Top-Rated Teen Therapist Rockville, MD

Yes! Many people who are new to counseling wonder if their teen is too young to have a therapist. However, people of all ages can struggle with life's challenges. If your teen or adolescent is experiencing mental health concerns, wants to learn coping strategies to manage difficult emotions, or is having trouble at school or home, I highly recommend reaching out to a licensed professional for support. There is no shame in seeking help.

Many therapists have websites or directory listings, making it easy to find a therapist online. You may also be able to ask your child's pediatrician or school counselor for a referral.

Though I'm based in Rockville, my online therapy services are available to people across the state of Maryland, so I can still help your teen if you live in a different city.

There are many options for mental health services, but not all of them will be the right fit for your adolescent's unique needs and goals.

it's important to consider the basics first, such as making sure that a potential therapist is qualified, located in your area (or provides telehealth, and has experience treating the kinds of issues that your teen is facing. For example, if your teen is struggling with an eating disorder, making sure to find a professional counselor with experience treating eating disorders is key.

Beyond logistics, it's also important to get a sense of each therapist's general approach. While it may take your teen some time to warm up to them, it should feel like there is a possibility to make a strong connection with whatever therapist you choose.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health treatment. At my practice, I use a variety of different therapy methods, tailoring the techniques I use to each client. Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, and trauma-informed therapy are some of the methods I use.

Other therapists might use different approaches for adolescent therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), psychodynamic therapy, or other techniques.

A psychologist usually has a doctorate degree in psychology. They sometimes provide direct mental health support, and other times they provide psychological evaluations or may have entirely research-based roles.

The term "therapist" may be used to describe a number of different accredited mental health professionals, including a clinical social work therapist (LCSW), licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), or other professionals. These types of therapists generally have a master's degree and thousands of hours of supervised practice.