Teen therapy in Thousand Oaks

Your teen is anxious, pulling away or dreading school, and every conversation turns into a fight. You’re not sure what would help. I work with kids and teens ages 10 and up, and with the parents who love them, in person and online across California.

Starting with the relationship

Kids and teens open up when they feel safe, not when they feel managed. Early sessions focus on getting to know your child and what their days actually feel like, at school, at home, and with friends.

My work is neurodivergent-affirming, whether or not your teen has a diagnosis. We’re not trying to make your child act more typical. We’re helping them understand how their brain works, build skills that fit it and feel better about who they are.

Common reasons families reach out: anxiety, friendship trouble, falling grades, school avoidance, low mood, perfectionism, meltdowns and shutdowns, a recent diagnosis, constant fighting at home and a teen who has stopped talking to you.

Social skills are part of this work too, done the affirming way. We don’t train teens to act neurotypical. We help them make sense of friendships, read social situations, handle conflict and find people who get them. Kids who keep getting misread often start expecting it, and that shapes how they connect at home too.

I’ve worked with teens in residential treatment and intensive outpatient programs.

Repairing the parent-teen relationship

I’m trained in Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT), a structured approach built for teens and their parents. Most teens don’t stop talking to their parents because they don’t care. They stop because past conversations went badly. ABFT works on that directly.

We start with separate time. I meet with your teen to understand what’s getting in the way, and with you to look at what you need and what you’re carrying. When everyone is ready, we come together for the conversations that have felt impossible at home.

The goal is a teen who comes to you when things are hard.

You stay involved

I meet with parents separately on a regular schedule. You get support for what you’re carrying and a clear picture of how to help at home and at school. Your teen gets privacy to speak freely. We agree on confidentiality together in the first session, so everyone knows what to expect. If you want support of your own, I also offer parent coaching.

You know your child better than anyone, and your read on what’s happening shapes the work. Many parents also come away with a clearer sense of what their child needs at home and at school.

The practical details

Common questions