Teen & Preteen Therapy
B.B., 10 years old
“She is so kind and even if you feel uncomfortable you can tell her things. Her dog Iggy makes you feel calm and like you can trust her.”
A.H., 12 years old
“Sarah is such a kind and caring person it’s easy to let go and talk to her.”
When your kids are struggling, it can affect the whole family - and make the problem hard to pin down.
T.F., 14 years old
“Sarah has helped us through a lot: [foster mom and I] communicating with each other better, helping all of us with advice and getting through things, and so much more! I dissociate a lot and Sarah has helped with that. She is one of the best people I have.”
M.H., 10 years old
“Usually I like the other person to do most of the talking but she got me to open up.”
Becoming an adult is hard work.
Some parents come to me with preteens or teens who have disruptive or distressing behaviors, but many older kids end up in my office because they have asked to start with a therapist. The gray area of developing autonomy and self expression while functioning as a child in a family can present unique challenges. Plus sometimes they just don’t know how to talk to you.
I give preteens and teens a space to express their feelings with talking and other modalities, and provide the safe neutral adult presence that many are seeking at this stage of development. Just as importantly, I actively work with them to take responsibility for their own roles in relationships, develop insight around their own needs, and gain the skills they need to communicate them effectively.
I conduct parent coaching, whose amount varies by the child’s need and age, alongside each preteen or teen that I see. This helps ensure that therapy doesn’t become a “black box” but that the themes in therapy can be explored at home by other members of the family.
V.J., a foster parent of 14 year old T.
“As a brand-new foster parent, it was tough for me to find my footing and address the many challenges my first placement faced. Sarah was a fantastic resource for both of us; T considers her one of their most trusted people, and I have very much valued the opportunities we've had for both individual and joint coaching with Sarah. T has been a part of the family for two years, and we wouldn't have found our rhythm as easily or as quickly as we did with Sarah's help.”
J.B., parent of 10 year old B.B.
“Sarah is thoughtful and candid. I knew my child thrived with her attention and feedback. I value the care and discernment she brought to supporting my daughter.”