Adolescence is an emotional rollercoaster, and that may be putting it lightly. Equipping teens with the therapeutic tools they can carry through high school, college, and beyond is something I am passionate about.
Teens are resourceful, resilient, and creative. I believe therapy is a space in which those strengths are amplified with the guidance of a trusted adult. Connecting with a teen takes time, and I prioritize solidifying the therapeutic relationship to ensure your teen feels it’s safe to commit to the emotional work of therapy. Teens making the changes which allow them to have the capacity to healthily immerse themselves in the fun parts of adolescence is the ultimate goal.
Individual sessions are tailored to each teen’s experiences and needs.
DBT sessions with teens highlight emotion regulation and navigating relationships. The number of weekly sessions, the structure of individual sessions, and any additional clinical recommendations will be based on the teen’s presenting experience and needs.
DBT has been found to be effective for navigating depression, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, substance use, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and impulsivity. DBT for adolescents and families (DBT-A) consists of five skills modules:
The foundation of DBT. Teaching teens how to stay in the present moment without judgment or over attaching meaning to the moment or themselves.
Providing teens with the skills to ride of the waves of intense emotions and cope through crises. The goal is for teens to develop skills to not make situations worse.
Teens are introduced to skills to identify, understand, and effectively change their emotions. The goal is to identify vulnerability factors and reduce the intensity of unwanted emotions and impulsive behaviors.
Teens learn skills to navigate current relationships and build new relationships, which include boundary setting, assertive communication skills, and maintaining self-respect in all types of relationships.
This module focuses on managing conflict and reducing power struggles. Teens and families are introduced to communication skills, which include how to validate one another’s perspectives, discussing boundaries, and how to effectively negotiate. Families learn how to navigate the dialectics present in adolescence, such as needing independence and needing support.
The youngest age I see in my practice is 10 years old. I will occasionally work with younger based on the presenting circumstances. Please do not hesitate to reach out to discuss if your child would be a therapeutic fit for my practice.
Yes, I have afternoon and early evening availability Monday through Thursday, meeting with clients at my Studio City office or virtually.
It is recommended that your child attends sessions once per week. It is important that there is consistency with sessions in order to build rapport, introduce coping skills, and assist with the individualized application of coping skills. If specifically pursuing DBT therapy, the number of recommended weekly sessions is based on the intensity of symptoms.
Throughout the course of therapy, we will have check ins regarding your child’s therapeutic progress and the frequency of sessions.
I definitely encourage parent involvement, especially if one of the areas of focus is parent-child communication! To ensure that your child continues to see therapy as a “safe space,” I do ask that we schedule conjoint sessions in advance so no one is caught off guard.
Confidentiality applies to sessions with teens and there are some exceptions. Teens are informed in our first session that I will immediately reach out to parents/caregivers if they are a danger to themselves, a danger to others, or if they are being emotionally or physically harmed by others. Safety is the priority. As it pertains to progress updates, I do give teens a heads up when I will be contacting parents/caregivers to provide an overview of their therapeutic growth.
The following article provides guidance in how to bring up starting therapy: https://childmind.org/article/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-starting-therapy/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=pub_ed_nl_2023-08-29_middle&utm_content=how-to-talk-to-kids-about-starting-therapy
STUDIO CITY, CA 91604
Surrounding Neighborhoods:
Encino, Sherman Oaks,Valley Village, North Hollywood,
Toluca Lake, Toluca Woods, Burbank, Universal City, Hollywood Hills
Laurel Canyon, West Hollywood
Online sessions are available to individuals residing within the states of California and Florida.
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