggles.
“I’m concerned about the amount of time my teen spends with technology.”
Parents are often unsure how to help their teens manage technology. Without a plan in place to balance personal interactions with screen time, technology overconsumption can create a problematic family dynamic.
“My son/daughter is constantly anxious and heavily stressed out about school, social life or the future.”
As is the case with many adults, teens with constant anxiety find that the desire to perform well has gone awry. If your child is trying hard but cannot seem to relax or reduce stress, he/she is likely suffering undue anxiety.
“I’m concerned that my son/daughter is abusing alcohol or drugs.”
Alcohol and drug abuse has serious implications for teenagers. I help teens and parents understand underlying reasons for substance abuse, address those issues and, if necessary, recommend treatment programs.
“My teen is so consumed with friends/image/social life that he or she avoids responsibilities related to school and home life.”
Many teens struggle to develop a balanced present-versus-future focus. While the desire to have fun, spend time with friends and please peers is normal, inability or unwillingness to maintain grades or contribute at home may indicate underlying anxiety or other contributing factors.
“I know that I need to talk to my teen about sex, but I’m not sure how.”
Parents of teens often worry that their child is involved in sexual activity that he/she is not ready for. I help parents proactively manage dialogue around sex and sexuality.