Therapy for Teens, Parents, and the Family System
Teen Therapy
A space where teens can feel safe, respected, and heard
I provide teen therapy in Mill Valley and throughout Marin County for adolescents and families navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, academic stress, relationship difficulties, and family conflict.
Teens do not always have words for what is happening internally. Overwhelm may show up as withdrawal, anger, impulsivity, substance use, shutting down, or conflict at home. Rather than focusing only on the behavior, I try to understand what it may be communicating and what is happening underneath it.
I approach teens with authenticity, curiosity, and respect. Therapy rarely works when an adolescent feels lectured, analyzed, or forced to talk. Building trust comes first.
I believe adolescents are often deeply perceptive, insightful, and emotionally aware, even when those feelings come out in ways that are difficult for others to understand. My goal is to help teens feel less alone, develop a stronger understanding of themselves, and build healthier ways of coping, communicating, and navigating life's challenges with greater confidence and self-compassion.
Teen therapy may support adolescents navigating:
Anxiety and emotional overwhelm
Identity development and self-esteem
Trauma and past experiences
Family conflict or disconnection
Substance use or process addiction concerns
Emotional regulation and coping skills
Social challenges and relationship stress
School stress, academic pressure, or difficulty managing expectations
Feelings that are difficult to name or express
Approaches I Commonly Use With Teens
Therapy with teens can include both deeper relational work and concrete skills for managing emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and everyday stress. My work with teens is integrative and tailored to the individual. Depending on what a teen needs, I may draw from:
DBT-informed therapy for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and navigating intense emotions
Somatic and mind-body approaches to build awareness of how emotions show up physically and practice grounding and nervous system regulation
CBT to explore thought patterns, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and build more effective coping strategies
ACT to strengthen psychological flexibility, clarify values, and help teens make room for difficult emotions without feeling controlled by them
Mindfulness and grounding practices to increase present-moment awareness and reduce overwhelm
Motivational Interviewing to support teens who feel ambivalent about change, therapy, substance use, or other behaviors
Attachment and relational approaches to better understand patterns in relationships, trust, vulnerability, and connection
Family Systems therapy to understand the teen within the context of their family and strengthen communication and emotional safety at home
Trauma-informed therapy that prioritizes safety, choice, pacing, and understanding behavior within the context of past experiences
Parts-aware work to help teens become curious about conflicting emotions, protective behaviors, and different parts of themselves rather than judging them
Solution-focused and practical skill-building for teens who benefit from concrete goals, problem-solving, and manageable steps toward change
I don’t believe every teen needs the same approach. Part of my role is figuring out what actually resonates with the individual in front of me and adapting therapy accordingly.
Walk & Talk Therapy for Teens
I have experience incorporating walk-and-talk sessions into my work with adolescents and has found that, for some teens, being outdoors can create a more natural and approachable setting for therapy. Moving side by side can reduce some of the pressure of sitting face-to-face, while time in nature offers opportunities to practice grounding and mindfulness skills in the moment.
Through intentionally noticing their surroundings, connecting with their senses, and using movement as a form of regulation, teens can practice becoming more present and aware of what is happening both around them and within themselves. Mimi has seen these sessions support greater engagement, improved mood, and the development of mindfulness and emotional regulation skills that teens can carry with them outside of therapy.
Family Therapy
Support for communication, trust, and connection
Family therapy offers a space for families to slow down, listen in new ways, and better understand the patterns that may be contributing to conflict, disconnection, or emotional distress.
I provide family therapy for families in Mill Valley and throughout Marin County, with a focus on understanding relational patterns, strengthening communication, and helping family members feel more connected and understood.
I often incorporate a family systems approach into my work. Family relationships and environments deeply shape how people understand themselves, communicate, cope with stress, and connect with others. Because of this, meaningful change often happens not only within individuals, but within relationships as well. Family therapy is not about placing blame on one person. It is about creating greater awareness, improving communication, and helping family members move away from cycles of misunderstanding and reactivity.
Often, families arrive feeling stuck in patterns where everyone is working hard, yet no one feels fully understood. My aim is to help families move away from identifying a single person as "the problem" and instead explore how family members influence and impact one another within the larger system. This shift often creates greater empathy, awareness, and opportunities for meaningful change.
In family sessions, I work to ensure that each person’s voice has space, including the teen’s. Many adolescents feel dismissed, misunderstood, or talked about rather than talked with. One of my priorities is helping families slow down enough to truly listen to one another.
Family therapy may support families working on:
Improving communication and conflict resolution
Rebuilding trust and emotional safety
Understanding patterns within the family system
Navigating substance use or mental health concerns
Supporting emotional regulation and coping skills
Strengthening connection between family members
Creating healthier boundaries and relational dynamics
Navigating parent-child conflict with more understanding
Repairing disconnection after hurt, tension, or ongoing stress
I recognize that parenting does not come with a roadmap. Many caregivers are carrying their own fears, stress, guilt, uncertainty, or feelings of helplessness while trying to support their child. Family therapy provides a space where parents can receive support as well, while learning practical tools for communication, emotional regulation, boundaries, and navigating difficult conversations. My goal is to support the entire family system with compassion, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of one another.
Sometimes teens do not need someone to immediately solve the problem. Often, they need a space where they feel safe enough to be honest, supported in finding words for what they are experiencing, and reassured that they are not "bad," "broken," or alone in what they are feeling.
Therapy can become a place where teens develop greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, confidence, and healthier ways of coping, while helping families feel more connected, supported, and understood throughout the process.
Explore Support for Your Teen or Family
You do not have to figure this out alone. Schedule a free consultation to explore whether teen or family therapy feels like the right fit.