Therapy for teens who are carrying more than they let on
From the outside, your teen might look like they're handling it all, and in a lot of ways they are. But you've noticed something's off, and asking about it tends to end in a shrug or a closed door.
Sound familiar?
Sometimes you know exactly what's going on with your teen. Other times, you just know something feels different. Maybe they're more anxious, overwhelmed, withdrawn, irritable, or struggling in ways they haven't been able to put into words.
Either way, you don't have to have it all figured out before reaching out. Therapy gives your teen a place to talk honestly about what's going on, make sense of what they're feeling, and start building ways to handle it.
- They're doing everything right on paper, and they still seem tired or on edge most of the time.
- A small setback, like a B on a test or a bad game, hits them like the end of the world.
- They hold it together all day and fall apart the minute they walk in the door.
- They stay up late finishing work or scrolling, and then can barely get up in the morning.
- Their body seems to feel the pressure before they do, with stomachaches or trouble sleeping before a big week.
- They've started pulling away from friends or from things they used to love.
- Every conversation about it turns into an argument, or ends with "I'm fine."
Pressure doesn't always look like stress
A lot of the teens I work with are high-achievers. They care about doing well, sometimes more than anyone asked them to, and their nervous system has learned that staying switched on is how you keep up. That works for a while, and it's a big part of why they're so capable. But a body that's always bracing eventually starts to show it, in their sleep and in how quickly small problems turn into big ones.
In a town where school and sports both run at a high level, that pressure can start early. Some of it comes from the outside and a lot of it is self-imposed, and most teens can't tell the difference yet.
Teens also tend to talk less to the people they're closest to. That's a normal part of growing up, and it's still really hard to watch as a parent. Sometimes it's easier for them to say it out loud to someone who isn't also the person worried about them at home.
Your teen doesn't need to have it all figured out to start. Neither do you.
What we actually work on
Therapy with me isn't a lecture, and it isn't an hour of being asked how that makes you feel. I try to keep it real with teens, because they can spot an adult who's performing from a mile away.
Practical tools for the hard moments
We'll figure out what happens in their body when the pressure spikes, before a test, a big game, or a difficult conversation, and practice ways to help them settle in the moment.
Room to be honest
A lot of teens have gotten really good at saying the right thing. Here they can say the messy thing instead, and we'll work out what's underneath it without anyone panicking.
Working through what's stuck
If there's a specific experience that still weighs on them, like a friendship that fell apart or a hard season, I may use EMDR when it fits, alongside the talk and body-based work.
I'll push them when they need it, while also creating space where they can just be messy & human. Most of the teens I work with don't need more pressure, they need somewhere to set some of it down for a while.
Where you fit in as a parent
You know your kid better than anyone, and I'll want to hear from you, especially at the start. Most parents book the consult themselves, and it's a good place to tell me what you've been seeing, what's concerning you, and what you're hoping will be different.
Once we get going, sessions are mostly one-on-one with your teen, because they need a space that's actually theirs to open up. What they share is generally private, with important exceptions around safety that I'll walk through with both of you up front in the first session. We'll also agree on how and when I check in with you, so you're not left in the dark.
It's normal for a teen not to want to come at first. Plenty of the teens I work with started out skeptical, and that's okay. I'd rather they show up honestly than pretend to be on board.
Who I work with
I work with teens ages 12 to 18, most of them in middle or high school in and around Southlake. A lot of them are high-achievers dealing with anxiety or perfectionism, and plenty are athletes carrying the pressure of competing on top of school. Others don't fit a neat category, and their parents still recognized them somewhere on this page.
What getting started looks like
Free 15-minute consult. A call, usually with a parent, to talk through what's going on and whether we're a good fit, with no pressure either way.
First sessions. I'll meet with you and your teen to get the full picture, and then we shift to sessions with your teen.
The work. In person at my Southlake office or online anywhere in Texas, at times that fit around school and practice.
Questions about teen therapy
What ages do you work with?
I work with teens ages 12 to 18. I also see adults, and I'm happy to talk through whether I'm the right fit for your family during the consult.
Will you tell me what my teen talks about in therapy?
Not the details. Teens need a private space to be honest, and that trust is a big part of why therapy works. I will let you know if there's a concern about their safety, and we'll set up check-ins so you know how things are going overall. We'll go over exactly how this works together at the start.
What if my teen doesn't want to go?
That's really common, and it doesn't mean therapy won't help. It can make a difference to let them join the consult, or to agree to one session without pressure to commit to more. A lot of teens relax once they realize it isn't going to be a lecture.
Do you work with teen athletes?
Yes. A lot of the teens I see are athletes, and the pressure of competing often shows up alongside the pressure of school. Read more about therapy for athletes.
Can my teen do therapy online?
Yes, I see clients online anywhere in Texas, and some teens find it easier to open up from their own room.
Do you use EMDR with teens?
When it fits. EMDR can help with a specific experience that still feels stuck, and we'd only use it once your teen feels safe and settled in the work. Read more about EMDR therapy.
Do you take insurance?
I'm in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna and Curative, and private pay is always an option. The Investment page has fees and details.
They don't have to carry all of it by themselves.
If your teen seems to be carrying more than they're letting on, let's talk. A free 15-minute consult is a low-stakes way to see if working together feels like a fit, for them and for you.
1422 Main Street, Suite 213, Southlake, TX 76092 · Online across Texas
Let's work together
Let's Work Together
Let's Work Together
In person or online
1422 Main Street, Suite 213
Southlake, TX 76092
Online sessions anywhere in Texas
ally@steadyplacetherapy.com
