Holding the Thread: Supporting Teens Through Therapy, Family, and Community
As a psychologist, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside teens during this incredibly dynamic chapter of life, and I’ve learned this: adolescence is not a problem to be solved, but a passage to be honoured.
Working with teens isn’t just about “fixing” behavior or managing moods. It’s about creating a safe space for young people to explore who they are, understand their emotions, and learn how to navigate the world more confidently and compassionately. But this work doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s a dance between the individual, their family, their school, and sometimes an entire team of professionals.
Teen Therapy Isn’t Just for the Teen
When I work with adolescents, I often begin with the understanding that we’re holding more than one story in the room. Behind every young person is a web of relationships—parents, caregivers, siblings, teachers, friends—and all of those threads matter.
Therapy becomes a place to pause, to feel seen, and to start making sense of the noise. But meaningful change often comes when we involve the broader system. That’s why I frequently invite parents into the process, not as silent observers, but as active partners in their teen’s emotional world.
We explore questions like:
How can we create more safety and trust in your relationship?
What patterns from your own childhood are being stirred up by parenting?
What kind of support do you need in order to support your child?
Working Collaboratively: Schools, Allied Health, and the Village Approach
Sometimes, helping a teenager thrive means looking beyond the therapy room. I regularly collaborate with schools, GPs, paediatricians, speech therapists, and occupational therapists—whatever it takes to ensure that a young person’s support network is singing from the same song sheet.
This wraparound approach isn’t about over-involvement. It’s about alignment. Teens benefit when the adults in their lives are working together, speaking with shared language, and prioritising their wellbeing—not just academically, but emotionally and socially too.
With appropriate consent and clear communication, I work closely with schools to understand what’s happening in the classroom, offer guidance around accommodations, and help educators see the person behind the behaviour.
The Deeper Work: Emotions, Identity, and Safety
Teenagers are often feeling things for the first time in big, unfiltered ways—grief, desire, anxiety, rage, hope. I meet them there, with curiosity and compassion, holding space for whatever shows up.
Some are struggling with identity questions. Others are processing family changes, school pressure, or trauma. Many are carrying unspoken worries about the world, their bodies, their future. In sessions, we explore these tender places gently.
The Goal Isn’t Perfection—It’s Connection
If I could offer one message to parents, it would be this: your teen doesn’t need you to have all the answers. They just need to feel you’re with them, not against them. Repair matters more than perfection. Listening matters more than lecturing. And sometimes, getting it “wrong” and coming back with vulnerability is the most healing thing of all.
Therapy can help bridge those moments of disconnect. It can remind teens—and their families—that they’re not alone, and that change is possible, even when things feel stuck.
A Final Word
Working with teens is some of the most meaningful work I do. It’s challenging, humbling, hilarious, and deeply human. And I’m constantly in awe of the resilience, wisdom, and creativity young people bring when they feel safe enough to show up authentically.
If you're a parent, educator, or health professional walking alongside a teen who’s struggling—or just trying to find their way—I’d love to connect. Let’s hold the thread together.
Warmly,
Celeste