Teen Issues

Even when family members and friends are supportive, teens and their families can benefit from additional help. Teens often feel misunderstood by those around them, afraid to burden the people they love with their emotions, or shy to admit the thoughts/feelings they think no one else have. Counseling provides a safe space where young clients can speak honestly about their experiences without fear of judgment and develop healthy coping skills to deal with sadness, anxiety, and stress.

Adolescence is a time of life with tremendous physical and psychological growth. It comes with amazing leaps and bounds, as well as struggles and challenges. I am honored to sit with my teen clients as they let me into their worlds, and together we help navigate the trying times and celebrate the wins.

At Newport Academy, we believe that true transformation occurs as our teens learn to see themselves as beautiful, bright, and powerful people who can take control of their own lives. In order to help our patients achieve that goal, we maintain the highest possible standards for our services, and commission third-party evaluations of our programming. By consistently gathering and analyzing data related to our outcomes, we’re able to make more strategic and tailored decisions for our patients.

As teens you have so much to deal with, especially these days of the pandemic- talk about your stressors with school, relationships, and whatever else is on your mind. I'm here for you!

Teens need just the right fit when it comes to working with a therapist. They need someone who can make them feel comfortable enough to open up while also challenging them at a level that helps them to grow. We have therapists who work with adolescents struggling with a variety of issues such as social anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, addiction, self-harm, suicide, or just difficulty navigating everyday stressors.

Teens today struggle with confidence and the pressures of success in school, sports, and home to balancing social media, technology and life. They are surrounded by a world sending them confusing messages causing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress and more. Sessions with preteens and teens are fun, interactive, and challenging to help them discover who they are and who they want to become.

I struggled myself as an adolescent, that's why I'm a therapist. I believe that adolescents need a safe place to land to discuss their feelings without judgement. I offer a space of empathy and validation to them as we work on healthy coping methods.

Adolescence is a beautiful and wild time. The brain is undergoing this massive transformation. There are so many "firsts" occurring and you're really exploring and defining exactly who you are. Our society doesn't always do the best job at celebrating or preparing us for this transformation. (think media portrayals of the moody teen always being the butt of the joke). In reality, this time can be stressful for parents and teens alike. What if we could make it smoother with support?

I have worked with 5-year-olds to seniors in high school for most of my career. I do very well with kids, and they seem to be very comfortable and open with me. We discuss therapy goals with parents/guardians and get to work. But I promise you we have fun reaching the therapeutic goals!

I have worked extensively with adolescents and teenagers on everything from anxiety/panic attacks to Identity, depression, self harm, and the early stages of eating or substance disorders. We also work on issues related to the covid-19 pandemic, online vs. in-person school, academic pressures, perfectionism, how to make decisions about choosing a high school or college. And I focus with them on increasing their strengths such as creativity, insight, and the desire to do the therapeutic work.

Specializing in evaluating teen issues, I blend psychological expertise with educational consulting to guide parents of wayward teens. My focus is on thorough assessments, uncovering underlying issues and crafting tailored strategies. I help navigate the complexities of adolescence, providing clarity and direction for parents seeking the best path forward for their teens. My role as an assessor is pivotal in identifying unique challenges and opportunities, ensuring your teen has a path forward.

Adolescents are a paradox of being both the strongest and most resilient humans, while simultaneously being extremely sensitive and fragile. I feel honored to hold space for the youth of today as they struggle with the surmounting pressures of the world, rapidly changing technology, suicide and self harm becoming commonplace, all while their brains are not yet fully developed. In this I offer youth a place to make sense of their identity, purpose, and adverse experiences.

I have extensive experience treating adolescents from a variety of backgrounds. I am able to build unique connections with adolescents that enhance their therapeutic experience. I have worked with a variety of teens with attachment difficulties stemming from early childhood, acute and chronic trauma, teens in the foster care system, teens who have been impacted by domestic violence or teen dating violence, and teens struggling with anxiety, depression and mild autism spectrum disorder.

I worked for many years managing homes for adolescents in residential foster care. As a case manager, I oversaw the needs, growth and challenges of 24 residents, ages 16 to 21. I became the program manager of all transition-aged youth for the agency and trained staff in joining with youth. I then worked at the Department of Family & Children's Services with youth in and transitioning out of long-term foster care, assisting them with public benefits, healthy relationships, and managing stress.

I think the teen years are such a great time in life. The struggles involved aren't lost on me, but a teen is a person explosively expanding in their ability to explore, think critically, and relate. There's so much for them to gain from a safe and confidential space where they can unpack and explore with an adult who isn't an extra parent, or even an authority figure, but a partner and guide in the journey of beginning to discover what they want out of life.

Early on, Kimberly received training with acute children and adolescents in PHP and IOP services. She has used that training to help children and adolescents with emotional regulation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, anxiety, mindfulness, impulsivity, child/parent relationships, trauma, anger, aggression, and ADHD/executive functioning. Kimberly uses play therapy and age-appropriate techniques while working with kids and adolescents to help them express themselves during therapy.

The stage of adolescence is more challenging than ever, from social media to academic competition to changes in society. It makes sense to get help from a therapist when your tween or teen is in crisis. I work from the approach that teens and families are affected by typical developmental stages in life and when given the tools and knowledge to understand one another, can experience a deeper sense of connection and enjoyment. When someone within the family is hurting, everyone hurts.

Relationships Bullying Self-Esteem Trauma Anxiety Depression ADHD Developmental Concerns Peer Relationships