Teen & Parent Therapy with
Rachel Santellano, LSW

I work with teens and parents together to improve communication, emotional regulation, and follow-through at home and school. Therapy is collaborative and balanced, helping teens feel understood while supporting parents in staying engaged and consistent. This service is a good fit for neurodivergent teens, academic stress, anxiety, and family conflict.

Therapy That Teens Can Actually Trust

A lot of teens and young adults don’t come to therapy because they want to — they come because something feels off, or because the people around them are worried. Maybe school feels overwhelming, motivation is slipping, emotions feel harder to manage, or conversations at home keep turning into arguments. It can be frustrating to feel misunderstood, talked at, or assumed to be the problem.

My goal is to create a space where teens and young adults feel respected, listened to, and taken seriously. I’m direct, fair, and honest — not judgmental or condescending. Therapy isn’t about blaming or forcing change; it’s about understanding what’s going on, learning how to handle emotions and pressure more effectively, and building skills that actually help in real life.

A Team Approach: Teens and Parents Working Together

While teens and young adults need their own space in therapy, parents are an important part of the process. I work with teens, young adults, and parents together as a team. That means I’m not taking sides — I’m helping everyone understand each other better and move forward more effectively.

Therapy works best when teens feel supported rather than controlled, and when parents feel involved rather than shut out. The goal is to reduce power struggles, improve communication, and help families reset patterns that aren’t working.

Accountability Without Punishment

Feeling understood matters, but growth also requires responsibility. In therapy, accountability means helping teens recognize how their choices, reactions, and behaviors affect their lives and relationships — without shame or blame.

I focus on helping teens build emotional regulation, communication skills, and follow-through, while also helping parents respond in ways that support independence rather than escalate conflict. This balance allows therapy to be supportive *and* productive.

How Therapy Is Structured

I typically meet individually with teens or young adults, while also involving parents in intentional ways. This might include parent check-ins, joint sessions, or conversations focused on communication, expectations, and boundaries at home. The structure is flexible and tailored to what will be most helpful for each family.

My role is to help everyone slow things down, understand what’s driving current struggles, and practice more effective ways of relating — both in and outside of therapy.

What Parents Can Expect From Their Role

For parents, therapy isn’t about handing your teen off and waiting for results. Your involvement matters. I’ll work with you to better understand what your teen is experiencing, how to respond more effectively, and how to support growth without micromanaging or disengaging.

You can expect clear communication, thoughtful guidance, and a collaborative approach. I aim to support parents while also holding teens to age-appropriate expectations — helping the whole system move forward together.

What I Help Teens and Families Work On

Anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and mood changes
Communication breakdowns at home
Academic stress, performance pressure, and perfectionism
Motivation, responsibility, and follow-through
Social challenges, confidence, and peer relationships
Transitions such as changes in school, preparing for college, or early independence

Trauma-Informed and Neurodiversity-Aware Care

I work from a trauma-informed perspective and am attentive to how stress, sensitivity, and past experiences can shape emotional regulation and behavior. I also work with teens and young adults who have ADHD or identify as neurodivergent, helping them understand how their minds work while still building skills for independence and responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Therapy

Will you take my teen’s side or the parent’s side?

No. My role is to be fair, direct, and supportive to everyone involved, helping families work together more effectively.

How involved are parents in therapy?

Parents play an important role. Involvement may include check-ins, joint sessions, or guidance around communication and expectations, depending on what’s most helpful.

Is therapy just a place for teens to vent?

Therapy includes emotional support, but it also focuses on accountability, communication, and skills that lead to real change.

Do you work with teens who have ADHD or are neurodivergent?

Yes. I work with neurodivergent teens and young adults, including those with ADHD, with a focus on emotional regulation, responsibility, and self-understanding.

What ages do you work with?

I work with high school-aged adolescents and young adults, including those who may still be living at home or navigating early independence.

Teen & Parent Therapy with Rachel Santellano, LSW