New to Grow
As a parent, you may notice the growing complexity of raising teens in a world that never slows down. Normal adolescent development already brings its own demands. Add increasing academic pressure, social stress, and digital exposure, and some teens begin to struggle with anxiety, emotional reactivity, mood problems, trauma, and harmful coping behaviors. It can be hard to know what's typical, what's escalating, and what to do next. Using flexible, help families make sense of what to accept, support, and nurture, and what needs thoughtful intervention. I work to help young people build insight and learn regulation and coping skills while helping caregivers respond with confidence, clarity, and skills to support lasting change.
Beginning therapy can feel overwhelming. I approach a first session with intention and care, pacing our work so that teens and caregivers feel informed and at ease. In the first session, I begin by reviewing confidentiality so you--caregivers and teens--understand what remains private, what may be shared, and how safety concerns are handled. From there, we determine together the most appropriate place to begin -- whether that means meeting with caregivers only, the teen, or everyone together. This will allow us to have a mutual, clear understanding of the concerns while ensuring each person feels prepared for next steps. We then will explore your reasons for seeking help, what you have already tried, and what you hope will change. This session and the few that follow will focus on forming a mutual understanding of patterns, identifying priorities, and creating a plan for moving forward. My goal is not to rush solutions, but to build clarity and direction with care.
Adolescence can be intense. When teens are overwhelmed, shutdown, reactive, or unsure how to explain what they are feeling, I work to slow things down rather than escalate the problem. I create a space where young people feel safe enough to be honest--and where parents feel supported rather than blamed. I work with teens to find strategies to cope in the moment and on understanding what's underneath. Sometimes that means learning how to pause a conflict, calm a spiraling thought, get through a hard school day, or ride out painful emotions without causing more pain. Other times it means gently exploring the patterns and feelings that drive those moments. When teens and their caregivers have practical ways to respond and a clearer understanding of what's happening internally, things begin to feel more steady and workable. I balance structure with flexibility. Some teens benefit from clear guidance and predictable frameworks, others need room to process at their own pace. I see therapy as an ongoing process of adjustment to the changing needs of my clients. I work comfortably with neurodivergent teens, including those with ADHD and autism. I understand that regulation, communication, executive functioning, and social experiences may look different -- and that growth may not follow the "typical" timeline. Goals for neurodivergent teens often need to be especially individualized and realistic. I also recognize how overwhelmed parents of neurodivergent teens may feel when the usual strategies don't work. I help families adjust expectations without lowering hope, creating supports that reduce daily friction while strengthening confidence. Above all, I focus on progress that feels manageable and sustainable. Therapy doesn't have to be dramatic to be meaningful--small, steady shifts often create the strongest change.
I work best with adolescents who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma-related concerns, and difficulty regulating emotions. Many of the teens I see rely on coping strategies such as self-harm, harsh self-talk, relational conflict, or impulsive behaviors when feelings become overwhelming. I regularly work with teenagers who have co-occuring neurodivergence. I intentionally adapt structure, expectations, and strategies to differences in sensory processing, communication style and emotion regulation. My work frequently involves supporting families through challenges related to screen use, digital exposure, and online safety in a way that balances structure with autonomy. The young people who tend to make the most meaningful progress with me are often sensitive and thoughtful, even if that sensitivity shows up as intensity or shutdown. They may feel stuck in patterns they don't like but aren't sure how to shift them. Progress deepens when parents are open to collaboration and willing to support consistent, compassionate structure outside of sessions. I provide guidance to help caregivers understand what's driving behaviors and how to respond in ways that reduce shame while increasing clarity, stability, and growth. The young people who tend to make the most meaningful progress with me are often sensitive and thoughtful, even if that sensitivity shows up as intensity or shutdown. They may feel stuck in patterns they don't like but aren't sure how to shift them. When they are willing to engage and reflect, growth can be significant.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use a DBT-informed approach to help teens build concrete skills for managing intense emotions, reducing impulsive patterns and harmful behaviors and improving relationships. I integrate emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and relationship skills in a developmentally appropriate way, partnering with parents to create greater consistency and safety at home.
Trauma-Focused CBT
I use the TF-CBT protocol within a polyvagal-informed framework to help children and adolescents process traumatic experiences safely. Treatment begins with nervous system stabilization and skill-building to increase emotional regulation and felt safety before moving into gradual trauma processing. Caregivers are included to strengthen attachment, improve co-regulation, and support healing beyond therapy sessions. My approach balances evidence-based structure with attuned, relational support to foster resilience and long-term recovery.