Adolescence is a time of intense change, marked by experimentation and exploration of identities. The period is often tumultuous, as times exhilarating, at times challenging, and at times quite painful. I truly enjoy working with teenagers and feel privileged when they allow me to join with them in exploring their inner and outer worlds. I also learn a great deal from them, as they often remind me to stay curious and open to new experiences, and to take time to play and enjoy life.  My regard for adolescents shows in my ability to form strong therapeutic bonds that foster growth. In situations in which adolescent clients come to therapy reluctantly, I am able to spark their curiosity and collaborate with them on developing their own motivations and goals for treatment. 

My work with adolescents generally includes parents or caretakers to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the family’s needs and the age of the client.  I skillfully apply a variety of evidence-based and effective therapeutic approaches for teenagers, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Internal Family Systems, and somatic techniques. I have expertise in a wide range of challenges associated with this stage of life, including navigating peer and family relationships, coping with psychiatric disorders, managing academic and extracurricular stress, exploring sexual and gender identity, and facilitating family interactions. I have published in peer-reviewed psychological journals on adolescent depression, and I spearheaded a research project aimed at preventing clinical depression in adolescent mothers.