Therapy for Adolescents

Therapy for pre-teens and teens in Greenwood Village, CO

Does it feel like your pre-teen or teen has been ‘off’ recently and it seems like it’s more than the hormones?

Maybe they’ve been more withdrawn than usual, and nothing is helping them open up. Perhaps they have started asking to talk to a counselor, but it’s hard for them to articulate why and your mind is racing. It might even feel like you’re living with a stranger at times. You may be concerned about them, or simply at your wits end.

Whatever your pre-teen or teen is experiencing, you’re beginning to notice the impact of this in various areas of their life:

  • They’re withdrawing or distancing themselves from people

  • Their friendships are changing in confusing or rapid ways

  • They seem to be anxious or depressed more often than not

  • Their grades may be dropping beneath their norm

  • They’re sleeping far too much or far too little

  • And they don’t seem quite like themselves

Therapy for adolescents can help.

It may feel insurmountable right now, but your pre-teen or teen can find a stable sense of self with more strength, confidence, and hope than before. And I can help them get there.

Therapy for adolescents can help them:

  • Process significant life events, including traumatic events

  • Increase self-worth and self-esteem

  • Further develop emotion regulation

  • Gain healthy, effective coping strategies

  • Decrease risky or harmful behaviors

  • Improve communication and conflict resolution skills

  • Learn how to set healthy boundaries

  • Increase ability to problem solve

  • And more!

My approach to therapy with adolescents is rooted in hope and an understanding of how difficult and tricky this stage of life can be as they work to answer the questions “who am I and where am I going?" I believe they can succeed, but may need some specific strategies and intentional support along the way. I utilized techniques and interventions from evidence-based modalities including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Eye-Movement and Desensitization (EMDR) on the way to meeting the treatment goals.

I’ll help you and your pre-teen or teen through this process, tailoring each step to their specific personality, unique circumstances, and needs.

It’s time to experience harmony again.

I can help you and your pre-teen or teen get there.

FAQs

  • I believe it is very important for my client’s to know that the therapy room is their space and they have the freedom to be unfiltered. I also believe that it is important to connect with you about your child’s process so you know how to support them best as appropriate. Due to developmental stages and different counseling regulations, though, this will look a little different for each of the following age ranges:

    Ages 10-12: In this age range, I continue to do parent check-ins with the parent. I am intentional to share with pre-teens that the purpose of parent check-ins is to help their parents be the best parents they can be, to share tools learned in therapy if applicable, and that it can be a time for me to advocate for them if wanted. Depending on different factors, I may even invite them to be a part of the check-in. When there is something I believe is important to share with you but they’ve has expressed hesitancy around it, I explain why I believe it is important to touch base with you about it and ask their permission.

    Ages 12-14: In this age range, I offer parent check-ins but no longer require them. I also invite the pre-teen/teen to be a part of them. Depending on a variety of factors, we may even begin to do check-ins every other week or wean off of them all together.

    Ages 15 and up: Once they are 15, teens now have more of a say in how their information is communicated. I no longer do parent check-ins unless the teen requests it or there is a safety concern.

    In each stage, you are always welcome to share any updates with me or ask anything. Depending on the question, I may be limited in what I can share.

    Lastly, in line with mandatory reporting, know that I will always bring you into the conversation if there is ever a safety concern as long as they are under 18. I am also very clear with pre-teens/teens that I need to talk to their parents if there is a safety concern and I let them know when I need to contact you.

  • I typically recommend that I meet with a new client once a week for the first 4 to 6 weeks to build rapport and momentum. After the first 4 to 6 sessions, we can then discuss if it’s appropriate to transition to sessions every other week or continue with weekly sessions. I understand that weekly sessions are not always possible, and that is okay! It just takes a little more time to get moving.

  • It typically around 6 sessions for individuals to establish trust and feel safe enough in to bring what they’re going through into the therapy room. After trust has been built, it is hard to name a specific timeline for the remainder of therapy as there are many variables that impact the therapeutic process (such as presenting problem, personality, continued development, on-going life events and stressors, etc.).