Counseling for Teens

The pressure is a lot.

But no one would describe you as stressed. Nope, not you. Your teachers and coaches only see you as a confident, smart, and capable young person who has huge potential.

What they don’t see are the things you tell yourself, like…

• "That was just luck. Next time they'll see I'm not really that good."

• "That mistake is going to cost us the game, and it's all my fault."

• "I've been staring at this AP Calc problem for 20 minutes. Anyone else would have solved it by now."

And they definitely don’t see the panic attack you had in the bathroom last week between English and Geometry or you pretending like everything was fine when you felt like throwing up before your last competition.

Once you’re successful in the current activity, you feel some relief. And then the anxiety and worry pick back up about the next big task.

When you get home, it’s really hard to turn your mind off and just…rest. (Rest? We don’t know her.) Instead, your brain jumps between wondering what kind of grade you got on your American Lit essay, and dreading your upcoming group project (because you’ll end up picking up someone’s – everyone’s? – slack).

Friend, you’re tired. But it’s really hard to sleep!

And your parents have noticed you seem stressed and tired. They care about you and say things like…

• “That B+ won't define you. I know it’s important to you to be successful. I just want you to feel less stressed.”

• "I've noticed you seem overwhelmed lately. Maybe talking to someone could help you manage the pressure better."

• "Your brother struggled with anxiety in high school too, even though he didn't show it. We should have gotten him help sooner."

You appreciate that they care, but you still feel the pressure to perform at your best. Their concern sometimes makes you feel like you shouldn’t be struggling.

Even with their support, something just feels off… You feel kind of empty even though you should feel fulfilled and proud of yourself. You feel exhausted when you should feel excited. And you think your success is a fluke—that people won’t really like you if they knew how hard you have to work to pull it off, and how overwhelmed you really are.

You might be able to deal better with the stress and overwhelm if you had someone in your life who really got you. Your parents are trying to understand, but they still expect you to achieve. People see your confidence, ability, and potential, but they don't actually see YOU.

You don't want to be told to just drop activities or care less about school – that's not realistic. But you also can't keep feeling this way. You need someone who understands, but also isn't invested in your success in the same way your parents are – someone who can help you figure out what YOU really want.

Basically, you want help figuring things out, but you don’t want someone to brush off your feelings or tell you what to do.

That’s where I come in.

What if you could breathe again? Get some decent sleep? Enjoy time with your friends without that voice in your head counting all the things you should be doing instead?

Picture this:

• You go into that AP exam and you know it will be hard – I mean we are not trying to pretend high level academics aren’t stressful – but instead of the panic attack in the bathroom, you’re able to settle your nerves and focus. You’re realistic, but confident. You know perfection isn’t required for high-level success.

• You settle down to bed (yeah it’s late, but not that late)  and you actually fall asleep within 20 minutes – instead of lying awake for hours with your mind racing through tomorrow's to-do list. You have tools to quiet those thoughts and actually rest.

• You develop the confidence to ask for help when you need it – from teachers, coaches, friends, or your parents. Rather than criticizing yourself for it, you recognize that seeking support is actually a strength that high achievers use strategically.

• You can fully enjoy downtime with friends – whether it's gaming, watching movies, grabbing coffee, or just hanging out – without the nagging feeling that you should be studying instead. You're enjoying the moment, rather than mentally off somewhere else.

• You maintain your ambition and standards, but with a healthier inner voice. The voice that says "never good enough" gets replaced with one that celebrates your efforts and recognizes your accomplishments. You become proud of yourself.

• You and your parents find a better balance – they still support your goals and achievements, but you all have new ways to talk about pressure, expectations, and what success really means for YOU.

…I mean, yeah, you’re still dealing with all the ups and downs of being this age, so you’re allowed to flip out now and then, but the flips feel manageable and don’t ruin your entire week. 

Your ambition and work ethic don't disappear in therapy. 

You can still be that high-achieving, impressive student – but without the anxiety threatening to derail everything you've worked for.

Ready to talk? Let's work together to find that balance.

Hello, parent(s)!

