Q: Why won’t my teen talk to me?

A: Your teen may be protecting you from his big feelings, or may be protecting himself by not feeling anything. Both of these tendencies are normal and probably help your teen cope and get through his day. You may be seeing some patterns that you believe are damaging and unhealthy, but which your teen insists are not.  I am not here to decide what your teen feels or why he does what he does. Hopefully I can provide support, non-judgmental listening, and assistance decoding the possible sadness, isolation, and confusion that the teen years can bring. Sometimes having an adult to speak with, such as a therapist, who is not a family member or a friend, is a relief. 

Q: Do you work with schools, doctors, and other members of the teen’s care team?

A: I have worked with teens who receive no support outside the family, and teens who are supported by a team of other professionals. I believe in communication and working together, and the importance of being on the same page for the benefit of the teen. I will not communicate with anyone about your teen without written permission from both you and your teen.

Q: Will I get updates on what you discuss with my teen?

A: In order to facilitate trust and a therapeutic relationship, I am unable to share details on what your teen and I discuss. An exception to this is if I have concerns about your teen’s safety or the safety of another child or vulnerable person. The limits to confidentiality will be discussed in detail in our first session, and are articulated in my privacy policy.

Q: When is the best time to get therapy for my child?

A: There is no “right” time or wrong time to seek help. If your teen is struggling, and is willing to try, therapy might help. 

Q: Why don’t you accept insurance?

A: Mine is a very small, part-time practice and the reimbursement paperwork required for insurance coverage is more labor intensive than I'm able to navigate.

Additionally, in order for insurance to cover therapy, I would need to diagnose your child with an approved mental health disorder. While mental health diagnoses can be helpful in directing interventions and providing effective treatment, not every teen that struggles has or needs an official diagnosis. I will certainly let you know if I am seeing signs that your teen would benefit from a psychiatric evaluation or more intensive treatment. My goal is to help your teen via therapy, not fight with insurance companies or diagnose your child in order to meet their requirements.