“My teenager is struggling.”
Therapy for children and teens
When your child or teen is struggling, it's hard to know what's a phase and what needs help. Therapy gives them someone outside the family to talk to, and it can help you too. You don't need to know what's wrong before you reach out.
What it can feel like
- Your teen stays in their room and answers in one word.
- Your child gets stomachaches before school, and the doctor says they're healthy.
- Small things, like turning off a screen, turn into big fights.
- The school has called more than once this month.
- Your child hasn't seemed like themselves since a divorce, a move or a loss in the family.
How therapy can help
Therapy with kids looks different at different ages. Younger children often work through feelings with play and drawing, since they don't always have the words yet. Teens usually talk, and they need to trust that their therapist takes them seriously.
Parents are usually part of the process in some way. That might mean meeting with the therapist at the start, joining some sessions or getting ideas to try at home. The first visit often begins with you: what you've noticed and what you hope will change.
Who on our team works with this
Abby Venzor-Ramos
LCSW-R, HHC
Holistic, mindfulness-based therapy and health coaching for adults, teens, couples and families.
Speak to us about seeing AbbyDominique Dodson
LCSW
Eleven years with children, teens, parents and families. Family therapy, CBT and trauma-focused CBT.
- Habla español
Shannon McGuirk
LMSW
Anxiety, depression, anger, burnout, and relationships and boundaries.
Speak to us about seeing ShannonEmily Campanella
LMSW
Life transitions like changing careers, ending a relationship or becoming a parent. CBT, DBT and mindfulness.
Speak to us about seeing EmilySara Guerriero
LMSW
Anxiety, depression, PTSD, self-esteem and relationship conflict, for individuals, couples and families.
- LGBTQIA+ affirming
Mike Lane
LCSW
Anxiety, depression, trauma and eating disorders, with CBT, DBT and cognitive processing therapy.
Speak to us about seeing MikeJacqueline Sasek
MFT, limited permit
Couples and families, using Emotionally Focused Therapy. Also a certified holistic health coach.
Speak to us about seeing JacquelineAnne Paulsen
LMSW
Couples work with the Gottman Method, LGBTQIA+ identity, grief and trauma.
- LGBTQIA+ affirming
Casey Crawford
LMSW
Life transitions, anxiety and stress, self-esteem and trauma, with somatic and narrative approaches.
Speak to us about seeing CaseyCirilla Shedletsky
MFT intern
Individuals, couples and families, including eating disorders and ASD-related concerns.
- LGBTQIA+ affirming
- Supervised intern
Ashley Shah
Counseling intern
Children, adults, couples and families, pairing insight with practical skills.
- Habla español
- Supervised intern
Grenny Hiraldo
MFT intern
Children, teens and families, with culturally responsive care.
- Habla español
- Supervised intern
Monica Bradley
Counseling intern
Anxiety, negative self-talk, workplace stress and relationships, with somatic work.
- Supervised intern
Sofia Delarosa
Social work intern
Kids, teens and adults dealing with anxiety, stress and self-esteem.
- Habla español
- Supervised intern
Questions people ask
Will I know what my teen talks about in therapy?
At the start, the therapist explains to you and your teen how privacy works: what stays between them, and when a parent would be told, such as if there's a worry about safety. Teens often open up more when they know their sessions are private.
Do I have to be in the sessions?
It depends on your child's age and what's going on. Even when your child meets with the therapist alone, parents are usually involved in some way. The therapist will talk with you about what makes sense.
My teen doesn't want to go. Should we still try?
Many teens feel unsure at first. It can help to give them a say, like looking at therapist profiles together and choosing who to meet. The first sessions are often about getting to know each other, and your teen can go slowly.
The first step is a phone call or a short form.
You don't need the right words. We'll take it from there, and you can switch therapists any time it doesn't fit.