Older Teens
I work with teenagers 16 and up.
Being a teenager takes a lot of courage. So much is changing internally and externally for teenagers, that life can seem both exciting and overwhelming. For teens facing grief, getting professional help is often initially uncomfortable but they usually come to value the support. Having started therapy when I was a teen, I remember and still value the genuine attention and help my first therapist offered me.
My work with teens in somewhat specific as I work with teens facing grief and loss. (I do not work with teens around issues related to eating disorders, significant mood disorders, or self-harm.)
Illness and Loss: Living with a chronically or terminally ill parent or sibling can alter a teenager’s experience. Losing a parent, sibling, or close friend has lasting impact on so many levels. I work with teens who are facing illness themselves, living with illness in the home, or who have experienced the death of loved ones. Working with feelings, thoughts and beliefs, I walk along with teens down this hard road. Being willing to just sit with the absolute unfairness of it all is often a good start. From there, we can move onto how to live with loss, how to find meaning in one’s present moment and how to look forward.