Teens

Therapy For Teens Who Don’t Want to Talk to Another Therapist

“I’m not going. And if you make me, I’m not talking.”

If that sounds familiar, you may already know how hard it is to find support your teen will actually accept. You’ve tried explaining, encouraging, and giving them space. Maybe you’ve sat through appointments where they answered every question with “fine” or “I don’t know.”

I have a soft spot for the teens who push buttons, question everything, and have absolutely no interest in being in my office. I was a therapy-resistant teen myself. I remember how frustrating it felt when adults wanted me to open up before I had any reason to trust them.

That experience shapes how I work with young people. I don’t expect trust on demand, and I don’t take a skeptical teenager personally.

We Need Something Worth Showing Up For

Most teens aren’t excited to spend an hour discussing what the adults in their lives think they need to fix. I want to hear their side, including what they think everyone is getting wrong.

What do they care about? What’s making their day harder? What would they change if they had a say?

Sometimes we start by playing a video game, talking about a movie, or doing something interactive. Shared activities can give us something to connect over while conversation develops at a more comfortable pace. There’s room for humor, disagreement, and quiet moments, too.

Your teen doesn’t have to become talkative for us to start building a working relationship.

Practical Skills for Real Situations

I offer therapy for young people ages 10–18, with activities and expectations adapted to their age, interests, and needs. I draw on skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help young people practice things like:

• Getting through frustration without immediately reacting

• Asking for space before an argument escalates

• Explaining what they need when the words are hard to find

• Handling conflict with parents, teachers, and friends

• Recovering from mistakes without giving up

• Setting goals they care about and taking manageable steps toward them

We might work through an argument that happened yesterday or practice what to say in a difficult conversation tomorrow. The goal is to make the skills useful outside our sessions.

What If My Child Has ODD or Conduct Disorder?

If your child has been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Conduct Disorder, you may be worn down by conflict and unsure what kind of help to try next. Your child may be equally tired of feeling like every conversation is about their behavior.

A diagnosis alone doesn’t tell us whether therapy can help. Therapy can support everyday skills and personal goals, and provide mental health assessment and treatment. We’ll talk about what’s happening, what support is already in place, and whether my services match your child’s needs.

I take the time to understand the young person behind the referral—their interests, strengths, frustrations, and perspective on what’s going on.

Support for Parents, Too

You can love your child deeply and still dread the next argument. You may feel caught between wanting to be understanding and needing to hold a boundary.

When appropriate, we can include parent conversations about expectations, communication, and following through without turning every disagreement into a standoff. We’ll also discuss privacy and parent involvement from the start so everyone understands how we’ll work together.

Let’s Start With Where Your Teen Is

Your teen doesn’t need to be enthusiastic about coaching before you reach out. Skepticism is welcome. So are questions about what we’ll do and whether it might help.

Contact me to talk about your child, what you’ve already tried, and what you’re hoping could feel different at home, at school, or in their everyday life.