Art Therapy for Adolescents
Seeing your child struggle isn’t easy. They may be feeling extra self-conscious, struggling with big emotions, and feeling overwhelmed with social stressors. You may be feeling overwhelmed, too, not knowing how to help them.
Art therapy can be an added layer of support in your pre-teen or teen’s life to guide them through the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence. Their middle school and high school years may be some of the most challenging yet, as you may remember from your own experience (I know I do!).
My goal is to help your child feel more like themselves and more empowered, and to help you feel more confident in understanding their needs.
Common Topics in Art Therapy
for Pre-Teens and Teens
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feeling overwhelmed with school work and other commitments
stomach aches or nervousness before school
fixating on their future, especially high school students thinking about college
worrying about friendships
irritability and frustration
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overwhelming emotions
crying often
irritability and feeling tired
sensitive to loud noises, uncomfortable clothing, and strong smells
seems quiet or shy
interested in creative activities, like art or music
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struggling with changes in a friendship
feeling left out in the friend group
worrying about how others perceive them
struggling with social pressures
difficulty dealing with conflict or disagreements with peers
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worrying about appearance
feeling insecure
struggling to make friends or speak up with classmates
talks negatively about themselves
anxious about going to school or social events
What to Expect
We’ll discuss details in our 15-minute consultation, but explore the sections below to learn about art therapy for your teen!
In Session
Each session is unique and may include art making, playing card games, or just talking. Especially in the beginning of the therapy process, the main focus is building trust. I strive to collaborate with my clients to find the best path for our time together, based on their needs and goals.
Parent or guardian collaboration varies for each client. It may look like check-ins at the beginning of sessions or dedicated parent sessions where we meet without your child to check-in about progress and how things are going at home.
Art Supplies
I provide all art supplies in my office. I typically have materials including watercolor paint, acrylic paint, colored pencils, crayons, markers, oil pastels, and collage materials. If your child has a favorite form of art making that’s outside of the materials listed above, let’s talk about it!
Collaboration
Sometimes, a part of the process is for me to connect with your child’s support system, which may include a psychiatrist or their school counselor, for example. If I think that may be beneficial, I’ll ask you and your child for permission and share why I think it’s a good idea. Typically, the benefit relates to making sure we’re all on the same page with goals, as well as advocating for your child.
Financial Information
Session Fees:
$170 for 50-minute sessions
$260 for 75-minute sessions
$315 for 90-minute sessions
The standard session length for therapy is 50-minutes. However, duration and frequency of sessions is something we'll establish at the beginning of our work together, and we'll adjust over time as needed.
Reduced-fee spots are currently unavailable.
For more details about payment, length of sessions, insurance, and superbills check out the FAQs page.
Please Note:
No evening availability.
Limited after-school availability.
Ready to get connected?
Let’s schedule a consultation call.
Common Questions about
Art Therapy for Adolescents
“How do we schedule sessions with you if my child is at school all day?”
Schools are commonly understanding of a child’s needs outside of school. They may be able to help you identify a time of day that is less disruptive for your child to miss. I am also happy to collaborate by contacting the school counselor to advocate for your child’s need to come to therapy. If we’ve agreed that weekly sessions are necessary, that’s what I’ll advocate for.
Another option we can explore is a rotating schedule. The intention with this option is that your child would not miss the same class each week.
Here is an example of a rotating schedule for one month:
Week 1, Thursday at 1pm
Week 2, Thursday at 2pm
Week 3, Thursday at 3pm
Week 4, Thursday at 1pm
Scheduling is something that can be an ongoing conversation to make sure it works for all of our schedules.
“Will I be in the session with my child?”
Depending on the needs of the client, you may join us at the beginning of sessions to check-in about any updates, successes, and concerns. It may also be beneficial to have periodic parent-only sessions. These can be helpful to review any questions you may have, progress you’re seeing, or to discuss any other observations. For older teens, it is sometimes appropriate to meet with parents at the beginning of treatment, and have less frequent check-ins as we move through the therapy process.
“How long does therapy take?”
Therapy is a unique journey for each client. Some clients need a few months to work through the current problem, while others benefit from going to therapy for a few years. We’ll start with weekly sessions to develop strong rapport and get some momentum in working toward goals. When it’s appropriate, we may shift to less frequent sessions. I’ll check in with you periodically about therapy progress, and I invite any questions or concerns you have throughout the process!
“What is the parent/guardian’s role in art therapy?”
Parent involvement varies in each family, and depends on the needs of the client. Oftentimes, it is valuable to include at least one parent or guardian in the treatment process, since you are a primary figure in the client’s life. It’s common that the process includes you encouraging what we’re working on in therapy at home. This may look like practicing new communication skills, encouraging your teen to speak up for what they need, or scheduling time to have fun with your child.
“Do I need my own therapist?”
I highly recommend my clients’ parents consider their own therapy, especially if they’ve never been. Therapy for adolescents often involves working through family dynamics in some form, and you may discover areas where you could use more support. Sometimes this includes processing the way you learned how to express emotions as a child, exploring new ways to communicate, or working through your own anxieties as a parent.
It could also be worth processing the stress of whatever brought your child to therapy. You may have been dealing with the challenge(s) for a while now. You deserve support, too! If you’re interested in connecting with your own therapist, please let me know. I am more than happy to connect you with wonderful therapists in the area!
“What if my kid doesn’t want to go to therapy?”
This is totally normal. It can be scary to meet with a stranger, especially knowing that we’re meeting about uncomfortable parts of their life. They may deny that anything is wrong. Remind them that going to therapy does NOT mean that something is wrong with them or that they did anything wrong. Rather, it’s something that helps us feel better at different points in life. You may even choose to share a bit about your own challenges at their age.
Art therapy, specifically, can be a great approach for those who are a bit hesitant about therapy. We’ll start slowly, focusing on getting to know each other and exploring different art materials. There’s no pressure on them to make “good” art or share their deepest secrets.
“How old does my child have to be to work with you?”
I’m happy to meet with pre-teens and teens who are 12-18 years old. If your child falls outside of that range, but you think we’d be a good fit, please reach out!