I love working with youth, ages 10-16. Since kids in that age range can vary developmentally quite a bit, it is important to me that I meet the child where they are at. I am comfortable working with issues such as anxiety, depression, behavioral problems at school or at home and self-esteem issues. I tend to take an eclectic approach, but find that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is effective in working with the younger populations. 

Anxiety

Anxiety and the young adolescent in our day and age is almost a given. With today’s social media pressures, combined with mass media coverage of shootings, climate change and the general tone of the political rhetoric, our kiddos are experiencing “big world” stressors but they still exist in their bubble. And that bubble comes with it’s own set of pressures and stress triggers, new schools, new classes, new and changing friend groups and changing bodies. Our middle schoolers are existing in a state of constant transition. No wonder they can feel a little stressed out! A little bit of stress associated with their new and emerging identities is normal. However, if you notice that your child’s anxiety is getting in the way of them living their best life, ie they start avoiding social events, sporting events, time with family or if they have a hard time letting you or their siblings be apart from them, then you may want to consider counseling. Social anxiety, general anxiety disorder and separation anxiety can begin to show up in our kids and it is important that they get the support and guidance to navigate this time in their life so that they can live fully and feel secure in who they are becoming.

Depression

Sleeping and figuring out their own identity is imperative to the healthy development of any adolescent. That figuring out may take place away from their parent figure which may feel foreign if you are used to your social butterfly of a child. But when does it become a problem? When do you know if your kiddo has moved from normal adolescent moodiness and sleep patterns to something far more menacing. Depression affects about 1 in 20 adolescents. The primary symptom of depression in adolescents is irritability, an inability to enjoy anything, social isolation and an unexplained dropping out from their usual social activities. Early detection and treatment of depression can decrease the severity and amount of recurrent episodes of depression in a young person’s life. By offering a space where we can explore the causes of the stressors and also figure out different coping mechanisms as well as the challenges raised by having depression.