Therapy for Teens in Washington, D.C. and Virginia
Being a teen isn’t easy.
And parenting one? That can feel even more challenging.
A Look at My Approach to Working with Teens
*Cameron's story is a composite of the experiences of many teens I've worked with, capturing the challenges they face and the transformative work we do together in therapy. (Cameron is a fictional name to protect client privacy.)*
Cameron is a 15-year-old high school freshman who can’t take it anymore. She knows she’s not dumb but can’t keep up in school. She has ADHD and feels distracted and nervous constantly.
How she feels could result from feeling nervous about her friends suddenly “dropping her” or whether she said the wrong thing in class and looked like a fool. And then she beats herself up for wasting so much time.
Deep down, she knows she’s a good friend and genuinely trying her best in school. But her head is spinning in a million different directions, and she’s simply trying to stay afloat.
And then, at home, it feels even worse sometimes.
Although Cameron knows her parents have good intentions, she feels uncomfortable talking to them. They ask too many questions. Cameron could tell they were worried about her, making her feel terrible.
She feels like she is letting herself and everyone down.
One day, her parents tell Cameron that talking to a therapist would help. Cameron says, “But I’m not crazy!” Her parents encouraged her to try therapy because they found an excellent therapist who would understand her problems.
There’s a path forward, even if it feels hard to see right now.
Cameron’s first session went better than expected.
Cameron was surprised by how comfortable she felt in my therapy office in her first session. She felt like I genuinely cared and was interested in getting to know her, making answering questions feel more accessible and manageable. Things began to change. We talked about her anxiety, her self-doubt, and the ways she tried to feel in control, even if they weren’t healthy.
Through therapy, Cameron learned about her brain, how ADHD showed up in her life, and ways to manage stress and negative thinking. We worked on practical tools for communicating with her friends, teachers, and parents. Cameron’s parents joined the process, too, learning how to better support her and create more connection at home.
Slowly but surely, Cameron started feeling more confident. She used mindfulness techniques to handle stress and negative thoughts, and she realized she didn’t need to put herself down to feel in control. She stopped skipping meals, felt better about herself, and began to enjoy school and social interactions more.
Therapy can make a real difference.
It’s a space for your teen to understand their feelings, learn to manage challenges, and start building confidence. With the right support, your teen can move through the tough parts of growing up with more ease.
If your teen’s story feels similar or you think they could benefit from therapy…
let’s chat.
Therapy with me can help your teen…
Feel more confident and less overwhelmed in social and school settings. With new coping skills and mindfulness practices, they’ll learn to manage anxiety and navigate negative thought patterns, making it easier to stay present and engaged.
Have deeper and improved relationships, leading to more open and honest communication. As you gain practical tools from working together, you’ll feel better equipped to support them, creating a stronger and more trusting connection.
Be equiped to better deal with everyday challenges —from schoolwork and tasks to social pressures—as they understand their own emotional responses and develop better focus. This shift helps reduce stress and makes it easier for them to keep up with daily life.
Have more resilience and learn to self-regulate when intrusive thoughts or big emotions come up. With a deeper understanding of their feelings and how to cope, they’ll gain a sense of control and emotional stability.
Better communicate and ask for help. As their anxiety decreases, they’ll engage more at home, share their day, and ask for help when needed. This positive shift will make parenting feel easier and more rewarding for you, knowing you’re supporting them in the best ways possible.
And SO much more...
Therapy Approaches
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EMDR Therapy
Teens dealing with bullying, social anxiety, academic pressure, or past difficult experiences can carry self-doubt and emotional stress. EMDR helps process these experiences in a safe way, so they don’t continue to shape how they see themselves or hold them back from feeling confident and secure.
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Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Stress, anxiety, and past experiences don’t just affect thoughts—they show up in the body too. If a teen feels tense, restless, or disconnected, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy helps them tune into their body’s signals, reduce overwhelm, and build real skills for emotional regulation.
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IFS
The teenage years can feel like an emotional tug-of-war—one part of you wants independence, another part feels anxious, and another might struggle with self-doubt. IFS helps teens understand and work with these different parts, so they can build self-confidence, manage emotions, and feel more in control of their choices.
