therapy for teens

I have worked with teens my entire career, and it is always exciting and challenging.  My book, Your Amazing Teen Brain: CBT and Neuroscience Skills to Stress Less, Balance Emotions, and Strengthen Your Growing Mind, taught me so much about adolescence and the brain.  For better or worse, brain development is a part of CBT therapy for teens.  Your brain is changing so much right now, and there are tangible ways we can "hack" some of those changes to make them work better for you.

There are four main tasks of adolescence (according to Wildhood - one of my very favorite books).  These are (paraphrased): 1.  Safety 2.  Negotiating status 3.  Sexuality 4.  Self-reliance What do you think?  I think it sounds about right.

When we work together, we get to know each other.  I try to understand how you think about things and what motivates and gets to you.  I share observations, connections, and strategies with you along the way.  CBT is direct, meaning I let you know what I'm thinking.  If I disagree with you and see something different, I will challenge you, but if you disagree with me, you also challenge me.  You are the expert on your own experience, and I promise to work hard to understand, but your insight is vital.  I value you and your perspective.