Adolescent & Young Adult Therapy
Adolescence and young adulthood are periods of rapid change when anxiety or OCD symptoms can show up or suddenly increase. Therapy provides a supportive space to understand anxiety patterns, develop effective coping skills, and gradually reduce avoidance so fears no longer take over daily life.
We provide individual counseling for teens and young adults struggling with anxiety or OCD. Because anxiety and depression often co‑occur, we also address depressive symptoms when anxiety is the primary driver.
What to Expect - Adolescents
Adolescence is a developmental stage where independence and privacy are essential for building trust and supporting meaningful progress. Individual sessions with teens focus on creating a safe, confidential space where they can talk openly about anxious thoughts, fears, compulsive urges, and emotional distress outside the presence of their parents. In therapy, adolescents learn evidence‑based skills to manage anxiety, gradually face feared situations, and reduce avoidance or compulsive behaviors. When symptoms of depression are present and primarily driven by anxiety, these concerns are also addressed as part of treatment.
At the same time, we recognize that teens are part of a family system, and many benefit from some parent involvement during treatment. We typically check in with parents every few weeks, or as needed, to share feedback on progress (with the teen’s permission), gather parent input, and provide practical tools and strategies to support anxiety and OCD treatment at home. This collaborative approach allows teens to maintain autonomy and privacy in their sessions while ensuring families remain aligned, informed, and equipped to help their adolescent reach treatment goals.
What to Expect - Young Adults
Engaging in therapy as a young adult is an opportunity to focus on your mental health and well-being in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. In your first sessions, we will take time to understand your experiences and what you hope to achieve in therapy. We will work collaboratively to set clear, measurable goals that will guide the work we do together and ensure therapy feels meaningful to you. As you move forward, sessions will provide a safe space to explore challenges, build coping strategies, and develop tools for navigating stress, relationships, and life transitions—all at a pace that feels comfortable and empowering.
Like our work with children and adolescents, at Riverstone we always use evidence-based practices to guide treatment, selecting approaches that research has shown to be effective in improving symptoms and overall well-being. At the same time, your therapy will never be one-size-fits-all—we incorporate your unique culture, values, and preferences into every step of the process. This ensures that your treatment plan is both clinically sound and personally meaningful, helping you feel supported and empowered as you work toward your goals.
How to get started
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Fill out the “New Client Inquiry” form on my “Reach Out” page (click the button below) and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
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We will schedule a free 15-minute consultation call so I can learn why you are seeking therapy, answer your questions, and learn if we are a good fit to work together. If we decide to move forward we will schedule your first session.
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We will likely start with weekly 53-minute sessions. We can meet in my office in Northeast Seattle near University Village, or online via telehealth.