As an adolescent therapist, I strive to connect. To listen before providing feedback. To ask questions to better understand. Connection is the sense of closeness and belongingness a person can experience when having supportive relationships with those around them. Connection is when each person feels valued, seen and heard. Connection and compassion are essential during the therapy process, as is challenging and guiding individuals to push beyond their current understanding and patterns to develop healthier, life-improving skills/habits/approaches. Before a teen can receive the “new” approaches they must first be heard, understood and validated. Adolescents often receive the “new” approaches before feeling fully heard as loving adults in their lives want to share their wisdom in an attempt to ‘protect’ and ‘guide’ adolescents away from mistakes or uncomfortable situations. However, the adolescent life stage is all about developing their own wisdom through the experience. As connection begins to take hold then the next phase of our time together begins. I like to refer to this phase as “gently nudging” them. This may look like finding new meaning to an experience, challenging an unhealthy belief, noticing distorted thinking, identifying barriers to growth, discontinuing toxic/unhealthy habits, setting boundaries or recognizing when boundaries are too rigid. Adolescents who are open to being ‘nudged’ in a healthier direction are individuals who feel heard and understood first. They feel some level of trust and feel they are being guided in a direction that can benefit their quality of life. I hope to help adolescents experience connection followed by growth.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
To provide the safe space needed for adolescents in therapy it is important to note that my protocol is to refrain from sharing therapy session discussions with parents. I can provide parents with treatment updates, progress made, and skills taught. I will include parents if there is a safety risk (suicidal/homicidal ideation, intent, plan) or report suspected abuse (physical, emotional, sexual). This can be frustrating for parents as they want to know, so they can help. Parents can be helpful by allowing this safe space for their teen. If it is helpful to know, I often encourage my adolescents to be more open with parents and can provide them with the language to present that information in the most effective way to be heard and understood. I encourage both parents and teens to read and understand my approach and how I may be of help. If you feel I can help please take the next step to schedule an intake appointment.
The treatment methods and tools I utilize
I have been practicing since 2009 as a child and adolescent therapist. I have had the opportunity to work in both Pennsylvania and California in a variety of settings including residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient, school-based and outpatient clinic. I have worked with youth who have experienced depression, anxiety, trauma, self-injurious (self-harm) behaviors and suicidal thoughts and actions. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused CBT, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I find that each adolescent requires thoughtfulness in determining the approaches and skills used based on their needs and experiences.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
Meeting my teens where they are is incredibly important to me. Taking time to understand and give validation to emotions, thoughts and experiences is vital to a person’s ability to feel understood. Accepting where a person is at while showing them that they can grow and change is a delicate balance and one that I truly work hard to achieve. I enjoy helping teens to be the best version of themselves and learn to be effective in getting what they want and need by helping them to recognize what isn’t working or serving them.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
At this time I will be working with adolescents ages 12-18.