Navigating adolescence can be challenging, especially for teen girls who are often faced with unique stressors that can affect their mental health. If you’re a parent of a teen girl struggling with anxiety, trauma, or stress, you’re not alone. The teenage years are marked by significant emotional, physical, and social changes, and many girls are experiencing heightened anxiety and distress. The challenges of social media, school pressures, family dynamics, and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have compounded these difficulties in recent years.
As a licensed mental health therapist specializing in teen therapy, I offer a compassionate and evidence-based approach to help your teen daughter cope with anxiety, trauma, and the pressures of adolescence. With a particular focus on teen girls, I provide individualized treatment that aims to heal, empower, and support the emotional well-being of your child.
A Holistic Approach to Therapy for Teen Girls
In my therapy practice, I begin by conducting a thorough bio-psycho-social assessment, which helps to understand your teen’s unique experience. This assessment includes gathering information on your teen’s physical health, emotional state, social life, and family dynamics. I’ll work with you and your teen to fully understand any contributing factors to their distress, such as past trauma, academic pressures, social anxiety, or issues stemming from family relationships.
Based on this comprehensive assessment, we’ll develop a treatment plan tailored specifically to your teen’s needs. When applicable, a DSM-5 diagnosis is provided to identify specific conditions that may be contributing to your teen’s struggles, such as anxiety disorders, depression, or trauma-related distress. This diagnosis is not meant to label, but rather to inform the approach to therapy, ensuring we address the root causes and work toward effective solutions. At times it may help your teen qualify for additional services at school such as a 504-accommodation plan or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Specialization in Anxiety and Trauma-Related Therapy
Teen girls often face specific forms of anxiety that can interfere with their day-to-day life, including social anxiety, performance anxiety, and school avoidance. They can start to greatly avoid experiences where they could be embarrassed and they may experience panic attacks. These struggles can make school, friendships, and family life feel overwhelming. As a therapist specializing in anxiety and trauma-related distress, I am well-equipped to help your teen navigate these challenges.
Social Anxiety: Many teen girls experience intense fear or worry in social situations, making it difficult to participate in activities or engage with peers. This anxiety often stems from a fear of judgment, rejection, or embarrassment. Social anxiety can hinder your teen's ability to form healthy relationships and engage in their community. Here is a recent blog post I wrote addressing social anxiety in teens and what I have noticed outside providers and schools can sometimes mis-understand.
Performance Anxiety: This type of anxiety is common among teens who are perfectionistic or who feel pressure to excel academically, athletically, or socially. These girls may become paralyzed by the fear of failing or not meeting expectations. Performance anxiety can manifest in avoidance of school activities, difficulty completing assignments, or excessive stress during exams. Here is a recent blog post I wrote on Performance Anxiety.
School Avoidance: For many teen girls, school can become a source of significant stress and anxiety. They may struggle to attend class regularly due to overwhelming feelings of fear or inadequacy. School avoidance often correlates with anxiety or trauma, and it can impact academic performance and long-term mental health as they fall farther behind academically. It can be challenging at times to know what to do when your teen is no longer a child, and it becomes quite difficult to simply pick them up and bring them to school like you were able to when they were smaller.
In addition to anxiety disorders, many teen girls also struggle with trauma-related distress. The impact of past traumatic experiences—whether through abuse, neglect, bullying, or significant life events—can significantly shape a teen’s emotional health. The trauma might be from childhood, but it can also be related to more recent events, such as the social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In these cases, I use trauma-informed approaches that are designed to create a safe, supportive environment for healing.
Here is a brief blog post I wrote on understanding the top five signs that your teen may be struggling with anxiety and how to get help.
Evidence-Based Modalities and Treatment Approaches:
I believe in using evidence-based treatment modalities to provide the most effective care. These are therapeutic methods that have been extensively researched and proven to support individuals in overcoming mental health struggles.Some of the modalities I use include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps teens identify and change negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety and depression. By recognizing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, teens can replace them with healthier coping strategies and more balanced perspectives.
- Exposure Therapy: Exposure therapy is often used to treat social anxiety, school avoidance, and other forms of anxiety. By gradually and safely exposing your teen to feared situations, they can build confidence and reduce their anxiety over time.
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): TF-CBT is particularly effective for teens dealing with past trauma. This therapeutic approach helps process traumatic experiences while providing coping mechanisms and emotional regulation techniques.
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Mindfulness teaches teens to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings without judgment, helping to calm the mind and reduce anxiety. This approach can also be useful for managing stress and building resilience.
- Somatic Psychology: In addition to traditional talk therapy, I integrate somatic techniques into my work with teen girls. Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between the mind and body, helping teens become more aware of how emotional experiences show up physically. By using techniques such as body awareness, breathwork, and grounding exercises, somatic therapy allows your teen to release stored tension and trauma, helping them reconnect with their body in a safe and healing way.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): A proven therapeutic approach that helps individuals develop emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. DBT is particularly helpful for teens who struggle with intense emotions, self-destructive behaviors, or difficulty managing relationships. By learning DBT skills, your teen will gain tools to handle challenging situations with more balance and confidence.
Collaboration with Parents, Schools, and Providers
One of the most important aspects of therapy is creating a collaborative network of support for your teen. I frequently work with parents to ensure we’re aligned in supporting your teen's growth and well-being. I provide guidance on how to reinforce therapy goals at home and help families develop healthier communication patterns.
I also work collaboratively with the school system, with your consent, to ensure your teen has the resources and accommodations necessary to succeed academically and socially. School avoidance, for example, often requires a tailored approach involving school counselors, teachers, and administrators. When needed, I help facilitate communication between school staff and parents to ensure your teen’s mental health needs are understood and addressed.
Additionally, I collaborate with outside providers, such as pediatricians and psychiatrists who may be involved in medication management. If your teen is prescribed psychotropic medications to manage symptoms of anxiety or depression, I ensure that the therapy process complements and supports their overall treatment plan.
There is Hope and Healing for Your Teen
It’s important to understand that many teen girls today are struggling more than ever before due to several societal factors, including the rise of social media, academic pressures, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges can contribute to feelings of isolation, self-doubt, and heightened anxiety.
However, there is hope. With the right support, tools, and therapeutic intervention, teen girls can overcome anxiety, heal from past trauma, and emerge stronger and more resilient. Therapy provides a safe space for your teen to explore their thoughts and emotions, build coping skills, and ultimately thrive in their teenage years and beyond.
If your teen is struggling with anxiety, trauma, or emotional distress, I’m here to help. Together, we can create a path toward healing, growth, and empowerment for your daughter.