Psychotherapy for Teens
Teens
Being a teenager can be tough.
Between school, homework, friends, and hobbies or sports, balancing it all can feel overwhelming.
The people and events in your life bump up against a growing desire for freedom, self-expression, and self-discovery.
Feeling misunderstood - or worse - like no one listens or cares about your thoughts or feelings can leave you feeling isolated without a solid place to turn to for judgement free support and guidance.
Depth Work with Teens
The benefit of being a depth-oriented therapist is it provides me the freedom to be creative in session with whatever may come up for the client. Teens have such a unique perspective on life, and care deeply about things that can sometimes be lost on adults.
In session, we may listen to a teen's favorite musician and explore what about the music is inspiring, evocative, or touching. We may use art, play improv games, or simply talk about what is happening for the client.
Regardless of the interventions used, I focus on developing a strong relationship by building trust with the client.
We will also work on skills like empathic listening, honest and sensitive communication, identifying wants and needs, and establishing boundaries.
I rely on humor in session often and aim to be as relatable as an old person can be in the eyes of a teen. I also gladly share bits of my own journey when clinically relevant to a client.
Depth Work for Teen Athletes
As with adult athletes, depth work is an effective way at helping young athletes understand themselves, and the unconscious dynamics that may impact their performance on and off the field of play.
Being successful in athletics carries with it many opportunities. Beyond personal development and physical health, excelling at sports may provide financial or educational privileges that might otherwise be inaccessible for a person or family.
Understanding the type of pressure that can be put on young athletes today, it is imperative that teen athletes get the support and develop a strong sense of self-awareness to help guide them as they grow into their abilities as an athlete and as a young adult.
