Teenagers & Adolescents
Adolescence is a period of considerable change. Teenagers are beginning to develop a stronger sense of who they are while also navigating friendships, family relationships, school, increasing independence and expectations about the future.
I work with teenagers experiencing anxiety, low mood, loneliness, difficulties with friendships or relationships, self-esteem, identity and belonging. I also work with young people with ADHD and autism, including around experiences of feeling different, misunderstood or under pressure to manage in environments that may not always fit them.
Academic pressure, exams and expectations
School can become a significant source of pressure during adolescence. Exams, university entrance and applications, decisions about the future, and expectations from school, family or the young person themselves can sometimes become difficult to manage.
For some teenagers, achievement can become closely connected with their sense of self-worth. Anxiety about failure, perfectionism or the feeling that they must keep performing can leave little room for uncertainty or difficulty. Others may become overwhelmed, lose motivation or experience burnout at precisely the point when expectations around them are increasing.
Change, identity and belonging
Adolescence also involves a gradual movement towards greater independence. This can bring questions about identity, difference and belonging to the foreground, alongside changing relationships with parents, siblings and friends.
Therapy can offer a space to think about these experiences without requiring the young person to have everything worked out. Difficulties that appear as anxiety, withdrawal, anger, perfectionism or uncertainty may sometimes communicate something that is not yet easy to understand or put into words.
Working with teenagers and their parents
When I work with a teenager, I think carefully about their need for privacy alongside the continuing importance of parents and family life. Depending on the young person's age and circumstances, I may meet with parents as part of the initial assessment and, where helpful, at points during the work.
I discuss with families from the outset how this will be approached, so that the young person can have a confidential therapeutic space while parents remain appropriately involved.
I offer psychotherapy for teenagers in Central London and online. Online sessions can also provide continuity during periods of travel, school holidays or other transitions.