Throughout the last decade I have worked with middle and high school students both privately and in schools. I have also run substance abuse groups for teens in schools and in agencies. I have worked with teens engaging in high risk behavior, including drug and alcohol use, high risk sexual choices and other types of self-defeating behavior.

Currently my work focuses on improving the relationship between parents and their teens. This can involve meeting with parents and child together and/or separately, as needed. I understand the challenges that arise for both parents and children during this complicated transition from childhood to adulthood. Usually both parent and teen feel supported and understood and the relationship and communication can sometimes improve much more quickly than expected.

I have an easy rapport with teens, and a knack for connecting with teens who have little trust in adults ("defiant" teens), as well as teens who feel they know how to tell adults what they want to hear (seemingly "compliant" or "manipulative" teens). My work with teens has a no-nonsense educational component, as well as a supportive, understanding, therapeutic one. I believe in giving teens straight answers to their difficult questions and giving them the accurate information that they need to make choices that are healthy, both physically and psychologically.

I also believe that an important element of counseling teens is increasing their self-awareness so they can understand the reasons for their behaviors, allowing them to make better choices about how to express what they need to express. The ultimate goal is to slow down a teen's thinking and their actions so they can consider their behavior and the possible consequences before acting, rather than acting impulsively and regretting their choice later.

Specific areas of expertise include (but are not limited to):

Loss of motivation or interest in school Irritability Coping with stress at home (such as divorcing parents and related issues) Defiance of authority figures (including parents and school personnel) Depression Drug and alcohol experimentation, use and abuse Early sexual experimentation and/or promiscuity Anxiety Finding outlets for self expression Questioning sexual orientation

Duration of teen and adolescent counseling varies widely from a few sessions to several years, depending on the goals of the therapy and the desires of the parents and teen. Therapy can include sessions with the parents and the teen either separately or together to facilitate communication or reach agreements.