I offer therapy to teens who are navigating pressure, anxiety, depression, and the question of who they are. If you're the parent doing the searching, this page is for you: what therapy is like, how you're involved, and how to start.
Check what fits. We can discuss your answers when you book a consult.
Check what fits. It comes with you when you schedule, so we can start there.
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with fifteen years in behavioral health. Early in my career I did intensive, family-based work with adolescents and their families across a wide range of mental health and behavioral challenges, often in situations with a great deal at stake. For most of the last decade I led clinical services and training at a Bay Area nonprofit, supervising clinicians and teaching on risk assessment, safety planning, and working with people in distress.
That background means I'm comfortable with difficult subjects, I can recognize when more than weekly therapy is needed, and I'll be clear with you about progress and what I recommend.
We start with a free 15-minute phone call with you. If it feels like a fit, your teen is welcome to have a short call with me before we begin, so they have a say.
High school-aged teens. Teens under 18 start with a parent's consent; clients 18 and older consent for themselves. Clients must be physically in California, in a private location, during video sessions.
Secure video anywhere in California, or in person at my office at 518 Hamilton Ave in Palo Alto.
50 minutes, $300, private pay. Most teens meet weekly to start, and we work out timing on the consult call. I provide monthly superbills if you have out-of-network benefits, and time we spend meeting about your teen's care is billed at the same prorated rate. Fees and payment details.
Therapy only works if your teen can speak freely, so I share general themes and progress rather than what's said in session. If I'm seriously concerned about their safety, I will take steps to mitigate risk, which may include involving you. The details are in the consent form you sign before we start.
It helps, and most are more open once they know what to expect. If yours is unsure, there's a page written for them that explains what therapy with me is like and what stays private. I'm also happy to have a short consult with them, so they can decide for themselves.
There's no perfect script, and it usually goes best when it starts from care. Something like: "I've noticed things have felt heavy lately, and I'd like you to have more support. I found someone I think you might like. Would you take a look at her page?" Then send them the page written for them and give it a day. Having a say in the decision makes a big difference.
Being quiet at first is common, and I'm comfortable with silence. We go at their pace, and meeting in person can help. Therapy works best when someone is at least willing to try, so if your teen is firmly opposed, we can talk on the consult call about whether now is the right time.
Therapy can help with all of these, and they often overlap. You don't need a diagnosis to start. We work on practical skills for managing symptoms day to day, and on how they affect school, friendships, and home. If you're wondering what's going on, I can use screening tools to point us in a direction, and if a full evaluation would be useful, I'll let you know and help you find the right support.
Yes. I don't prescribe medication, but I'm glad to coordinate with their prescriber, with your permission and, ideally, theirs. If you're wondering whether medication could help, I can talk it through with you and help you find the right resources.
Yes, as adult clients who consent for themselves and book on their own. If your child is in college or in their twenties, the page written for them explains how that works, including the California-location requirement for video sessions.
Fifteen minutes by phone, with you. We'll talk about what you're seeing and whether I'm the right fit for your teen.