Sometimes the most effective work is with the young person. Sometimes it starts with the people around them.

Where we start

Before anything else, we get a clear picture of what's going on. That means listening to the young person and, when appropriate, to the people around them. A good assessment doesn't rush to conclusions — it figures out what the actual problem is and what kind of help is most likely to matter.

Individual therapy with the young person

Often the core of the work happens one-on-one. Teens and young adults tend to engage more when they're treated as the capable people they are. The focus might be emotion regulation, anxiety, motivation, relationships, or figuring out what they want — and the approach adjusts to what's actually getting in the way.

When parents are part of the work

The young person is not the only person who may need to learn something new. Sometimes the most effective treatment includes helping parents understand what is happening, respond differently, and support the skills their teen is learning in therapy. The amount and type of parent involvement depends on the young person's age, the concerns we're addressing, family dynamics, and what is most likely to help. That might include parent guidance, skills coaching, shared conversations, or family sessions. We'll also be clear about confidentiality and what information needs to be shared.

When family work is part of treatment

Sometimes the patterns keeping a young person stuck involve the interactions between family members. In those situations, working only with the young person may not be enough. Family sessions can create an opportunity to slow those patterns down, understand what each person is responding to, and practice different ways of communicating and responding. The goal isn't to decide who is at fault. It's to help the family create an environment in which the young person can actually use and maintain what they're learning in therapy.