Your Child Is Changing, and So Is What They Need from You
Keep your rules. Give your teen someone they trust.
Therapy for teens and their families in Idaho.
Rapport · Understanding · Tools
Your Teen Went Quiet and Sharp at Once
You used to be able to correct your child and stay close. That’s gone now. Your teenager is moody, rude, and dismissive, and most days the talking has stopped. A consequence that used to settle things now starts a fight… or gets a shrug.
The tools you had were made for a younger child, and your teen has outgrown them. That’s a sign of how fast they’re growing.
The Pressure Your Teen Won't Mention at Home
School. Getting ready to look at colleges. Friends, teachers, peer pressure, and the pressure to get good grades. Your teen is up against all of it, and almost NONE of it gets said at home.
So you fill in the blanks on your own. You worry about graduation, about college, about whether something you did caused this. That fear is what love looks like when it can’t get through.
Parents need to feel backed. Teens need to feel safe. Here, neither is traded away.
Why Your Teen Tells You Less Now
Every rule you hold gives your teen a reason to edit the story before you hear it. That’s your job working as it should. With me, your teen finds out I won’t judge or report every word back to you. Then the secrets, fears, and innermost worries come out.
Your house rules and discipline STILL stand. And you know your teen has someone to talk to when they aren’t talking to you.
Your Teen Grows Up, and Your Family Reconnects
You'll notice the first changes at home. Over time, your teen:
- Uses the skills on their own, without a reminder from you
- Questions a negative thought before believing it
- Sets school and college goals they want to reach
- Finds the things they love and makes room for them
- Talks with you more and argues with you less
- Knows who they are, and lets that confidence show
Your authority stays, and the relationship gets room to come back.
Three Phases from First Trust to Real Tools
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1
Rapport
I start with gentle, nonjudgmental connection. Your teen learns early that I'm not going to tell you everything, so they can relax and start talking.
Your teen decides I'm worth talking to.
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2
Understanding
Next, I hold space for your teen to vent, cry, and name what's been building: sadness, loneliness, stress, peer pressure.
What they've held in gets said out loud.
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3
Tools
Goal outlines take on school and college pressure. Art and music therapy with vision boards help your teen picture where they want to be, and thought tracking changes negative thought patterns.
Your teen sees a future worth working toward.
Why Trust Me as Your Partner in Healing
A Painter and Singer Before a Therapist
Graphic design, painting, and singing came before therapy for me, so art and music therapy run through my work with teens.Rapport First, Every Time
Your teen starts with whatever they care about, a song or a sketchbook or a game, and talking comes easier with busy hands.The Whole Family Stays in View
My USC social work master's, psychology doctorate, and family systems training give your teen room to talk while I keep the whole family in mind.Hi. I’m Dr. Elizabeth Wise, LCSW.
If your teen is shutting down and you don’t know how to reach them, we can talk about what they need.
My job is to understand the pain your teen is feeling and build a plan with you that helps your teen grow through the immense challenges of the teen years.
You’ll get real regard from me, for your teen and for whatever they’re trying to become. We work as a team on this, and the life we’re building toward is the one your teen defines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your teen needs to know I won’t repeat everything to you, because that’s what lets them open up. We’ll talk through how that works at the start, with both of you.
Yes. Your rules and discipline still apply. Your teen gets someone nonjudgmental to talk to, and you stay the parent.
That’s very common, and it’s where rapport comes in. I start with what your teen cares about, and the reasons come later, in their own words.
Calling is what an attentive parent does, and most parents who call me wonder this, too. The teen years strain every family, so we focus on what helps your teen and your home now.
For most teens, around a year. Some step away and come back for check-ins, which I see as a normal part of growing up.
Limited Availability This Month
You Stay the Parent. Your Teen Gets Someone to Tell.
Call Now for Your Free ConsultationTake the First Step Today
Right now your teen is facing school, friends, and the future with almost no one to tell. That can change… with your rules fully in place.
Get help today with a free 20-minute consultation. I’ll explain ways to help your teen heal and help your family reconnect. Call me today: (310) 422-2047.
What Happens Next?
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Payments & Services
Services are billed on a session-by-session basis. We provide superbills for insurance reimbursement and accept HSA/FSA. No hidden fees – all costs are explained before you begin.