Therapy for teens & adolescents

Being a teenager is a lot: school pressure, friendships, family expectations, and a sense of self that keeps changing. Therapy gives teens room to figure it out.

We work with adolescents ages 13 to 18 navigating anxiety, school stress, identity questions, and family dynamics: therapy that meets teens where they actually are.

Sometimes it's obvious: panic before school, grades slipping, a teen who has gone quiet or seems angry all the time. Often it's subtler: perfectionism that never lets up, friendships that keep ending badly, sleep that won't come, or a kid who says "I'm fine" in a way that doesn't feel fine.

For many of the families we see, there is also a cultural layer: expectations that don't translate between generations, pressure to achieve, and the balancing act of belonging at school and at home. We pay attention to all of it.

You might recognize:

School stress that spills into sleep and mood
Anxiety about friends, identity, or the future
Withdrawal from family, or fights that come from nowhere
Perfectionism and fear of disappointing anyone
Big feelings without words to match
Social pressure that never switches off
Feeling different and not knowing where they fit

What teens are up against

Academic and college pressure
Identity questions in a world that watches everything
Family expectations and cultural crosscurrents
Friendship shifts, exclusion, or bullying
A developing brain doing hard things without a manual

Teens do well in therapy when the space is actually theirs. We keep it collaborative — with them, not about them.

How therapy helps.

How we work with teens

Therapy with an adolescent starts with trust. Teens can tell when they're being managed, so we don't do that. Sessions are collaborative and real: we talk about what actually matters to them, build practical skills for anxiety and overwhelm, and make space for the harder conversations when they're ready.

Underneath the skills work, we're helping your teen build a sturdier sense of self: one that can handle pressure, disappointment, and the question of who they're becoming.

A note for parents

You'll be involved from the start: intake includes you, and we'll check in about progress along the way. At the same time, teens need confidentiality for therapy to work, so we're clear with everyone about what stays private and what gets shared. If there is ever a safety concern, you will know.

Start Your Therapy Journey

Sliding scale spots are currently open with Laila Siddiqui, MHC-I for clients located in New York — you choose what you can pay, from $30 to $80 per session. See fees & insurance.

Who you'll work with.

Tina Liu, LMHC-D

Founder & psychotherapist. EMDR-trained, culturally attuned, licensed in New York & Florida.

About Tina →

Laila Siddiqui, MHC-I

Mental Health Counselor. Works with teens and young adults in New York, under the clinical supervision of Tina Liu, LMHC-D. Sliding scale spots available.

About Laila →

Junli Xiao, MHC-I

Mental Health Counselor. Works with adolescents and young adults in New York, in English and Mandarin, under the clinical supervision of Tina Liu, LMHC-D.

About Junli →

Our clinical team is growing — new therapists joining soon.

Not sure where to start? Send us a note and we'll figure it out together.