Therapy for Teens in Glendale, Arizona
Does my teenager need therapy?
Many teenagers would benefit from a therapist to help them get through all the hard things that come with being a teen. As a parent you might find yourself asking “why is my teenager isolating?” “how do I help a grieving teen?” or “is this normal?” Your teenager might benefit from seeing a therapist if they are experiencing:
Social rejection or isolation
Questioning their identity and where they belong
Struggling to “find themselves”
Significant loss or changes in their life (such as moving, breakups, or not getting on the team)
Suicidal ideation or self-harming behaviors
Excessive worry about their future
Teens need a therapist who talks to them like an adult, but supports them in the areas they are still learning.
Therapy that doesn’t feel like “therapy”
Sometimes teens don’t want to talk about it.
I get that, and I am ready to help them express themselves in a way that feels natural.
We can use music, art, movement, or even video games to help them explore their feelings and process their emotions. To help teenagers who don’t want to talk to some stuffy old therapist, I focus on the therapeutic relationship. I ensure that they feel heard, respected, and valued for their thoughts and opinions.
How is therapy for teens different?
Adolescents are trying to figure out who they are and where they belong. They start to pull away from their family, challenge authority, and try to make their way in the world as independently as they can. As they are flooded with all the changes that happen in their teen years, mental health can become an incredible burden. That’s why I balance the mental health needs of teens with the developmental needs. I honor their need for exploration and discovery with whatever mental health challenge they are facing.
After a significant loss, death, or change in life, anyone’s world turns upside down. Now when that happens during a time when our sense of the world is already unstable, it can be an immense pressure to the already chaotic tasks of just surviving high school. I recognize the complexity in this, and work with every aspect of a person to help alleviate the burdens. Grieving teenagers need a therapist who recognizes their developmental needs, and the needs of all grievers.
“Grace was instrumental in helping my son with grief when we experienced a tragic death in our family. She is so patient, attentive, and calming, and she answered all of his many questions. Her wealth of knowledge coupled with her extensive experience with kids makes her the perfect therapist. Would highly recommend!”
