There is no question that being a teenager is tumultuous and not without many challenges. I have found a passion for working with teens over the last five years in various settings. Teen brains differ from typical adults’ brains as they are still developing, and as a result, the therapeutic approach must also be different. Teen therapy needs to be more tailored to meet their specific developmental milestones as well as topics that are relevant to them.

My years working with over 100 individual teen clients and as an adult mental health associate at Teenline have taught me how to speak “teen”. Teenagers need a safe place away from friends, family and school to process their emotions and life stressors. Working with teens requires meeting them with empathy and acceptance, validating their experiences and creating a nurturing environment where they feel empowered and feel comfortable enough to move at their own pace.