Therapy for Tweens & Teens
Growing up is hard.
They don’t have to figure it out alone.
Rather than focusing only on behaviors or symptoms, I'm interested in understanding what those experiences may be communicating. Anxiety, emotional outbursts, perfectionism, withdrawal, or self-criticism often make sense when we look at them through the lens of a child's experiences, relationships, and nervous system.
Together, we'll explore what's beneath the surface while helping them build practical tools for managing emotions, navigating relationships, and responding to life's challenges with greater confidence.
Starting with Trust & Safety
I believe that meaningful therapy starts with feeling safe. Before your teen and I jump into difficult conversations, we'll spend time getting to know each other and creating a space where they can be their full, true self without worrying about being judged or pressured to talk about things they aren’t ready to share.
We’d explore what's been feeling hard for them and begin to make sense of their thoughts, emotions, and the physical sensations that come with them. We’d take things one step at a time, helping them feel more confident in understanding their emotions and responding to them in ways that feel manageable.
A big part of my work is helping your teen understand their nervous system. This involves learning why certain situations might leave them feeling anxious, overwhelmed, shut down, or reactive. Often, these responses aren't signs that something is wrong with them; they're ways your teen’s mind and body have learned to protect them. We’ll build awareness of these patterns while developing new ways for your teen to feel more grounded, connected, and confident in themselves.
For some tweens and teens, talking feels natural. Others communicate more comfortably through creative activities or simply by taking things slowly. There isn't one "right" way to do therapy; we'll find what works best for them.
Individual Counseling
For adults, I specialize in the following concerns:
Anxiety: You might notice this as racing thoughts, restlessness, a tightness in your chest, or a feeling that your mind can’t quiet. Anxiety can make it hard to focus, sleep, and feel present.
Depression: This may show up as feeling heavy, numb, or disconnected from the things and people that once brought you joy. Depression can also show up as fatigue, low motivation, difficulty concentrating, or feeling hopeless.
PTSD & C-PTSD: Trauma responses can include intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbing, or feeling on edge. Other trauma symptoms include struggling with trust, boundaries, self-esteem, relationships, and emotion regulation.
Binge eating disorder: You might experience preoccupation with food, body image, or weight, or use eating behaviors to manage distress. Binge eating often stems from deeper emotional pain or a way to cope with lack of control.
Chronic illness: Living with chronic illness can bring pain, grief, and frustration. It’s tough to manage the emotional impact of ongoing symptoms, uncertainty, or changes in identity and autonomy.
I primarily use EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic Therapy to help process trauma, regulate your nervous system, and bring compassion to parts of you that carry shame. Using an attachment and somatic lens, we’d work toward healing early wounds and strengthening your ability to feel safe, connected, and fully present.
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps the brain process distressing memories, reducing their emotional intensity using bi-lateral stimulation, which involves eye movements, hand pulsars, tapping, and more. This therapy resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain, which can help you feel more grounded and calm.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy views each person as a system of inner parts, some wounded, some protective, with a core, compassionate Self. IFS helps you access that Self to understand, befriend, and heal young, scared, and hurt parts. This modality facilitates a greater sense of confidence, calm, courage, curiosity, and connectedness.
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between the body and mind to help release trauma stored in physical sensations. By gently tuning into your body’s responses, you can restore regulation to your nervous system and process emotions safely. This approach supports greater resilience, self-awareness, and the ability to respond to life with calm and clarity.
Additional Therapy Techniques
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps you identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns that influence your emotions and behaviors. By increasing awareness of these connections, we can find helpful strategies for managing stress while alleviating negative thoughts that influence your views of yourself, others, and your future.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a compassionate, research-based approach that helps you understand and work through your emotions at their core. Rather than avoiding difficult feelings, we’ll explore them safely so they can bring clarity instead of overwhelm.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT encourages greater flexibility in how you respond to difficult thoughts and feelings. This therapy encourages learning ways to make space for your full emotional experience, instead of resisting and focusing on negative beliefs, plus aligning your behavior with your values.
Creative & Experiential Therapy (Sand Tray, Play Therapy, Art as Therapy)
Creative and experiential approaches allow for processing emotions and experiences without words. Through sand tray, play, or art-based therapy, clients can explore stressful thoughts and feelings in ways that may feel more accessible, safe, and helpful.