Accepting New Clients - In-Person or Remote Sessions Available
My work with kids and teens
Navigating Growth Milestones
Moving Past Short Term Setbacks
Moving Past Short Term Setbacks
Parents come to me with kids struggling with schoolwork or behavioral issues in class and at home. Sometimes these struggles happen when they reach new milestones, such as:
- Getting ready for bed,
- Doing homework independently,
- Changing schools or grades.
- Going to summer camp
- Starting or ending play dates or social outings
- Learning a new skill (i.e., swimming, riding a bike)
Moving Past Short Term Setbacks
Moving Past Short Term Setbacks
Moving Past Short Term Setbacks
Some kids and teens develop anxious, depressive, or worrisome behaviors due to setbacks they’ve never dealt with before, such as:
- Changes in their friend group
- Not making a sports team
- Sports injuries, losses
- A dip in academic performance
- Illness or health issues
- Rejection from a school or club
- Loss of a romantic interest or friend
Managing Teenage Pressures
Moving Past Short Term Setbacks
Managing Teenage Pressures
The lives of teenagers become more complex. The intensity and competitiveness of academics and sports increase. Social relationships become nuanced, and today’s teens have access to more content online that influences their worldview and self-perception. The risk of drug, alcohol, or nicotine addiction is higher as teens have greater access to them during these years. I help teens with problems commonly faced in high school and college, such as:
- Isolation and loneliness,
- Perfectionism and uncertainty about their worth and competence
- Feeling overwhelmed or "not good enough"
- Navigating pressure to try addictive substances (alcohol, vaping, zyns, edibles)
My Assessment Process
My Assessment Process
Managing Teenage Pressures
With kids, I meet with parents first to hear their concerns, but with older teens and college students, I may meet with them initially so I can establish a strong relationship from the outset. Either way, I seek parent and child input on the issues at hand.
Once I have a general understanding of the situation, I may use validated questionnaires to pinpoint the diagnosis or the severity of symptoms. In some cases, my assessment identifies other conditions that may be contributing to someone's difficulties (e.g., sensory-related deficits, poor sleep patterns. Then together, we chart the course of treatment
Treatment
My Assessment Process
Treatment
My main goal is to help each person move on from therapy with greater calm, confidence, and resilience for the future. Together, we practice skills that can be used for life.
Our sessions are tailored to each person's mental health needs and goals. We'll assess progress regularly and adjust our session content to keep making progress.
I may also use formal assessment tools like questionnaires and real life client experiences that occur outside our sessions to reflect on our progress.
For example, a teenager who experienced stomach pains before big soccer games sees the pain dissipate with ongoing visualization practice and anxiety journaling.
Support
My Assessment Process
Treatment
After regular therapy sessions have concluded, it's not uncommon to need a check-in or a "booster shot" of support. I will continue to offer sessions either in person or remotely to my historical clients to check in or provide ongoing support for a new transition.
One common example where extended support can help is the entry into college. I'll often hold a telehealth session during the first semester to help smooth the transition to independent living and managing coursework and social life outside daily parental support.