Anxiety/Stress: This includes a range of problems and diagnoses including:

• Generalized anxiety
• Work/school-related stress
• Relationship stress
• Phobias/fears
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or OCD tendencies
• Panic attacks
• Social anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Test/Performance anxiety
• School Avoidance and Refusal

Depression: Depressive symptoms can range from mild “down” feelings to heightened irritability to major depressive disorder. Depression not only affects one’s mood. It also has physical symptoms, affects sleep/appetite, and can make a person feel unmotivated and disinterested in life. Suicidal feelings can also emerge and need to be monitored closely.

Adolescence: Adolescence is a particularly challenging stage of development that requires a sensitivity to the teen’s emerging need for (or fear of) autonomy. Today’s teens and their parents face a myriad of issues that can result in emotional distress and the pressure to be “perfect” and “fit in” as well as the constant presence of social media. Because tension can run high between teens and their parents, it can often be helpful for teens to have another caring adult in their life with whom to discuss their struggles and successes.

Parenting/Family Stressors: Parents want what is best for their children, but it is sometimes difficult to know how to handle the challenges of child-rearing. Family stressors may include:

• Increasing cooperation and a positive atmosphere in the home
• Problem-solving
• Bedtime and meal time routines
• Developing house rules
• Positive reinforcement
• Reducing tantrums, oppositional or other unwanted behaviors
• Active listening and communication
• Managing parent-teen conflict
• Academic struggles
• Parenting after divorce / blended families
• Managing parental conflict/co-parenting challenges

Life Transitions / Challenges: When a person goes through a major life change (even a wanted change) or faces adversity, psychotherapy can help in the coping and healing process. Stressful life changes include:

• Marriage, divorce, and relationship break-ups
• Pregnancy/ Birth of a child / adjustment to parenthood
• Adoption
• Discovering or sharing with others one’s sexual orientation
• Bullying
• Transition to college
• Transition to the work force or to a new job / Career changes
• Diagnosis of an illness, learning disability, or psychiatric disorder
• Death of a loved one and other losses / Grief