Teen Therapy in Laguna Beach

Teen therapy at Third Street Counseling is led by Elaine Pike, AMFT, and Tallie Gigi, AMFT. The teenage years bring a particular kind of pressure: academic expectations, shifting friendships, questions about identity, and the often bumpy renegotiation of independence at home. Teens may not always want to talk about it, and the signs can look like irritability, withdrawal, or risk-taking before they look like sadness.

We meet teens where they are. The first step is a free consult to understand what is happening and which clinician fits. Parent involvement is part of the process, calibrated to the teen's age and what they need, so that the therapy room stays a place the teen can trust while parents stay informed and supported.

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons teens come to therapy. Academic pressure, social media, and the developmental task of separating from parents can all contribute. Elaine Pike, AMFT, brings 18 years of special-education experience to understanding what is underneath the behavior. You can read more about our approach to anxiety therapy for teens on its dedicated page.

Depression in teens can look different than it does in adults. Irritability, withdrawal from friends, dropping grades, or a loss of interest in things they used to love can all be signs. If depression is a concern, our depression therapy page has more detail on how we work with teens.

For teens with ADHD or autism, the therapy works with their wiring rather than against it. Elaine Pike, AMFT, draws on nearly two decades of special-education experience, and Tallie Gigi works with neurodivergent teens on the systems and self-understanding that help. Our ADHD therapy and autism therapy pages have more.

As teens approach adulthood, the questions shift toward launching, relationships, and identity. If that is where your teen is, our therapy for young adults page describes how we work with that stage.