Teens are pulled in a hundred directions — by school, by friendships, by family, by the pressure to belong. It's a lot to carry, and it doesn't leave much room for them to check in with themselves. That's a big part of what therapy does. It gives them somewhere to put it all down, breathe, and start to figure out what they actually think and feel."

You don't need a crisis to start. Sometimes teens seek counseling simply because life feels heavy and they need somewhere to put it.

Some signs worth noticing?

• Shutting down when you try to talk, or having a hard time putting feelings into words

• Withdrawing from friends or family

• Changes in sleep or appetite

• Shifts in their friendships, or struggling to navigate social situations

• Increased irritability or sadness

• Dropping grades, or just seeming unlike themselves.

It’s a safe space for them to process feelings, emotions of this time in their life. I hope they can come curl up on a couch, relax, talk, draw and today we will help them understand themselves better. We make room for what feels important to them—whether that’s anxiety, friendships, family dynamics, identity, self-worth, or the everyday pressure of being a teen.

I also stay connected with parents in a thoughtful way, while protecting the trust your teen needs in order to open up.

Confidentiality is one of the most important parts of teen counseling — your teen needs to trust that the room is safe before they'll open up. I won't share the details of what your teen shares in sessions. That said, I'll always keep you informed about their general progress, and if there's ever a safety concern, we'll talk. We'll set clear expectations together from the start.