Although teenagers are not always excited about therapy, we've tried our best over the years to meet them where they are. We've worked with teenagers in a therapeutic manner for 10 years now. Our sessions are not always done while sitting across from one another. In a residential setting, we've played basketball, soccer, football, walking, and running with teenagers to get them to open up. In the office, we use play therapy, board activities, worksheets, and games. We've found that 9/10 times, children and adolescents respond best to approaches done through mutual loving activities. The greatest asset in adolescent therapy (any therapeutic relationship for that matter) is the relationship that is formed between the counselor and the client.

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We’ve observed that adolescents have learned by necessity to protect themselves, especially from experiences where they have learned that self-disclosure and vulnerability have led to overreaction, hyperbolized conclusions, assumptions, labeling, and loss of dignity. In their world, adults often represent an entity who exists to tell them what to do, think, and say, where to be and whom to spend time with. Adolescents often feel that they have little space is to be themselves, express themselves, and communicate what and how they want to navigate through life and the spaces in between. We believe in building a therapeutic relationship on trust, respect, transparency, authenticity, which evolves organically and creates a safe space for lasting change and healing. Boundaries, unconditional positive regard, and judgment-free space are emphasized throughout the therapeutic journey.

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We've helped teenagers struggling with: anxiety/depression, reactions to a traumatic experience (including divorce, death, and loss), poor self-esteem/ worth/image, connecting to peers, anger management, mood swings, foster care/group home issues, substance use, and meeting expectations at school/ home.