Teens and Young Adults

Adolescence and young adulthood can be very challenging for young people and their families. Although these years can be a particularly wonderful time of exploration and curiosity, sometimes things do not go as expected. Individual therapy and family therapy can make these times much easier to negotiate. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgemental environment for my young patients. I help them identify their feelings and express themselves in healthy, productive ways rather than denying their feelings, hurting loved ones or hurting themselves. Like all of us, teens and young adults come by their emotions naturally; it is what they do with them that can be problematic. My goal is to help them understand and deal with their feelings in a productive way. This step alone is a lifetime skill that can alter the course of adolescents’ lives. When appropriate, my young patients may receive the fundamentals of DBT (Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy) for emotional disregulation, or EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) for the effects of trauma.

Common issues for referral include:

• Anxiety and Depression

• Panic Attacks and Social Anxiety

• Substance Abuse

• Self-Mutilation 

• Failure to launch

• Eating disorders