Most parents reach out when they notice a clear change in their teen’s mood, behavior, or motivation and their usual tools aren’t working anymore.

You might consider teen therapy if:

• Your teen seems more withdrawn, irritable, anxious, or overwhelmed than usual.

• School, friendships, or family life are suffering.

• You feel like you’re walking on eggshells at home or “missing” the kid you know is in there.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis. A brief phone consultation can help us sort out whether therapy for your teen in San Diego is the right next step right now.

I wrote to help you identify signs your teen may need additional help and offer suggestions about what you can try at home. You can read it here.

Some eye rolls, independence seeking, and moodiness are a normal part of teenage development.

I start to get more concerned when:

• Your teen’s behavior is a big shift from their usual self

• They’re withdrawing from friends, activities, or family

• Emotions feel big, out of proportion, or hard to recover from

If you’re asking yourself this question, it’s already worth talking with a teen therapist. We can sort out what fits “typical teen” behavior and what may signify your teen could benefit from more support.

Book your free parent consultation here.

I work with teens navigating a range of challenges, from everyday stress to more intense emotional struggles.

Common reasons families come to teen therapy with me include:

• Anxiety, worry, and panic

• Emotional outbursts, shutdowns, and difficulty managing big feelings

• School stress, burnout, and perfectionism

• Self‑esteem, identity, and body image concerns

• Friendship or social struggles, including conflict and isolation

• ADHD‑related challenges with focus, follow‑through, and organization

If you’re not sure whether what your teen is going through “belongs” in therapy, we can discuss it during a free parent consultation.

I wrote to help you identify signs your teen may need additional help and offer suggestions about what you can try at home. You can read it here.

Yes. Teen therapy can be very effective for anxiety, panic attacks, and big emotional reactions. You can learn more about anxiety therapy here.

In our work together, I help teens:

• Understand what’s happening in their body and brain during anxiety or panic

• Learn specific tools to calm their nervous system and ride out waves of emotion

• Practice coping skills they can use at school, at home, and with friends

We also talk with parents about how to respond in ways that support regulation instead of accidentally escalating anxiety. You can learn more about parent coaching here.

Yes. I work with many teens who have ADHD (diagnosed or suspected) and are struggling with focus, organization, follow‑through, and emotional intensity.

In therapy for teens with ADHD, we might:

• Build systems for homework, routines, and time management that actually fit their brain

• Address shame and self‑criticism that often come with years of “not trying hard enough” messages

• Help parents understand ADHD more clearly so home can feel less like a battleground

If your teen is already in ADHD treatment or on medication, therapy can complement that by addressing emotional and relational pieces.

You can learn more about ADHD therapy here.

Yes! Improving communication between teens and parents is one of my primary goals.

In sessions, I help teens find words for what they’re feeling and what they need, and I help parents:

• Understand what’s really going on beneath the shutdowns or blow‑ups

• Learn what to say (and what not to say) in heated or fragile moments

• Practice repairs after conflict so trust and connection can grow over time

We may also do occasional joint sessions where you and your teen practice new ways of talking with my support in the room.

I wrote an article that offers tips for improving communication with your teen. You can read it here.

Here is another article I wrote for parents who feel like they’ve tried everything and nothing is working.

Yes! In addition to teen therapy, I offer parent coaching and parent support sessions.

These sessions are a space just for you to:

• Ask questions you don’t want to discuss in front of your teen

• Get scripts and strategies for handling tough moments at home

• Work through your own guilt, worry, or overwhelm that you may be experiencing

You can learn more about parent coaching here, or we can talk about what parent support might look like during your free parent consultation call.

I wrote an article for parents who feel like they’ve tried everything and nothing is working - you can read it here.

This is very common, and it doesn’t mean therapy can’t help. Many teens are unsure what therapy is, worry they’ll be judged, or feel like it means “something is wrong with me.”

Together, we can:

• Talk about how to introduce the idea in a way that feels less threatening

• Frame therapy as a space for them, not a punishment or “fixing”

• Start with a low‑pressure first session where they can see what it’s actually like

Sometimes teens warm up over time once they experience being heard and not pressured.

You can learn more about how my approach helps kids and teens feel comfortable to open up here.

I don’t force teens to talk about anything before they’re ready! Instead, I start by building trust and safety - getting curious about their world, listening more than lecturing, and respecting their pace.

Over time, teens tend to open up when they:

• Feel understood instead of judged

• Sense that I’m on their side, not here to report back everything to parents

• Experience that therapy can actually make their day‑to‑day life easier

We move at a pace that feels manageable while still working toward meaningful change.

Parent involvement is important, and it also looks different depending on your teen’s age and what’s going on.

Typically, I:

• Meet with parents first to understand what you’re seeing at home and what you’re hoping will change

• Keep you generally updated on themes and progress, while protecting your teen’s privacy

• Offer separate parent sessions to focus on your questions, strategies, and support

We’ll talk together about what level of involvement feels most helpful and appropriate for your family in our free parent consultation call.

I also offer separate parent coaching just for you so you can feel confident in supporting your child at home.

The first session is mostly about getting to know each other and making sure your teen feels as comfortable as possible.

We’ll usually:

• Review what brought you in and what you’re each hoping will be different

• Talk about how therapy works, including confidentiality and what your teen can expect

• Start identifying a few small goals or focus areas to begin with

I often meet with parents alone for the first intake session to get a thorough understanding of what you’re seeing in your teen, what you’ve already tried, and your goals for teen therapy. I then meet with your teen one-on-one going forward.

It depends on your teen’s needs, how long things have been hard, and what goals you have. Some teens come for a few months to work on a specific issue; others benefit from longer‑term support.

We’ll talk openly about:

• How often it makes sense to meet

• What progress looks like for your teen and family

• When it might make sense to reduce or end sessions

My goal is to help your teen and your family build skills and insight so that therapy isn’t needed forever.