Therapy for Adolescents

“What happened to the child I once knew?”

Your once adorable, loving, sweet, and innocent child is now a teenager. There are few moments in your interactions together that are peaceful. When those moments do occur, you walk on eggshells.

You don’t deny your love for them, but their moods, disrespect, and entitlement make you feel like giving up. After a big fight, you say to yourself, “I can’t wait until they grow up.” But you know, if this is not addressed soon, they will become a challenging adult out in the real world.

The arguments you have about waking up ruin both of your mornings. The excuses given why they don’t clean up after themselves are legendary, yet you continue to pick up after them while they spend countless hours on the phone that you bought them.

You think, “If only I taught them when they were younger.”

Holding the line doesn’t work – they continue to push back.

Several times in the past, you held firm to your position.

While holding the line, their anger exploded. Your child yelled and made a huge scene about cleaning up their mess after their friends were over.

The temper tantrums in public are worthy of going viral. They go on and on about how their friends’ parents don’t make them clean up, “They have a maid for that.”

When you hear the story about your child’s best friend “getting a $60,000 car,” it drives you insane.

Welcome to the hidden curriculum of being a parent.

Our job as parents is to make sure our children grow up to be respectful, responsible, empathetic adults who are considerate to others and productive citizens in society.

You might wonder, “How do I get them there?” The answer is to seek therapy to help you and your child connect and understand each other.

As a therapist with training and personal experience working with adolescents, I can help your child deal with the challenges of being an adolescent – part way between being a child and a young adult. I will provide a space where your child can express their feelings and frustrations.

At the same time, I will work with you to learn ways to set limits, be direct, not give in, and have honest conversations. Your child often has value in what they say; it’s the way they say it that’s concerning.

The first step in receiving help for you and your child to navigate adolescence is to call me and set an appointment. Every child is different. Let’s all work together to develop goals for you and your child. Please call to set up your free consultation.