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Therapy Intensives
Teens often feel frustrated by slow progress or struggle to stay engaged in traditional therapy. Intensives allow for deeper, faster progress by providing dedicated time to focus on what really matters—helping teens build skills, process emotions, and feel better in a more concentrated and effective way.
Change is possible. With the right support, your teen can build confidence, navigate challenges, and thrive in their daily life.
FAQs about Therapy for Teens
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I have a strong background in working with teens, built on over 14 years of experience in a variety of settings. I earned my Master of Social Work degree from The Catholic University of America in 2012. I have worked with teens in schools, in-home family therapy, group practices, and now in my private practice. In 2020, I completed a two-year post-graduate training in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy from the Washington School of Psychiatry. This further laid the foundation for my psychodynamic relational approach, which focuses on building a genuine, safe connection where teens feel heard and understood. This type of therapy helps teens feel comfortable exploring their emotions, thoughts, and struggles without fear of judgment, which is essential in fostering their growth. I also know how to integrate parents into the process, empowering them with tools to better support their teen and strengthen their relationship at home.
My training also includes certifications in evidence-based practices such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, both of which are adaptable and highly effective when working with teens, particularly with anxiety, low self-esteem, and trauma. EMDR helps teens process difficult memories and emotions by guiding them through a structured, safe approach that reduces distress and builds resilience. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy combines talk therapy with body-focused techniques to help teens recognize and release physical tension and learn to manage stress more effectively. These approaches are tailored to meet teens where they are, addressing their unique experiences and supporting their journey toward emotional well-being. For more information on these modalities, please feel free to visit their dedicated pages.
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Parent involvement is essential to your teen’s progress in therapy. To start, I ask parents to meet with me for an initial intake session, which helps me understand the family dynamics and goals for therapy. During the early phase of treatment, I encourage at least monthly check-ins with parents to provide updates and discuss strategies to support their teen's progress. While parent sessions are generally held separately from teen sessions, I will also bring parents and teens together for joint meetings when it benefits the therapeutic process. This approach helps create a collaborative and supportive environment for your teen’s growth.
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Sessions with teens are typically held on a weekly basis, with each one lasting 45 minutes. Parent meetings take place typically once per month, at least in the beginning of treatment.
In addition to regular sessions, I also offer intensive therapy options for those who would benefit from a deeper dive into their challenges and goals. Intensives can provide a focused and accelerated path to progress, allowing your teen to gain more tools and insight in a shorter timeframe. Please visit my page on Intensives for more information.
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To get your teen started in therapy, the first step is to reach out and schedule a consultation. During this initial conversation, we’ll discuss your teen’s needs, goals for therapy, and any questions or concerns you may have. I’ll also explain more about how I approach therapy, what to expect, and how I integrate parents into the process to support your teen’s progress.
Once we’ve connected, we'll schedule the first session.
I’m open to meeting with either the parents or the teen first—whichever feels most comfortable and empowering for your family. It’s important that everyone feels they have agency in this process, so we can start in a way that works best for your unique situation. This initial meeting helps us discuss your goals and any questions you might have about the therapy process. From there, we can create a plan that supports your teen’s needs and sets the foundation for a collaborative and supportive experience.
In-person therapy in Washington, D.C.
Virtual Therapy: Healing from the Comfort of Home
Life is busy, and carving out time for therapy can feel like just another stressor. That’s why I offer virtual therapy—a flexible, accessible option designed to fit seamlessly into your routine.
Imagine settling into your favorite chair, a warm drink in hand, your pet by your side, and starting our session from the privacy of your own space. Many clients find it easier to open up when they’re in a familiar environment, free from the pressures of commuting or worrying about being seen at a therapy office.
Virtual therapy offers all the same benefits of in-person sessions, with added convenience and confidentiality. You can save time, avoid transportation hassles, and focus entirely on your healing. Our sessions will be held over a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform, ensuring your privacy and safety every step of the way.
