Therapy for Teens
A consistent space to find clarity, connection, and new direction.
Teen counseling in Los Angeles grounded in psychoanalytic understanding. In-person in Beverly Hills and surrounding Westside neighborhoods. Telehealth sessions across California.
My Approach to Working with Teens
I listen closely, to what is said and what is hard to say, so we can follow the threads of worry, sadness, or numbness back to their roots. Symptoms are not just problems to remove; they often hold information about needs, longings, and conflicts that haven't yet had language.
In sessions, I invite teens to notice how feelings, thoughts, and relationships show up in the room, at school, and online. We move at a thoughtful pace. My approach to therapy for teens is not symptom management; it is developing a durable understanding of what drives these patterns, so that anxiety, mood, self-esteem, and family dynamics all begin to shift from within. Parents and caregivers are partners in this process, and we discuss together how and when to involve you while protecting your teen's confidentiality.
I also offer group therapy for teens, where the dynamics between peers become a direct vehicle for understanding and growth.
My Specialties
Anxiety & Stress
The worry that follows them everywhere. A test, a party, a conversation with a friend: any moment that should feel ordinary becomes charged with dread. In teenagers, anxiety often operates beneath awareness, quietly narrowing their world long before anyone names it. In our work, we explore what the anxiety is protecting and what it might be trying to say.
Depression & Low Motivation
They've gone quiet. The things that used to light them up don't seem to matter anymore. Sleep is off, grades are slipping, and there's a flatness that worries you. What often presents as laziness or disinterest is a kind of emotional withdrawal, a pulling away from a world that feels too demanding or too disappointing. We work to understand what has gone silent and why, rather than simply trying to lift the mood.
Anger & Acting Out
The explosive arguments, the defiance that seems to come from nowhere, the door that slams before you can finish a sentence. A teenager's anger is rarely just a mood. It is often doing the psychological work of separation, protecting against shame, vulnerability, or feelings they don't yet have words for. If you've been wondering why your teenager gets so angry, the answer often lies deeper than the surface conflict.
Self-Esteem
The constant measuring against peers, the scrolling through lives that look effortless while theirs feels like a struggle, the voice that tells them they're not enough. Self-esteem difficulties in adolescence often trace back to the gap between who they are and who they believe they should be, shaped by seeing themselves through others' eyes or against ideals that were never their own. We work to understand where that critical voice came from, so it begins to lose its grip.
Grief & Loss
A grandparent who died. A friend who disappeared. A family that no longer looks the way it did. Teenagers grieve in ways adults don't always recognize: through anger, numbness, recklessness, or a sudden withdrawal that seems out of character. What looks like acting out may be a teenager's way of managing a loss they haven't been able to put into words.
Life Transitions
Starting a new school, parents separating, a move across the city or across the country. Even positive changes can unsettle a teenager's sense of who they are and where they belong. What parents often describe as teenage angst during these moments is frequently the sound of a young person trying to make sense of a world that shifted beneath them. I help teens find language for what the transition has stirred up.
Identity & Individuation
"Who am I if I'm not who my parents expect?" "Why do I feel like I'm performing all the time?" The work of becoming a separate person, with desires, values, and a direction that feel genuinely your own, is one of the central developmental tasks of adolescence. It can feel exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. I create space for teens to sit with these questions rather than rushing toward answers, even when therapy for teenagers begins with silence or resistance.
Perfectionism
The You've watched them work on the same essay for six hours and turn in nothing. You've said "it's good enough" and watched it land nowhere. The activities they used to love get dropped the moment they're not immediately the best. What looks like high standards is more often a defense against shame: if the work is never finished, it can never be judged, and they never have to feel exposed. We explore what the impossible standards are protecting, so your teen can risk being good enough rather than flawless.
Read more about how I work with perfectionism
I also work with neurodivergence, personality disorders, psychosis, and trauma. For teens who may benefit from peer connection, I also offer group therapy for teens, where real-time dynamics between peers become a direct vehicle for understanding.
What to Expect from Our Work Together
A steady, confidential space: A weekly 50-minute session in person or online.
Thoughtful listening: We explore feelings and patterns, not just attempt to “fix” them.
Collaborative goals: We define what relief and growth would look like for you.
Attention to relationships: How friendships, family, and social media shape mood and self-worth.
Parent collaboration: Periodic check-ins (with your teen’s consent) to support change at home.
Practical support: Gentle structure around sleep, school stress, and screen habits when helpful.
Depth and durability: Understanding that lasts beyond a crisis or semester.
FAQCommon Questions about Adolescent Therapy
How do I know if my teenager needs counseling?
If your teenager's mood, behavior, or relationships have changed significantly and the changes persist beyond a few weeks, a professional conversation is worth considering. Warning signs include withdrawal from friends, irritability that's become the default, sleep problems, slipping grades, or expressions of hopelessness or numbness. You're not alone in noticing this: approximately one in five adolescents ages 12 to 17 now has a diagnosed mental health condition, and teen anxiety diagnoses have risen 61% since 2016. Counseling for teenagers can help them make sense of what's happening rather than simply managing it. Trust what you're noticing.
What is psychoanalytic therapy for teens?
Psychoanalytic therapy is a depth-oriented approach that explores the patterns, relationships, and unconscious forces shaping a teenager's emotional life, rather than focusing solely on managing symptoms. It asks why: why they withdraw, why they lash out, why the worry won't stop. When a teen begins to understand what drives these patterns, the symptoms themselves shift.
Do you include parents or caregivers?
Yes, collaboration is important. We'll decide together how to involve you in ways that support your teen while respecting their privacy and autonomy.
Where are you located?
My office is at 9615 Brighton Way in Beverly Hills. As a teen therapist, I work with families across the Westside of Los Angeles, including Brentwood, Santa Monica, Westwood, Century City, and West Hollywood. I provide both in-person and online sessions. I’ve found that for many teens, the comfort of their own space actually helps them open up more freely.
What should I look for in a therapist for teenagers?
The relationship between therapist and teen matters more than any specific technique. Research shows that the therapeutic alliance is one of the most consistent predictors of positive outcomes, regardless of the approach used. Your teen needs to feel genuinely understood, not just assessed. As a teen psychologist, I pay close attention to what happens between us in the room, because that connection is where real change takes shape. I'd suggest scheduling consultations with a few providers and noticing who your teen responds to.
What issues do you commonly work with?
Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, grief, anger, life transitions, school stress, and identity questions. I also work with teens navigating family conflict, friendship difficulties, and the pressure to perform. Each teen's experience is different, and I don't approach any two the same way.
From the blogUnderstanding Your Teen
Get StartedReady to Begin?
I offer a free 15-minute consultation to see if we're a good fit. No pressure, just a chance to connect and answer your questions.