Anxiety
Worry that has become unmanageable, avoidance that is narrowing a teenager's world, or anxiety that lives in the body, in social situations, or in relationships. Often connected to deeper questions about worthiness and belonging.
Adolescent Therapy · Austin, TX & New York · Ages 14+
Teenagers are doing
more than struggling.
They're becoming someone.
Depth-oriented therapy for adolescents ages 14 and up, in person in Austin, TX and telehealth across Texas and New York. Working with the whole teenager, not just the presenting problem, with parents as a meaningful part of the process.
Get in Touch The ApproachThe Approach
Taking the teenager seriously.
Adolescence is one of the most psychologically active periods of life. Teenagers are forming an identity, individuating from their families, figuring out who they are in relation to peers and to the wider world. When something goes wrong during that process, it rarely shows up as just one thing.
This work takes the whole teenager seriously, not just the anxiety, not just the OCD, not just the conflict at home. What is the symptom communicating? What relational patterns are forming? What does this teenager need in order to develop a genuine sense of self, rather than one organized around managing other people's expectations or their own fear?
Confidentiality rules for minors differ by state and are discussed openly at the start of treatment. How information flows between Jen, the teenager, and the parents is established collaboratively from the outset. The goal is a working relationship where the teenager feels safe enough to actually use the therapy, and where parents are informed partners in the process.
Jen has a particular clinical interest in integrating parents into adolescent treatment in ways that support the teenager's growing autonomy rather than undermining it. The goal is a family system where the teenager can actually develop, not just one where the symptoms quiet down.
Currently accepting new clients →"The goal isn't just helping a teenager function better. It's helping them become who they actually are."
What Brings Teenagers to Therapy
Common presenting concerns.
OCD & Intrusive Thoughts
OCD frequently emerges or intensifies during adolescence. ERP is integrated alongside deeper work to address both the compulsive patterns and the shame or self-doubt that often accompanies them in teenagers.
Identity & Self-Development
Questions about who they are, where they belong, what they value, and how to hold onto themselves inside their family and social worlds. This is developmentally normal and sometimes needs a dedicated space.
Family & Relational Conflict
Difficulty navigating relationships with parents, siblings, or peers. Conflict that keeps repeating. A sense of not being understood, or of not knowing how to say what they actually mean.
For Parents
What parent involvement looks like.
Periodic Parent Meetings
For most adolescent clients, Jen meets with parents separately on a regular basis. These conversations focus on what the teenager is navigating, how parents can respond helpfully, and what dynamics in the family system might be worth examining.
Building Trust Within the Legal Reality
Confidentiality rules for minors differ by state and are discussed openly at the outset. The focus of parent meetings is on helping parents understand and respond to their teenager, not on detailed session reporting. How this works in practice is established collaboratively at the start of treatment.
Evaluated Case by Case
The nature and frequency of parent involvement is discussed at the outset and revisited as the work develops. Some situations call for more intensive parent work; others less. It follows the clinical need, not a fixed protocol.
FAQ
Common Questions
What age range do you work with?
Adolescents ages 14 and up, in person in Austin, TX and via telehealth across Texas and in New York.
How are parents involved?
Parent involvement is generally part of the work and evaluated on a case by case basis. Confidentiality rules for minors differ by state and are discussed openly at the start of treatment. Jen works collaboratively with teenagers and parents to establish how information is shared in a way that supports the work.
As a parent, what do I have access to?
Confidentiality rules for minors differ by state and are discussed openly at the start of treatment with both the teenager and the parents. Parent meetings focus on the bigger picture, helping parents understand and respond to their teenager, rather than detailed session reporting.
My teenager doesn't want to come to therapy. What do I do?
That's common and worth a conversation. Sometimes a brief consultation with the parents first is a useful place to start. Reach out and we can talk through what might make sense.
Do you treat OCD in teenagers?
Yes. OCD frequently emerges or intensifies during adolescence. ERP is integrated alongside deeper analytic work to address both the compulsive patterns and what underlies them.
How much does adolescent therapy cost?
Sessions start at $175, with sliding scale availability. In Austin the practice is private pay. In New York, Aetna and Cigna are accepted through Attune.
Get in Touch
Ready to reach out?
Location
1706 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701
Phone
(512) 956-7263
Fees
Sessions from $175 · Sliding scale available · Private pay (Austin) · Aetna & Cigna (New York)
Currently Accepting
New clients in Austin and New York
If you're a parent wondering whether your teenager might benefit from this kind of work, or a teenager looking for a space to figure things out, reach out for a brief consultation.