Therapy

If you are a parent reading this at 11pm because something is wrong and you cannot get them to talk: that instinct is usually right, and calling early is better than waiting to be sure.

—   Anxiety — school refusal, social anxiety, panic, perfectionism

—   Depression, withdrawal and loss of interest

—   Self-esteem and body image

—   Trauma, including childhood trauma and bullying

—   Self-harm and suicidal thoughts

—   Anger and behaviour that has escalated at home or school

—   Gender identity and sexuality, and the distress that can come with them

—   Neurodivergence — ADHD and autism, and the exhaustion of masking

—   Family conflict, divorce and adjusting between two homes

—   Grief

—   Life transitions — starting high school, leaving for college, leaving home

Fit matters more with teenagers than with almost anyone. A teenager who does not like their therapist will attend and say nothing for six months.

— Carly Sandmann, MSW, LICSW — works with adolescents from 12 and young adults; specialises in anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem and major transitions; TF-CBT, DBT, solution-focused and mindfulness. Has coached competitive cheerleading for five years and brings that to the room.

—   Charles Fai, MA, LPCC — works with children, teens and families; TF-CBT-trained; particular experience with adolescent behavioural concerns and working alongside parents and schools.

—   Leah DeBoer, MSW, LGSW — strong passion for adolescents and young adults; anxiety, autism spectrum, depression, self-esteem, gender dysphoria, body image, complex trauma; as a BIPOC and queer therapist, committed to LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved clients.

—   Dave Lindlbauer, MS Ed., LPCC — works with clients aged 10 and up; TF-CBT, motivational interviewing and Brainspotting.

—   Miranda Stenstrup, MSW, LICSW — works primarily with young adults; CBT, TF-CBT, DBT and Accelerated Resolution Therapy.

The first session usually involves you. After that, most of the work is with your teenager directly, with you brought in at intervals — sometimes together, sometimes separately. Your therapist will explain at the outset what will be kept private and what will not. Broadly, teenagers need some confidentiality for therapy to be worth anything, and you will always be told about anything affecting their safety.

If your teenager refuses to come, start on your own. Parenting support is effective in its own right, and it takes the fight about attendance off the table, which is often a significant part of the problem.

We are open Monday to Friday 8am–5pm and Saturday mornings until 2pm. Saturday appointments mean no missed classes and no argument about leaving early. Video sessions are available too, though for younger teenagers in-person is often better — a shared car journey either side of a session tends to be where a fair amount of the talking happens.

FAQ