Tweens and Adolescents
Helping teens feel understood, supported, and more confident in who they are.
Being a tween or teenager has never been simple. Today, young people are navigating academic pressure, friendships, social media, family expectations, changing relationships, and the challenge of figuring out who they are—all while managing emotions that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
As a parent, it can be difficult to know when typical adolescent struggles have become something more. You may notice your child withdrawing, becoming more anxious or irritable, struggling at school, losing confidence, having difficulty with friendships, or simply seeming unlike themselves.
Therapy can give tweens and teens a safe place to slow down, talk openly, and feel understood without judgment.
A Space Where Teens Can Be Themselves
One of the most important parts of therapy with adolescents is the relationship.
We know that many teens don't walk into therapy excited to talk to a therapist. Some are nervous, skeptical, or attending because a parent suggested it. That's okay.
Our first priority is creating a comfortable environment where your teen can gradually build trust and feel safe being themselves. We meet adolescents where they are rather than expecting them to immediately open up.
Depending on your teen's personality and needs, sessions may include conversation, journaling, workbooks, mindfulness, somatic techniques, or practical strategies they can use outside of therapy.
Over time, therapy can help adolescents better understand their emotions, recognize patterns, develop healthier coping skills, communicate more effectively, and feel more confident navigating challenges.
What We Help With
We work with tweens and adolescents experiencing:
Anxiety and excessive worry
Depression and low mood
ADHD and emotional regulation difficulties
School stress and academic pressure
Friendship and social challenges
Low self-esteem and confidence
Bullying
Family conflict
Divorce and family transitions
Relationship concerns
Learning differences
Perfectionism and fear of failure
Anger and irritability
Self-harm
Grief and loss
Trauma and difficult life experiences
Sometimes there isn't one obvious problem. A parent may simply sense that their child is struggling or that communication at home has become increasingly difficult. Therapy can help us understand what's happening beneath the surface.
Supporting Parents While Protecting Your Teen's Trust
Parents are an important part of adolescent therapy.
At the same time, teens need to know that therapy is a space where they can speak openly and develop a trusting relationship with their therapist.
We work thoughtfully to balance both.
When appropriate, we collaborate with parents, provide guidance, and may incorporate parent or family sessions to improve communication, strengthen relationships, establish healthier boundaries, and help families better understand and support one another.
The goal isn't to decide who's right or wrong. It's to help your family understand what may be driving the behavior or conflict and create healthier ways of connecting.
Therapy That Goes Beyond Coping Skills
While practical tools can be extremely helpful, we also want to understand why your teen is struggling.
Our therapists draw from approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment Theory, Psychodynamic Therapy, family systems work, mindfulness, and somatic techniques.
This allows us to address immediate concerns while also exploring underlying emotions, relationships, experiences, and patterns that may be contributing to them.
We want adolescents to leave therapy with more than strategies for getting through a difficult moment. We want them to develop a stronger understanding of themselves and skills they can carry with them into adulthood.
Getting Started
Finding the right therapist for your tween or teen matters.
We offer an initial phone consultation so you can tell us a little about what has been happening, ask questions, and determine which therapist on our team may be the best fit for your child and family.
You don't have to wait until things reach a crisis point to ask for support.
Contact Isetta Psychotherapy to schedule a consultation and learn more about therapy for tweens and adolescents in Hermosa Beach and throughout the South Bay.
Serving the South Bay
In-person in Hermosa Beach. Serving teens and families in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, El Segundo, and surrounding areas. Telehealth available in California.
Insurance / superbills
We are an out-of-network practice. Superbills may be provided for possible reimbursement depending on your plan.
FAQ
Will you tell me what my teen says in session?
We protect teen confidentiality while also prioritizing safety. We’ll explain boundaries clearly and collaborate with parents in a way that supports trust and progress.
How long does teen therapy last?
It varies. Some teens benefit from short-term support around a specific issue; others benefit from longer-term work.
Read my blog post about Spotting the Signs: How to Identify Issues in Adolescents and When to Seek Help from a Therapist