Life is hard for teens today! Our kids are struggling like never before with mental health issues and who can blame them! They are growing up at a time when we are facing political unrest, climate change and fear, the pressure to keep up under the influence of social media and a pandemic!

Adolescent mental health has never been more in jeopardy. Our kids are struggline with…

• Emotional disorders like anxiety and depression. Emotional disorders are common among adolescents. Anxiety disorders (which may involve panic or excessive worry) are the most prevalent in this age group and are more common among older than among younger adolescents. It is estimated that 3.6% of 10-14 year-olds and 4.6% of 15-19 year-olds experience an anxiety disorder. Depression is estimated to occur among 1.1% of adolescents aged 10-14 years, and 2.8% of 15-19-year-olds. Depression and anxiety share some of the same symptoms, including rapid and unexpected changes in mood. Anxiety and depressive disorders can profoundly affect school attendance and schoolwork. Social withdrawal can exacerbate isolation and loneliness. Depression can lead to suicide.
• Self-esteem and self-image problems.
• Sexual and gender identity confusion.
• Behavioral and neurological disorders like ADHD and conduct disorders.
• Eating disorders– Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, commonly emerge during adolescence and young adulthood. Eating disorders involve abnormal eating behavior and preoccupation with food, accompanied in most instances by concerns about body weight and shape. Anorexia nervosa can lead to premature death, often due to medical complications or suicide, and has higher mortality than any other mental disorder.
• Psychosis
• Suicide and self-harm (ie, cutting)- Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in older adolescents (15-19 years).  Risk factors for suicide are multifaceted and include harmful use of alcohol, abuse in childhood, stigma against help-seeking, barriers to accessing care, and access to means of suicide. Social media, like any other media, can play a significant role in either enhancing or weakening suicide prevention efforts.
• Risk-taking behavior such as substance abuse of marijuana, alcohol and vaping.
• Academic underachievement due to emotional and mental health issues.

Seeing your teen struggle with depression, anxiety, ADHD, self-esteem or an eating disorder is painful and terrifying and can leave parents feeling lost and helpless.  How are parents supposed to know what is a normal amount of experimentation versus substance abuse.? How much is normal for kids to be on screens versus signs of addictive behavior?

We bring a wealth of experience to working with teens. We can help you to assess what is going on with your child and begin to work towards helping them to reach their potential and feel good about themselves. 

We are able to form strong bonds with kids at the same time that we create a bridge in their communication with parents and family. Although creating a safe space for teens to address their issues is essential we don’t believe that therapy that excludes parents is good for kids. The goal of therapy is to, first and foremost, provide teens with symptom relief but also to strengthen the bond that they have with family. The work we do with kids allows them to get to know themselves more intimately as well as provides them with skills to improve their lives personally, socially, and academically.