Being a teenager is hard enough. Throw in a global pandemic and other social stressors and learning to cope can feel insurmountable. Whether you are a parent/guardian looking for support or you are a teen looking for someone besides your parents to talk to about how you feel, you are at the right place.

Many teens and adults I work with are struggling with feelings of worry, panic, anxiety or the opposite, sadness, hopelessness and feeling blah in life. I find that when we are stuck, it’s nearly impossible to find out how to feel better on our own. That’s where eTherapy can help.

Many teens and adults who do feel anxious or sad often turn to using alcohol or other drugs. It’s developmentally typical for teens to be curious and want to try things like alcohol, vaping, marijuana and even other drugs. However, when experimentation becomes use and use becomes abuse (or even dependence) cutting down or stopping can feel impossible. Why quit when using alcohol or drugs works so much better than anything else they’ve tried?

Many teens and adults who use substances tell me that they use them because it helps them relax from feeling anxious or takes their mind away from all their troubles. Some say they feel more social or can let their guard down more easily. What I do in therapy is offer kind and compassionate care while teaching and encouraging the use of healthier solutions to regulate emotions and communicate more effectively to those they love.

You don’t have to figure things out all on your own…a therapist like me who specializes in the mental health development of teens and young adults can help.