Teen Therapy for Anxiety, Stress, Self-Esteem & Emotional Well-Being
The teen years can be overwhelming - for teenagers and their parents. Therapy provides a supportive space for teens to better understand themselves, manage challenges, and build confidence while helping families strengthen connection and communication.
Being A Teen Is Hard. Parenting One Can Be Hard Too.
Maybe your teen seems anxious, overwhelmed, withdrawn, or constantly stressed.
Maybe they're struggling with confidence, friendships, school pressure, or managing emotions.
Or perhaps communication has become increasingly difficult and you're not sure how to help.
Adolescence is a time of tremendous growth and change. When challenges arise, therapy can provide support, perspective, and practical tools that help teens navigate life with greater confidence and resilience.
Common Reasons Parents Reach Out
Anxiety & Stress
Worrying a lot
Overthinking
School pressures
Panic or physical symptoms
Self-Esteem
Low confidence
Negative self-talk
Comparing themselves
Feeling “not enough”
Friendships & Social
Relationship issues
Feeling left out
Social anxiety
Peer pressue
ADHD & Focus
Trouble concentrating
Disorganization
Procrastination
Feeling overwhelmed
Emotions & Mood
Mood swings
Irritability
Feeling stuck
Motivation struggles
A Supportive Place To Be Real, Feel Heard, & Grow
Many teens aren't looking for another adult to tell them what they should do.
They want someone who will listen, understand their perspective, and help them make sense of what they're experiencing.
Therapy provides a space where teens can explore challenges openly, build self-awareness, strengthen coping skills, and develop healthier ways of navigating life's ups and downs.
My approach is collaborative, supportive, and tailored to the unique needs of each teen and family.
Supporting Both Teens And Parents
While therapy gives teens a space of their own, parents remain an important part of the process.
Together we'll identify what's contributing to the challenges, strengthen communication, and create a plan that supports growth both inside and outside of sessions.
Parents often leave feeling:
✓ More connected
✓ Better equipped
✓ More confident
✓ Less alone
What To Expect
Meet With Parents
We’ll discuss your concerns, your child’s history, and what you’ve already tried.
Step 1
Understand What’s Driving The Behavior
Together, we’ll identify the patterns, stressors, and underlying factors contributing to your child’s struggles.
Step 2
Step 3
Build Skills & Confidence
Your child learns practical tools while you receive guidance to support progress at home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Therapy
Answers to common questions from parents seeking support for anxiety, ADHD, emotional regulation, and behavioral challenges.
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Many parents contact me because they notice changes in their child's mood, behavior, confidence, or ability to cope with everyday challenges.
Your child may benefit from therapy if they are experiencing:
Frequent anxiety or worry
Emotional outbursts or meltdowns
Difficulty managing frustration
School-related stress
Social challenges or friendship difficulties
Low self-esteem
ADHD-related struggles
Behavioral concerns at home or school
You don't have to wait for a crisis to seek support. Often, the earlier we address concerns, the easier it is to help your child build healthy coping skills and confidence.
If you’re not sure, we can talk it through together on a free parent consultation call.
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Behavior is communication.
When children struggle with emotional regulation, anxiety, ADHD, stress, or unmet needs, those struggles often show up through behavior.
Rather than focusing only on stopping the behavior, therapy helps uncover what's driving it so we can address the root cause and create lasting change.
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I provide child therapy for a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental concerns, including:
Child anxiety
ADHD
Emotional regulation difficulties
Behavioral challenges
School stress
Perfectionism
Social anxiety
Friendship struggles
Low self-esteem
Parent-child conflict
Life transitions and family changes
My goal is to help children understand their emotions, develop practical coping skills, and feel more successful at home, school, and in relationships.
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Child therapy looks different from therapy for adults.
Children often communicate through play, activities, conversation, creative expression, and age-appropriate therapeutic interventions rather than simply sitting and talking.
Sessions are designed to help children:
Understand their emotions
Improve self-regulation
Build coping skills
Strengthen confidence
Practice problem-solving
Develop healthier ways to express feelings
Therapy is tailored to your child's age, personality, strengths, and specific challenges.
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Yes.
Parents play an important role in the therapeutic process.
While the exact level of involvement depends on your child's age and needs, I regularly collaborate with parents to:
Share observations and progress
Discuss effective strategies
Improve communication
Support skill-building at home
Strengthen the parent-child relationship
Many parents find that gaining a deeper understanding of what's driving their child's behavior can be just as valuable as the work their child does in session.
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Many parents come to therapy feeling exhausted, frustrated, or disconnected from their child.
Therapy can help improve communication, reduce conflict, strengthen trust, and create a more positive parent-child relationship. As children gain emotional skills and parents gain a deeper understanding of what's driving behavior, family interactions often become calmer and more connected.
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Absolutely.
Child anxiety often shows up as excessive worry, perfectionism, irritability, avoidance, difficulty sleeping, physical complaints, or emotional outbursts.
Therapy helps children learn:
How anxiety works
How to manage worried thoughts
Emotional regulation skills
Coping strategies for stressful situations
Confidence in handling challenges independently
The goal isn't to eliminate anxiety completely - it's to help your child feel capable of managing it successfully.
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Yes.
Many children with ADHD struggle with more than attention and focus. They may also experience emotional dysregulation, frustration, low self-esteem, impulsivity, and challenges in relationships.
Therapy can help children with ADHD:
Develop emotional regulation skills
Improve frustration tolerance
Strengthen problem-solving abilities
Build confidence
Learn practical coping strategies
Improve communication and social skills
I also work closely with parents to identify strategies that support success at home and school.
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provide therapy for children throughout California via secure telehealth sessions and offer in-person services in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, San Diego. I also offer Child Therapy to those in Utah and Colorado.
Telehealth can be a highly effective option for many children and families, offering convenience and flexibility while still providing meaningful therapeutic support.
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The first step is scheduling a free parent consultation.
We'll discuss:
Your concerns
Your child's challenges
What you've tried so far
Whether therapy feels like the right fit
By the end of the conversation, you'll have a clearer understanding of what's going on and the next steps available to support your child.
Dr. Lindsay O'Shea, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
✓ Child Therapy
✓ Teen Therapy
✓ Parent Coaching
Let's Figure Out What’s Really Going On
You don’t have to keep guessing, second-guessing, or handling this along.
Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, ADHD, emotional regulation, or challenging behaviors, we’ll work together to understand what’s beneath the behavior and create a path forward.