Teaching high school for 15 years has given me a great deal of experience with the modern
 and complex world of adolescence. In fact, it is because of this experience that I decided to become a therapist. I found that it was difficult to expect my students to maintain a focused interest in the curriculum I was teaching when many were struggling with challenging issues outside of the classroom that were negatively impacting their lives. Communicating with my students' parents gave me insight into the challenges they were facing during their child's difficult teen years. With a little support, you and your teen can learn to work together more effectively as you navigate these rough waters. 

Teens today are facing greater challenges than we could have possibly imagined when we were their age. They are growing up in a world of cyber bullying, Facebook break ups, texting instead of talking, information overload, and the most realistic violence in movies and video games. Navigating adolescence is difficult enough, adding the stressors of a fast-paced world only compounds their confusion. This is a precarious and often challenging time for teens. Because this was my primary inspiration for becoming a therapist, I place special emphasis on working with teens.

I have found that sometimes teens need a safe place and a receptive listener to help them deal with the many issues they face on a daily basis including:

But these teen years are not just difficult for the child, they can be rough on the parents as well.  Parents often find themselves facing children that are changing in unexpected and sometimes dramatic ways. It's difficult to know how to parent  young adults who are beginning to make their own choices and demand their own freedoms. Parents often wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I making things worse with the way I'm parenting?" "We used to have such a good relationship. What happened?" For this reason, counseling often includes both the parent or parents and the child, and sometimes the entire family. This determination is made on a case-by-case basis and we would decide together if this is right for your child and your situation.

If your child needs help, please call me for a free consultation. If you find that we're a good fit, make an appointment today. I have appointment times available now.