THERAPY FOR TEENS IN-PERSON IN LONG BEACH & ONLINE ACROSS CALIFORNIA + Nevada
Helping your teen understand, overcome, & thrive.
It’s incredibly tough to watch your teen struggle through these formative years.
Seeing them worry constantly about being late, their grades, homework, or their appearance—no matter how much reassurance you try to provide—makes you feel helpless. They may have expressed that they’re having a hard time making or keeping friends, and you might notice they’re often afraid of saying the wrong thing or being in social situations at all. At home, they often seem angry and have started slamming doors, yelling, or isolating themselves in their room. They never acted like this before, and don’t want to talk to you about their feelings no matter how you approach the subject. It’s heartbreaking to feel so disconnected from your child.
Adjusting to middle or high school is no small feat, and it’s clear that the transition is weighing heavily on them.
The stress of a heavy workload and striving for good grades can feel overwhelming, and they might be crying frequently or seem perpetually moody. Despite obviously caring about doing well, they may be having difficulty concentrating or lacking motivation because of the pressure they’re under. They could even be experiencing physical symptoms like stomach aches or headaches as a result of their anxiety.
It's natural to feel scared and unsure of how to best support your child. Remember, these struggles are a part of their journey, and acknowledging them is the first step towards understanding and helping them navigate this challenging time.
SPECIALIZED THERAPY FOR TEENS CAN HELP THEM BECOME THEIR BEST SELVES.
They’ll let go of…
Feeling like they don’t belong or are being left out
Fear of being judged by their peers or losing friends
Being angry, irritable, or lashing out emotionally
Isolating from family or friends
Stress & overwhelm
Being unmotivated, getting bad grades, or feeling suicidal
& learn to…
Build self-esteem & confidence
Have more awareness & control of their emotions
Communicate their needs, feelings, & boundaries
Be more open & honest with you
Use new strategies to regain control over their anxiety
Improve their social skills & be authentic around peers
My approach
Creating a welcoming space for self-expression.
Therapy with me is a place where your teen's needs and goals are front and center. We'll start by outlining a plan tailored just for them, identifying the resources and support systems they already have—and the ones we can work to put in place. It's important for them to know that they're not here because they're in trouble, but rather to find ways to feel better and succeed. The process will move at a pace that feels comfortable for them, using a warm and welcoming approach to make sure they don’t feel intimidated.
During our sessions, we'll explore different types of activities and skills that encourage them to open up and explore what’s going on. This might include talking, playing games, or even engaging in art activities.
I want your teen to know that their concerns are valid and that they’re safe to speak their mind. I’ll often bring up suggestions that might help them improve, but ultimately will let them decide how they want to proceed, to ensure they feel in control of their own therapy journey.
Confidentiality is key to building trust, but I will explain its limits to them for transparency—I’ll always keep you in the loop about anything concerning their safety, but usually won’t discuss in-depth about what they’ve shared with me. Throughout this process, I'm here to support not just your teen but also your relationship with them—so we’ll work together to create an environment where they feel supported, understood, and empowered.
Being a teenager is hard—let’s give them the tools, perspective, & guidance they need to grow.
Questions?
FAQs
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As your child’s caregiver, you will have some level of involvement in their therapy experience. However, to make real progress, it’s important that your teen feels safe to share things in our sessions, and for that reason, there is a certain level of confidentiality I’ll uphold. Should anything you need to know come up, I’ll schedule a check-in with you to ensure that everyone is on the same page and support your teen’s progress outside of therapy sessions.
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The length of therapy can vary greatly depending on your child's needs and the issues we’ll be working through. Some may benefit from a few months, while others might need a longer period to see significant changes, or to maintain the progress made. It's a process that unfolds at its own pace, and I will regularly review progress to ensure your child is getting the most out of their sessions.
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I work with “tweens” and teens ages 10 to 18. Adolescence is such a formative time, and helping these young people navigate the complexities of school, social dynamics, planning their futures, and more is such a rewarding part of my practice.