Teens
You can tell something has shifted. Your teen probably can too, they just don't know what to do with that yet.
I work with high school students in Los Angeles and virtually in California and New York.
Some parents come in because something has shifted and they can't explain it. Their teen isn't in crisis exactly, but they're not themselves either, quieter, more irritable, harder to reach. Some can't get two words out of their teen anymore, and every attempt to connect either gets shut down or turns into a fight. And some call because their teen came to them first and said they wanted help, and if your teen asked for this, you've already done something right.
Most families I work with look like this
Every conversation turns into a fight You want to help. They want space. Nobody feels good about how it ends.
The anxiety is running the show The worry doesn't turn off and it's starting to affect everything, school, friendships, sleep, all of it.
School has become a source of constant stress Keeping up, staying organized, managing their time, the gap between what they're capable of and what they're producing is frustrating for everyone.
Friendships at this age are complicated Who they are, where they fit, who they can trust, it's a lot to navigate and they're doing most of it without a roadmap.
The college process is a pressure cooker The applications, the uncertainty, the pressure to have it all figured out at 17, it has a way of taking over everything else.
You're not sure how to help without making it worse There's no manual for parenting a teenager through this stage. Knowing when to push, when to back off, and how to stay connected is genuinely hard.
What we tend to work on
I'm warm and direct (and genuinely like teenagers!). In my experience they tend to warm up faster than anyone expects, including them.
My approach draws on CBT, attachment theory, family systems, and solution-focused work. In practice that means looking at what's happening right now and building real skills to handle it, while also understanding where some of these patterns came from. Teens are more self-aware than people give them credit for. My job is to give that self-awareness somewhere useful to go.
Parents are part of the work too. I work with the teen individually and with parents separately, in whatever combination the family actually needs.
What's said in session stays in session, unless there's a safety concern. That said, if something comes up that I think parents should know, I don't just relay it. I work with the teen to tell their parents themselves. That conversation, done well, is often where the real shift in the relationship happens.
What it’s like to work with me
A quick call first. Before anything, we have a short call so you can ask questions, get a feel for how I work, and make sure it feels like a good fit.
First session together. The first session is with everyone, teen and parents together. It sets the tone, gets everyone on the same page, and gives me a chance to see the family dynamic firsthand.
Individual teen sessions. This is the core of the work. Just me and your teen, building trust and actually working on things.
Separate parent sessions. I meet with parents regularly too. We work on how to show up for your teen, how to communicate without it turning into a fight, and how to keep the relationship strong through a stage that can really test it. The goal is never just a better-behaved teen. It's a stronger relationship between the two of you.
Family sessions when needed. When the time is right I bring everyone together to work on communication and practice new dynamics in real time.
I'm available between sessions. If something comes up at home and you need guidance before the next appointment, you can reach out.
Next Steps
Ready to get started?
Send me a note
contact@mercedesoromendiaphd.com
(818) 860-2864