Adolescent/Parenting counseling

 Adolescence is a time of change, growth, and seeking independence.  When dealing with the pressure of school, parents, friends, and fitting in with peers, teen-aged life can feel overwhelming.  Some of the signs an adolescent may not be coping well are depression, anxiety, excessive worry, anger outbursts, isolating, compulsive behavior, alcohol and /or substance abuse, friendship issues, family problems, eating issues, problems in school, suicide thoughts/attempts, and self-harming behavior. 

I help families learn how to communicate effectively, resolve conflict, and understand their family dynamics in order to elicit positive change. The main goals are to repair frazzled relationships, learn coping skills, set family goals, and restore peace in the home while I help the acting-out adolescent learn how to process their emotions in a more appropriate manner.    

I am not a licensed family therapist and do not do family counseling as a practice but as I work one on one counseling an adolescent or adult there are times when it is important to bring in other family members to work towards healing with the client. I also work individually with parents to help them work through parenting issues by providing strategies, coping skills, and communication skills that may help change the communication and dynamics in the family to help facilitate change.