Teenagers are fascinating people. They can act and sing in the school play, pitch a 90 mph fastball, code computer software, and take multiple AP exams. Teens ask impressive questions, and they can tell if you know what you’re talking about. They rely on their good friends. They wonder about sex and sexuality. They want to know they are loved and accepted in this awkward phase of development where they are budding adults and yet still children.

I have worked with a diverse population of teenagers as a high school Spanish teacher for eight years in Alabama and Colorado, as a missionary working with runaways, orphans, and victims of human trafficking in Peru, as a school based mental health counselor, and as a therapist with teens in juvenile detention. Teens face social, academic, athletic, and artistic pressures as they compete and find success on the field, stage, and in the classroom. Anxiety and depression are common concerns. They may struggle to make friends or suffer the ugliness of a bully. Teens may engage in cutting or other forms of self-harm. They can experiment with alcohol, drugs, and sex. Panic attacks or thoughts of suicide can creep in.

 Professional support for your child is an investment worth making for their well-being and positive personal growth. Professional support for you as the parent is equally valuable. Perhaps your relationship with your teen is not what you hoped. At times it is best to work individually with the teen, and at times it is best to work with the family unit. A phone call will help us determine our next steps.

Let’s schedule a time to get started.