TEEN COUNSELING
When Your Teen Is Struggling, You Don't Have to Navigate It Alone.
Watching your teenager struggle can leave you feeling uncertain about how to help. Anxiety, stress, ADHD, friendship struggles, family conflict, and the challenges that come with growing up can leave parents feeling uncertain about how to help.
Counseling provides a safe, supportive place where teens can build confidence, develop practical skills, and begin moving toward lasting change. Along the way, I partner with parents so your family feels supported every step of the process.
Serving Southern Indiana & Louisville
Creating a Safe Space for Honest Conversations
Many teenagers come to counseling feeling uncertain, guarded, or unsure of what to expect. Building trust takes time, and that's okay.
My first priority is creating a calm, supportive environment where teens feel respected, understood, and comfortable being themselves without fear of judgment. As trust develops, they're often able to talk more openly, better understand what they're experiencing, and begin building practical skills that help them navigate life's challenges with greater confidence.
Parents are an important part of the process, too. While respecting your teenager's privacy, I'll partner with you by offering guidance, answering questions, and helping you support your teen's progress between sessions.
Challenges I Commonly Help Teens Navigate
Anxiety
ADHD & Executive Functioning
School Stress
Friendships & Relationships
Family Challenges
Depression
What Counseling Can Help Build
Connection
Practical Skills
Confidence
Build a trusting
relationship where teens
feel safe to be honest,
explore challenges, &
begin making meaningful
progress.
Learn practical tools to
manage anxiety, improve
emotional regulation, strengthen
executive functioning, &
navigate everyday challenges
with greater confidence.
Develop greater
confidence, resilience, &
independence that
extends beyond the
therapy room.
Helping Your Teen Thrive—Together
Helping a teenager thrive often means supporting the entire family along the way.
My first priority is creating a safe, supportive space where your teenager feels comfortable being honest, asking questions, and talking about what's really going on.
At the same time, I partner with parents to provide guidance, strengthen communication, and support progress at home.
Together, we'll find the right balance of teen privacy, parent involvement, and practical support for your family's unique needs.
We Can Work Together On:
Improving parent-teen communication
Setting healthy boundaries & expectations
Managing anxiety, ADHD, & executive functioning challenges
Navigating school stress & academic concerns
Building confidence & emotional resilience
Strengthening family relationships
Helping Teens Feel Comfortable From the Start
For many teenagers, walking into a therapist's office is the hardest part.
Doc, a certified therapy dog, and Benson, a therapy dog in training, help create a calm, welcoming environment where many teens feel more comfortable relaxing, opening up, and engaging in the counseling process.
For some teens, simply having a friendly dog nearby makes it easier to begin talking. Others enjoy interacting with the dogs between conversations or during difficult moments. Participation is always optional, and each teen decides what feels most comfortable.
What to Expect
1
→
Reach Out
2
3
→
Initial Evaluation
Begin Therapy
Contact our office to
discuss your concerns
and determine
whether services
may be a good fit.
We'll gather information,
discuss goals, and
develop a plan tailored
to your teen's needs.
Together, we'll work
toward improved
coping skills, stronger
relationships, and
meaningful progress.
Experience & Professional Background
Experience
Education & Licensure
Specialized Training
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Individual Therapy
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Family Therapy
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Crisis Intervention
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Risk Assessment
-
Psychological Assessment
M.Ed., Counseling Psychology
University of Louisville
LMHC - Indiana
LPCC & LPP - Kentucky
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EMDR
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Animal-Assisted Therapy
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Seven Challenges Program
WHAT PARENTS OFTEN ASK
Q: Will you tell me everything my teenager says? For counseling to be effective, teenagers need to feel they have a safe and confidential place to talk. I do not routinely share the details of what is discussed during sessions. However, I do keep parents informed about overall progress, treatment goals, and ways they can support their teen at home. If there are concerns involving safety or situations where disclosure is legally or ethically required, I will communicate with parents promptly.
Q: How involved are parents in counseling? Parents play an important role in the counseling process. The level of involvement depends on your teenager's age, needs, and treatment goals. While individual sessions allow teens the opportunity to speak openly, I also work collaboratively with parents by providing guidance, sharing general progress, and involving them when it supports their teen's growth and well-being.
Q: Can parents meet with you separately? Yes. Parent sessions can be an important part of treatment when appropriate. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss concerns, learn strategies to better support your teenager, and strengthen communication within the family while keeping the therapeutic relationship with your teen intact.
Q: What if my teenager doesn't want counseling? It's common for teenagers to feel unsure or reluctant about starting counseling, especially if it wasn't their idea. My goal is never to force conversation, but to create a comfortable, respectful environment where teens feel heard and understood. As trust develops, many reluctant teens become more engaged and begin to see counseling as a place where they can talk openly without judgment.
Q: How do you build trust with teenagers? Building trust begins with creating a safe, respectful, and nonjudgmental environment. I take time to get to know each teen as an individual, listen carefully to their perspective, and work collaboratively toward goals that are meaningful to them. Rather than lecturing or taking sides, I focus on developing a genuine therapeutic relationship where teens feel understood, respected, and supported.
Q: How do I know if my teen needs counseling? While occasional mood changes are a normal part of adolescence, counseling may be helpful if your teen is experiencing persistent anxiety, sadness, irritability, changes in behavior, declining school performance, withdrawal from family or friends, difficulty coping with stress, or other emotional or behavioral concerns. If you're unsure whether counseling is appropriate, I'm happy to discuss your concerns and help determine whether therapy may be beneficial.
Taking the First Step Doesn't Have to Feel Overwhelming
If you're concerned about your teenager and wondering what to do next, I'd be honored to walk alongside your family.
We can talk about what's been happening, answer your questions, and decide whether counseling feels like the right fit for your family.
