We understand the unique challenges of the teen years with ADHD, Anxiety and Transitions.
We work closely with families because the best way to help teens with ADHD is to create an ADHD-friendly home environment.
Teens are often ready to engage in individual therapy and benefit from it, but, just as with child therapy, we feel that it’s very important to have parental involvement.
Our therapists may alternate between seeing the teen alone and seeing the teen with the parents so that issues relating to home and school can be discussed as a family.
Our individual work with teens often focuses on self-esteem issues, social anxiety, and explosive reactions at home in response to interactions with parents.
Many teens can benefit from a DBT ‘Informed’ therapeutic approach that teaches them how to control emotional overreactions to stresses in their environment.
Practical Help and Strategies for Teens:
Practical, solution-focused counseling — to build self-esteem, develop self-understanding, learn to take charge of ADHD challenges, and build on strengths.
Self-advocacy skills — We help teens to understand their needs and rights for appropriate accommodations and how to advocate for them at school.
Learning life skills — Helping teens with ADHD develop competence and confidence so that they are better prepared to function independently.
Integration of Coaching & Mentoring — to help teens learn study skills/time management and organizing skills — Both our therapist and our executive functioning coaches work with teens to help them develop the skills they need to succeed.
College Guidance — Helping teens to make the right college choice — we focus on each student’s needs for support, assess their readiness for independence, and help them to find a curriculum matched to their strengths and interests.
Transition to College — Working with teens to prepare for making a successful transition to college. If students go away to  college, we can continue to work with them via phone or Skype, help them to find the supports that they need on campus, and provide ongoing care when they return home on holidays or summer vacation.
Help for Parents and Families of Teens:
We work with parents in:
Family counseling — helping teens and their parents build a positive, constructive relationship.
Parent guidance — helping parents learn effective ways to provide structure and support while helping their teen move toward greater independence.
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