therapy for teens ages 12-17

Therapy for Teens & Adolescents

I help tweens and teens navigate intense emotions, build autonomy, and develop skills to thrive at school, in relationships and in things they care about most.

At Featherstone Psychology, I create space for teens and adolescents to feel safe, understood, and supported while they figure things out.

The teenage years can be complicated! Adolescents are navigating friendships, school, family, social pressures, and identity. At the same time, they are learning how to manage emotions that can often feel out of control.

At Featherstone, we work collaboratively to better understand what is getting in the way of their goals, while also developing practical skills to help them get into the driver’s seat of their own lives… and sometimes literally getting into that driver’s seat!

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Teen emotional struggles can look different from child or adult anxiety. In addition, many teens may not know how to communicate, “I’m overwhelmed" or “I need help!”

SIGNS YOUR TEEN MIGHT BE STRUGGLING

Anxiety
Excessive worry, overthinking, reassurance-seeking, or difficulty tolerating uncertainty

Avoidance
Avoiding school, social situations, activities they used to enjoy

Big emotions
Irritability, anger, emotional outbursts, shutdowns, low frustration tolerance

Perfectionism
Fear of mistakes, excessive self-criticism, procrastination, not feeling  “good enough” 

School struggles
Difficulty concentrating, declining grades, school avoidance, procrastination 

Social changes
Withdrawing from friends, social anxiety, increased sensitivity to judgment, or changes in friendships

OCD symptoms
Intrusive thoughts, checking, rituals, compulsions, or excessive reassurance-seeking

Physical symptoms
Frequent headaches, stomachaches, nausea, difficulty sleeping, or other stress-related physical complaints

Loss of interest
Pulling away from hobbies, sports, friendships, or activities they once enjoyed

Changes at home
Increased conflict, defiance, rule-breaking, shutting down, frequently overwhelmed by everyday expectations, holding it together at school or in activities but falling apart at home

Excessive screen use
Increased use of screens to avoid/cope with emotions, difficulty disconnecting

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Tween and Teen therapy isn’t just about sitting on a couch talking about anxiety.

At Featherstone, we use an active approach to therapy with adolescents. Sessions incorporate psychoeducation, skill building, behavioral interventions, mindfulness, and cognitive restructuring to help teens practice a new way of responding to difficult emotions using hands-on, practical strategies.

The goal of treatment is not to eliminate anxiety or uncomfortable feelings altogether, but to help adolescents learn to tolerate discomfort and uncertainty without allowing those feelings to control their actions.

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Meeting teens where they are.

Teenagers are not little kids, but they aren’t adults yet, either! They require an approach that recognizes their growing independence, while still providing necessary structure and support.

A Safe Space for Teens

A critical component of adolescent therapy is creating a mutual relationship where they feel safe enough to be honest.  Every teen deserves a space where they feel like they can speak openly without immediately feeling judged, corrected, or told what to do. Together, we build trust first - while I help the teen to develop the insight and understanding of their mental health. 

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Education for Parents

When a teen is struggling, parents often find themselves unsure of when to step in, when to step back, how much reassurance to provide, or how to respond when anxiety starts taking over the family.  I provide parents with guidance and tools to better understand what their teen is experiencing, and how they can support progress at home, while also respecting the teen’s need for privacy and growing independence. 

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We can address a number of anxiety, behavioral, or transitional issues in therapy:

Anxiety Related Conditions

  • Generalized Anxiety

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

  • Separation Anxiety 

  • Social Phobia / Social Anxiety 

  • Specific Phobias

  • Panic Disorder

  • Health Anxiety

  • Perfectionism

Behavioral Concerns

  • Executive Functioning Difficulties (ADHD)

  • Opposition and Defiance 

  • Screen Dependence

  • Emotional Dysregulation

  • Skin Picking 

  • Hair Pulling 

Transitional Difficulties

  • School Avoidance/Refusal 

  • Sleep Difficulties 

  • Divorce

  • Grief/Loss 

  • Major Life Transitions

  • Trauma Related Concerns

Self-Discovery

  • Identity Exploration
    including sexual and gender identity 

  • Values & Strengths

  • Self Esteem 

  • Body Image 

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Here’s how the process works:

01. Consultation Call

The process begins with a free consultation call to determine whether we might be a good fit.

Inquire to book yours now →

02. Initial Intake Session

From there, we’ll schedule an initial intake session where I’ll learn more about you—your personality, strengths, challenges, history, relationships, and what is bringing you to therapy now. Together, we’ll identify what you’d like to change and develop goals and a treatment approach tailored to your individual needs.

03. Our Work Begins

Depending on your goals, therapy may include practical skill-building, behavioral strategies, exposure work and trauma processing. Together, we will explore the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and focus on how these patterns show up in your everyday life.

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You don’t have to wait until your teen is in crisis to seek support. 

If you’re noticing meaningful changes in your teen’s mood, behavior, relationships, school functioning, or ability to participate in everyday life, therapy can help you and your child understand what’s underneath the behavior and provide practical tools to navigate it.

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therapy for teens

FAQs

  • Adolescence naturally comes with mood changes, more independence, conflict, and increased stress. Therapy may be helpful when anxiety, avoidance, emotional distress, or changes in behavior begin interfering with your teen’s relationships, school, activities, sleep, or overall quality of life.

  • It’s common for teens to feel hesitant about therapy, especially when it involves talking with someone new. I focus first on building trust and creating a space where your teen feels comfortable, respected, and genuinely heard. Therapy tends to be most effective when teens feel a sense of ownership and choice in the process, rather than feeling like therapy is something being “done to” them.

    Parents are also welcome to be part of the process—even when their teen isn’t ready to participate. Parent-focused sessions can provide guidance, practical strategies, and support for navigating challenges at home while creating space for your teen to engage in therapy when they feel ready.

  • In short, no. Confidentiality is an important part of creating a trusting therapeutic relationship with adolescents. Parents are still an important part of treatment, and we will discuss what information can be shared and how we can work together to support your teen while respecting their privacy.

  • Parent involvement varies depending on the teen’s age, concerns, and treatment goals. Parents may participate in portions of sessions, engage in parent-only training sessions, or receive specific guidance and strategies to support progress at home. The goal is to involve parents in a way that supports treatment without taking away the teen’s sense of ownership, as developmentally appropriate.  

  • Absolutely. Often, when a teen resists a strategy, it is because that tool feels clunky, awkward, or simply too hard to access when emotions are high. Rather than just handing them more strategies they won’t use, we dig deeper to understand what is creating that resistance and help them find a path forward that feels manageable.

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