Depression Therapy for Teens
Supporting teens and their parents in increasing hope in Sacramento and throughout California.
Does your teen frequently have a low mood?
Maybe it’s difficult to get them out of bed, or perhaps they’re failing classes because they don’t show up to class or complete the homework. You may have noticed a change in their eating or weight, or you’re concerned with the lack of hygiene. It could be that they’ve started making more statements showing hopelessness.
Whatever it is that they’re experiencing, you’re beginning to notice the impact of this in every facet of their life:
Their appetite has changed
They’re showering less
Either oversleeping or undersleeping
Social withdrawal
Decreased or failing grades
These symptoms might be affecting the whole family, not just your teen. Maybe siblings are fighting more, or your teen is spending more time in bed and you’re not quite sure how to help. If any of these symptoms are happening and you’re feeling concerned, you’re not alone and you’re in the right place.
Depression Therapy for Teens can help.
It may feel impossible now, but your teen can have positive relationships. They can get out of bed or take a shower without prompting. They can have positive thoughts about themselves and others. And I can help them get there.
Depression Therapy for Teens helps your teen do 3 things:
Increase motivation
Improve social relationships
Reduce negative thought patterns
Parents and families are important too
I work closely with the family system to learn the family dynamics, strengths, and expectations to tailor the therapeutic approach to meeting those needs. The families provide essential support in reinforcing new skills at home and working with the teen toward the desired outcomes.
I’ll help through this process
I will tailor each step to their unique needs and circumstances. My approach to Depression Therapy for Teens comes from a place of empathy and small goal setting: let’s find a daily motivation rather than a year end expectation.
Common questions about depression in teens
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When considering if your child is experiencing depression, it’s important to understand that depression is more than just sadness. Sometimes it’s irritability, it’s being quick to anger due to a small window of tolerance. Sometimes it’s high functioning, meaning they proceed with regular activities of daily living (academics, work, extracurriculars, socializing) while struggling to eat, sleep, or shower daily. If you have any question or concern at all, schedule a free 20 minute consult call so we can chat and schedule an assessment.
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Although every client will receive ongoing risk assessment and safety planning, I do not directly work with clients who are experiencing active or passive suicidality or self-harm. I will refer those clients to the appropriate resources: emergency room or a higher level of care. However, I can support clients and their families with acute crises including loss of motivation, challenges with hygiene and isolation, and identifying their strengths and sources of support to aid in creating structure and routine to reduce the functional impairment(s).
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Whether we’re walking, talking, doing art or play, we will start with acknowledgement of where you are, how you’re currently feeling, and what you want. We will challenge the negative thinking patterns that leave you feeling hopeless, unmotivated, and angry with the world. We will collaboratively develop skills that feel possible to try and maintain so that you can achieve long term healthy functioning.
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We’ll work together to identify the frequency and duration of sessions and have ongoing discussions about how sessions are going. We can do short-term, skill focused therapy or we take a little longer to process emotions and experiences - this depends on the need and desire and can change.
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While I can’t make guarantees, I will share that I know learning and growth is possible - I see it daily in my work with teens and families. The therapeutic relationship is an important factor in determining readiness for change - both for learning and for implementing. Schedule a free consultation with me and we can get to know each other and see if we’re a good fit!
Your teenager doesn’t have to live life feeling hopeless or low energy. They don’t have to experience life with low self-esteem.
I can help.