Adolescence is a time of significant development.
The process of leaving childhood behind, gaining independence, and approaching adulthood is both exciting and fraught. Relationships with family and friends can be tumultuous, at the same time that anxiety about school and identity can abound.
Who am I? Where do I fit in? What is possible for me in the future? How do I compare to the people around me? These are the questions that predominate this age. Teenagers use many means to attempt to figure out answers, some of which are more helpful than others.
Acting out, exploring substances, withdrawal from previously held interests or friends, disordered eating, lying, school performance issues, and more can be efforts at understanding oneself and one’s place in the world. Speaking with a trusted adult can help make sense of these and other experiences by providing a space to explore safely and honestly.
My adolescent specialties include: depression, anxiety, processing parental divorce, substance use concerns, eating disorders, and gender and sexual identity exploration. I tend to work particularly well with young people who externally present as “fine” and internally struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and emotional overwhelm.