ABOUT YOU: THE TEEN
You’ve got some really tough stuff on your plate, but don’t know who to share it with.
You’re falling behind in school because you can’t stop worrying about such random things!
You’re struggling making or keeping friends because you have this feeling that you’ll be rejected, which would totally suck.
You aren’t sure how you fit into your own life.
You have some things about your past that you feel trapped by.
THE DREAMER
You have so many dreams for yourself, but your anxiety and worry is stopping you from getting there. Sometimes it gets so bad it’s hard to sleep, eat right, or hang out with friends. You worry that you’re not doing anything right, but the worry is so strong that it feels you can barely do anything at all. You feel like anxiety and stress have totally taken over. Welcome!
THE ROCK
On the outside, it looks like you have it all together. You maybe have good grades, a good group of friends, and a good idea about your future. But on the inside you feel like you’re crumbling. You are stressed and anxious, but don’t know how to express it. You want to appear fine, but scared it will all come crashing down if you tell anyone. You're in the right place.
THE UNDERDOG
On the inside you know you have so much to offer. You are smart, funny (at least you think you are!), and talented. It’s easy to be yourself at home, but at school and public you clam up. It’s so hard to come out of your shell - people have known you as the shy one for so long, you’re afraid of what they’ll think if you suddenly opened up and showed them who you really are. Let’s chat.
THE MYSTERY
You feel like nobody really gets you. And maybe you don’t even want people to get you! But it can be lonely harboring your secrets and feelings by yourself. Maybe you even have one big secret that nobody knows, and you’re terrified of what would happen if they found out. You don’t want people to think you’re weird, or messed up… but you’re also tired of caring so much pain by yourself. You don’t have to do this alone anymore.
Teens have it hard these days.
Starting therapy as a teen can be life changing!
If you’re a teen, chances are you’re dealing with anxiety and stress. And, to put it simply, it sucks! So much is happening in your life right now - you have a million assignments, you’re probably thinking about college/your future, you are trying to maintain your social life, AND trying to figure out who the heck you are. That. Is. A. Lot.
Here is the good news: YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS ALONE. If you identify as the worrier, brick-wall, wallflower, or mystery - I can help you. Together we can work towards creative ways to achieve your goals, reduce anxiety and stress, and decompress from your busy life.
I have two ways that I really like to help teens.
Talk Therapy - Ok… so it sounds a little boring, I know. But let’s start by thinking about this as a good vent-sesh. You’ve probably got a lot on your mind and it’s hard to talk to your family and friends about it. Let me tell you what is so cool about therapy - your secrets are safe with me! Yep, you heard me right. Unless you let me know that you or someone you know is in danger, I keep all of our conversations private. This means you finally have a safe space to share your deepest darkest secrets, your outrageous ideas, and your hopes and dreams. Talk therapy can be an amazing way to destress and strategize ways to get over your anxiety.
EMDR Therapy - So you read the talk therapy part and thought, how the heck is that going to help?! I’m just going to suddenly feel better by talking about stuff? Well… actually… yes. BUT there is a different kind of therapy. Here is what you need to know about EMDR therapy - it is a fast and effective way to get over bad memories, current stressors, and worries about the future. Click here to check out my page about EMDR to learn a little more about how it looks. I’ll give you a teaser, it’s quite different than talk therapy!
A WORD TO PARENTS
For all of you survivors of middle school and high school, we all know how critical these times are. Peers can be cruel as we try to discover who we are and try and fit into the social scene. But teens are some of the most resilient and wonderful people on the planet. Sometimes it is helpful to have somebody to walk alongside during these tough times discovering identity.
When your teen starts therapy, I know it’s tough to not know every detail of what is going on - but rest assured you will know the important things! If we decide to work together, we’ll go over exactly how information is exchanged and decide on the best course of action as a group. I understand the worries you have when your teen says they want to see a therapist. All kinds of question marks pop up as to why. I highly recommend letting them know that you are available if they need to talk, and support them in finding the right fit. It’s such a special way to help them form into an independent adult, which they will eventually be!
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
SPECIALTIES
Anxiety
Depression
Identity Issues
Underachieving and Motivation
Trauma
Stress
Social Anxiety
Sexuality
DEPRESSION IN TEENS
Depression is rampant among the teen community. With life changes in the family and trying to fit in the social scene, feeling like things are crumbling around you can cause you to sink into depression. And then add school work to the pile! No wonder motivation goes out the door when it comes to school. And don’t get me started on how early school starts!!! Hello exhaustion! I want to help you manage your depression and find new and creative ways to combat the troubles depression bring. It can feel exhausting to feel depressed, don't walk through this alone.
ANXIETY AND SOCIAL ANXIETY IN TEENS
Social anxiety and general anxiety are also a huge theme among teenagers. Being faced with so many pressures everyday is exhausting and no wonder some teens feel anxious. "Will I be good enough? Am I pretty enough? Strong enough? Smart enough? What do those people think of me? How will I manage school and sports? What if I don't get into college?" When all of those questions flash through your head in a single moment, it is easy to feel scattered. You’re probably reacting to these pressures by withdrawing, isolating yourself, and feeling paralyzed by anxiety. I want to help you find power over this anxiety. Anxiety should not be in charge of your life, you should be in charge of your life!
STRESS IN TEENS
This is a pivotal time in the human lifespan. I bet you can think of at least 10 things changing all at once. On top of that, you have homework, relationships, college applications, family problems, work, school, chores, and the list goes on... If you feel like you're having a hard time keeping it together - I don't blame you! I want to help reduce stress in the lives of teens by offering a place that is just for them. I offer at least one hour a week to share your mind, unload your thoughts, and simply unwind. Trust me, it is hard to find some 'me-time' in the midst of everything else.