Adolescent and Teen Therapy
It's tough out there
Adolescent and teen mental health is an increasingly important issue, as mental health problems in this population have been on the rise in recent years. Mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems, can have a significant impact on the lives of adolescents and teens, affecting their academic performance, relationships, and overall well-being.
Fortunately adolescents and teens are more open to mental health and early intervention is paramount to functioning later in life.
Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many of the mental health challenges facing adolescents and teens, leading to what some experts have referred to as a "mental health crisis" in this population. The pandemic has disrupted school, social, and extracurricular activities, leading to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among young people.
The impact of the pandemic on mental health in this population has been compounded by other factors, such as social isolation, financial stress, and racial and political tensions. All of these factors have contributed to an increase in the number of adolescents and teens experiencing mental health problems and in need of support.
It is important for adolescents and teens to receive the support and treatment they need to address their mental health issues.
I love using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with teens to help balance automatic negative thoughts (or as we therapists call them, ANTS!). In addition, solution focus/strength based therapy assists with empowering teens to build on their own resources.
With the current mental health crisis, I am here to help you/your teen build confidence, coping skills, relaxation techniques and emotion regulation skills for anxiety, depression, boundary issues, self esteem, social media and gaming issues, friendship issues and bullying. Another passion of mine is the link between social media and mental health.
Kids are forced into comparisons because of social media which can exacerbate issues with self esteem and anxiety. Instagram, Facebook, TikTok can create an overwhelming PRESSURE to be perfect and have the perfect content and image. Some kids start to not feel good enough or even face cyberbullying. Social media is one area that can lead to self esteem issues and body image. It's hard to compare your natural beautiful self to a fake online image!
Whatever it is I can relate to you and will never judge you!
I've worked with adolescents and teens my whole life... I worked at the world's largest free clinic, Venice Family Clinic providing free therapy to kids in need in my Master's program and even worked as a nanny for adolescents for many years.