Therapy for Teens
My Approach
Maybe your teenager has been more withdrawn lately, and every conversation turns into a shutdown or a fight. Maybe you're worried and don't know how to reach them without it backfiring. Maybe your teen wants support but the idea of sitting across from a therapist in an office feels like the last thing they want to do.
I can help you create a therapeutic experience your teen might actually be willing to show up for. I believe in creatively meeting teenagers exactly where they are by engaging with them through their interests and creating a safe and comfortable therapeutic space. This might look like offering walk and talk sessions, drawing together in session or making sure I have their favorite fidget item on hand and ready to go. I also very much believe in leaving lots of space to hear and understand what works well for them and what they are hoping to get out of the therapeutic experience.
Your teen shuts down or gets defensive the moment a hard conversation starts
Big emotions show up as anger, withdrawal, or silence rather than words
You're not sure how to support them without it feeling like pressure
School, friendships, or family changes have put real strain on how they're coping
Past therapy didn't stick because it never felt like a real connection
You Might Recognize Some of This
My work with teens is relationship-first. Before any skill-building happens, my priority is building real trust. A teenager who doesn't feel safe or understood isn't going to open up, no matter how good the technique is. Once that foundation is there, I bring in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), giving teens concrete, usable tools for managing big emotions, tolerating distress, and communicating more effectively, without ever making the relationship feel secondary to the "work."
I also meet teens where they actually are, not just where a traditional office visit assumes they'll be. Alongside in-person sessions, I offer outdoor walk-and-talk sessions for teens who find it easier to open up side-by-side than face-to-face across a desk. Session format is something we figure out together, based on what actually helps your teen engage.
How I Work With Teens
My Training And Approach
I'm intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which gives teens real, practical skills for regulating emotion, tolerating distress, and communicating clearly, especially useful for teens whose feelings show up bigger or faster than they can name them. My approach centers relationship-building as the foundation for any therapeutic change: teens do better work with someone they trust, not just someone who's technically skilled.
I also offer flexible session formats, including outdoor walk-and-talk sessions, for teens who engage more openly when a session doesn't feel like a clinical appointment.
Who I Work With
Teens navigating anxiety, mood changes, or emotional overwhelm
Teens who shut down, withdraw, or struggle to talk about what's going on
Families wanting support building trust and communication with their teen
Teens who've had a hard time connecting with therapy before
Let’s Talk
The first step is a free 15-minute intro call with a parent or guardian, so we can talk through what's going on and figure out if I'm the right fit. I offer in-person sessions (including outdoor walk-and-talk) at my Albany, CA office.
Book Free 15 Minute Intro Call here
Get In Touch
Please reach out to me here if you have any questions about my practice.