While my primary relationship will be with your teen, I want you to know that I see you, too. I understand your concerns as a parent trying to balance supporting your teen's achievements and their mental and emotional health.

You want your teen to have sustainable success without sacrificing their wellbeing…

You want your teen to continue excelling in their AP classes, maintain their position as team captain, and build an impressive college application.

But you've noticed the toll it's taking – the dark circles under their eyes, the increasing irritability, the perfectionism that keeps them rewriting papers until 2 am.

You value your teen's mental and emotional health as much as their achievements. You want them to learn that taking care of themselves isn't just allowed – it's essential for long-term success!

You picture your teen staying passionate about their interests and activities, rather than becoming exhausted by them. You imagine them having the wisdom to occasionally say “no” to commitments when they need rest, without feeling like they've failed.

You want your teen to develop ways of handling their anxiety…

When your teen had that panic attack before the debate tournament, you felt helpless. You want your teen to learn how to manage their anxiety in ways that actually work – whether it's thought reframing skills or better time management approaches.

You want your teen to walk into that AP Calculus exam with healthy confidence, not paralyzing anxiety. You imagine your teen having a bad day but bouncing back quickly, rather than spiraling into self-criticism for days.

You want both mental health AND achievement for your teen…

You've seen other high-achieving students crash hard when they have an inevitable setback. You remember how your eldest struggled with perfectionism in high school, and you worry your teen might be following the same path.

You want your teen to handle disappointment in a healthy way – to see that B+ in Chemistry as information and feedback, rather than a failure. You picture your teen being able to celebrate their achievements instead of immediately worrying about the next hurdle.

You want better communication with your anxious teen…

You get concerned in those moments when your teen snaps, “You don't understand!” or shuts down when you try to discuss college plans. You notice how your teen sometimes pretends everything's fine – even when you can tell it's not.

You want to talk about expectations and pressure in a way that is supportive to your teen, and doesn’t make your teen feel even more pressured. You imagine family discussions about the future that don't end in tension, eyerolls, or tears.

You want professional guidance that complements your parenting…

You've tried saying all the right things – “Your worth isn't just about your grades,” “It's okay to make mistakes” – but they don't seem to sink in when coming from you. Sometimes your concern is misinterpreted as pressure.

You want a therapist for your teen who understands the importance of achievement, but also values mental health. You picture the therapist as a trusted guide who can help your teen internalize healthy perspectives that they might not fully hear or internalize when coming from you.

You want your teen to be happy, not just accomplished…

You've noticed how your teen doesn't seem to enjoy their successes. After winning the debate tournament, they immediately worried about the next competition rather than celebrating. Your teen’s room is filled with trophies and certificates that barely get glanced at.

You want them to find genuine satisfaction in their hard work. You imagine them feeling proud of their efforts regardless of outcome, and occasionally being able to relax without guilt. You want them to build a healthy relationship with achievement that will serve them throughout adulthood because it includes prioritizing mental health.

I’m here to help.

I know it's hard to entrust another person, about whom you know very little, with the job of helping your teen. This stage of growing independence is normal, but also challenging to navigate as a parent. You worry and want to hold them close, but know it's time to start letting go.

Imagine having someone who would alert you if your teen was in real danger, but otherwise would help them learn to problem-solve independently and communicate with you effectively—someone without the "parent energy" but who still cares deeply about both your teen and you.

This is where I come in. I provide your adolescent with a safe, confidential space while helping you both navigate these challenging times successfully.

Important note about confidentiality: I maintain strict confidentiality with your teen's sessions. I will only share information if there is imminent risk of harm. If you're looking for a therapist who routinely reports session content to parents, I'm not the right fit.

Imagine less stress, more smiles (I mean, count carefully—we're still dealing with hormones here!). Seriously, things can be better.

With my creative, collaborative, and respectful approach, we'll work together while honoring your teen's growing independence. You will not just survive adolescence – you'll both thrive through it

Let’s get started!

Photo Credits: Christian Erfurt (teen in blue hoodie), Joice Kelly (teen sitting on the floor), jeshoots.com (teen at computer) on Unsplash, & Ron Lach (teen with parent figure) on Pexels