Teen Therapy in Lafayette, CA
Adolescence is genuinely hard. Teenagers are being asked to figure out who they are while simultaneously managing academic pressure, social dynamics, family expectations, and a brain that is still developing. When those pressures stack up without somewhere to put them, the results can look like anxiety, defiance, withdrawal, or a kind of low-grade misery that is hard to name.
I work with teens as their own people — not as problems to be managed or extensions of their parents. A teenager who feels genuinely heard in therapy will do the work. One who feels patronized will not.
What brings teens to therapy
Anxiety and academic stress
Low mood, depression, and loss of motivation
Identity questions — including cultural, religious, and personal identity
Friendship and relationship difficulties
Conflict at home and family tension
Social media pressure and self-image
Big transitions: changing schools, leaving for college, navigating first relationships
I keep parents informed and involved at an appropriate level, while ensuring the teen has a space that genuinely belongs to them.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call Contra Costa Crisis Center at 211 / 800-833-2900.