Feeling overwhelmed by arguments, defiance, or disconnection with your teen is a common struggle for many parents. It can feel like nothing works, but there is hope. By addressing the root causes of conflict, you can break frustrating patterns and rebuild a healthy, connected relationship with your child.
Often, when teenagers lose their direction, they turn to unhealthy ways to find autonomy, self-esteem, and control. This can manifest as depression, negative peer groups, substance use, or defiance at home. My approach is to look beyond the behaviors and understand the underlying needs, providing a space for teens to find healthier paths to adulthood. I have extensive experience helping teens with challenges including:
Standard talk therapy can often feel boring or ineffective to adolescents, causing them to disengage. I utilize a dynamic, strengths-based method called Life-Mapping. This collaborative process bypasses the resistance common in traditional therapy.
Instead of just talking, we actively build rapport as I help your teen map out and organize their life. This empowers them to take ownership of their choices and future while still feeling connected to you. It’s a framework that respects their need for autonomy while keeping parents involved and informed.
Our process is designed to support both your teen and you as parents, creating lasting change at home. We begin with an initial parent consultation to discuss your concerns, share history, and define goals. Following that, I conduct a teen intake assessment to build rapport and complete a comprehensive review of their strengths and challenges. From there, the nature and flow of our sessions are determined by your family’s needs, often including a blend of individual therapy for your teen and joint parent-teen meetings. Throughout this journey, your teen becomes an active participant in their growth by managing their co-created Life-Map and related assignments, fostering accountability. I work concurrently with you as parents, ensuring you have the tools to support their progress at home.
Real experiences from clients who’ve found their path to wellness and growth.
