Adolescents

• Being a teenager is hard and raising one can be even harder. Over the years, I've worked with hundreds of teens and their parents and enjoy helping with this difficult developmental stage.

  Direct communication of their feelings, especially to their parents, is often an undeveloped skill in teens. When they experience uncomfortable emotions but are unable to express themselves, adolescents often will act out their feelings in unhealthy ways. A lot of what teens need at this stage is someone other than their parents to talk to confidentially.

  Teens demand more freedom and space at a time in their lives when the stakes seem higher and they may appear unprepared for the challenges ahead. I help parents understand this difficult time and feel more confident navigating those tricky moments. This may mean learning to set firmer limits, knowing when to let go, or finding the right balance between the two. And sometimes a parent may just need a safe place to decompress, unload their stress, and get some support.

  Some of the issues I address with adolescents and their parents are:

  Poor Grades
  Communication Problems
  Defiance and other Acting Out
  Depression
  Relationships with Parents or Siblings
  Divorce and Blended Families
  Abuse and Trauma
  Drug and Alcohol Issues
  Sexuality and Sexual Identity
  Anxiety
  Grief
  Video Games and Internet Problems