Teen Expressive Therapy

The teen years have unique challenges like deeper identity exploration, a desire for increased independence, and the joy and pressure of making decisions that will influence their life path. All of this can feel overwhelming when they also dealing with challenges related to anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, family, social life or trauma. Therapy is a safe place to process emotions and struggles away from life’s pressures and complications, and expressive therapy approaches like art and sandtray therapy can be a unique and more fun way to help them do this.

  • I enjoy supporting teens aged 13-18 with a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges such as: social and generalized anxiety, overwhelming sadness and shutdown, suicidality, self-harm, oppositional defiance, impulsivity, aggressive behaviors, meltdowns, intense anger, school avoidance, dissociation, and low self-esteem.

    I specialize in supporting neurodivergent teens with ADHD, Autism, Pathological Demand Avoidance//Pervasive Drive for Autonomy. The challenges experienced by ND kids often increase in the teen years as school and life demands increase.

    I love working with teens that have tried therapy before but did not enjoy it or do not think therapy will help them because I love helping them see that therapy can actually be fun AND helpful.

  • Sessions are $180 and 50 minutes in person in Federal Way or via teletherapy. I prefer in person sessions because I can provide art supplies for art directives as well as other regulation and sensory soothing tools.

    Therapy with teens centers around using expressive therapy approaches to help the them explore, process, and move through challenges.

    Art therapy, sandtray therapy, and Internal Family Systems therapy are the primary approaches I use to help them get to know who they are becoming and to have confidence and clarity in making decisions about how they would like to build their life.

    I also love supporting teens in learning how to more directly advocate for their needs and wants in school, with caregivers, and their peers.

  • In Washington state 13 is the age at which a child becomes the one that legally consents to healthcare services. The teen decides whether their caregiver is going to be involved, and how much/what information they are given (with exceptions for safety).

    While respecting the teen's decisions and perspectives, I also share that caregivers want to help but may just need information and different perspectives to better understand their teen in this stage of life.

    Caregiver sessions for teens are usually with just the therapist, and focus on finding ways to support both the teen’s and caregiver's needs. Sometimes the most important thing about therapy is that it's a chance to talk with an adult that isn't their caregiver, and therapy can be a bridge to increase clear and compassionate communication and connection.