Teen & Adolescent Therapy in Atlanta

Compassionate therapy for teens and adolescents (13–18) in Atlanta and across Georgia. Support for anxiety, OCD, trauma, and more — in Buckhead or online.

A teenage boy talking with his therapist in a warm, sunlit counseling office

If you’re a parent watching your teenager struggle and may be pulling away, worrying more, sleeping less, or losing interest in the things they used to love; it’s hard to know when it’s a phase and when it’s time for help. At Sea Change Psychotherapy, we offer therapy for teens and adolescents (ages 13–18) in Atlanta and, by telehealth, across Georgia. Several of our therapists work specifically with this age group, meeting teens where they are and partnering with parents along the way.

When a teenager might need therapy

Adolescence comes with real ups and downs, so it isn’t always obvious when a teen would benefit from support. Some signs parents notice include:

Withdrawing from family, friends, or activities they used to enjoy
Ongoing anxiety, worry, or panic that gets in the way of school or sleep
Persistent sadness, irritability, or mood changes that last for weeks
Slipping grades, school avoidance, or trouble concentrating
Changes in eating, sleeping, or energy
Big reactions to stress, or seeming shut down and hard to reach

You don’t have to wait for a crisis, and you don’t have to be certain. If something feels off, a conversation with a therapist can help you sort out what your teen needs.

How we work with teens and adolescents

Teens do best when therapy feels like their space, not something being done to them. Our therapists focus first on building trust by letting your teen set the pace and feel genuinely heard. At the same time, we know parents are part of the picture. We’ll talk with you about how privacy works for a minor in therapy, so everyone understands what’s shared with you and what stays between your teen and their therapist. That clarity, set up early, is part of what makes the work feel safe for a teenager.

A first session is mostly about getting to know your teen and understanding what’s bringing them in. From there, we tailor the approach to the individual rather than fitting them into a one-size-fits-all model.

What we help teens with

We focus on the concerns our clinicians are trained to treat. For teens and adolescents, that most often includes:

Anxiety, worry, and panic — including social anxiety and school-related stress. See our anxiety therapy page.
OCD and intrusive thoughts — treated with evidence-based exposure and response prevention (ERP).
Trauma and PTSD — see trauma counseling and PTSD therapy.
ADHD, focus, and executive functioning — our ADHD therapy works with both teens and adults.
Disordered eating and body image — see eating disorder therapy.
Grief and loss — see grief counseling.
Perfectionism, high-achiever stress, and burnout — common for driven students; see perfectionism.
Depression and low mood — persistent sadness, irritability, or loss of motivation.
Family conflict and communication — when the strain shows up between a teen and the people at home.

We only take on what we can genuinely help with. If a teen needs a level of care we don’t provide, we’ll say so and help point you in the right direction.

Approaches we use

Our therapists draw on evidence-based methods and match them to the teen in front of them:

CBT and ERP for anxiety and OCD practical, skills-based work backed by strong research. Learn more about ERP.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT / RO-DBT) for emotional regulation and over-control see Radically Open DBT.
Family and attachment-focused work, including Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), when the relationships around a teen are part of the healing.
EMDR for processing trauma.

Our therapists who work with teens

Several Sea Change Psychotherapy clinicians work with adolescents:

Elizabeth Ceuninck, M.Ed./Ed.S works with adolescents, adults, and families. She specializes in OCD and anxiety using CBT and ERP through training she received at the University of Florida’s Intensive Outpatient OCD Program and offers family therapy drawing on IFS and Structural Family Therapy. With more than eight years counseling in educational settings, she brings deep familiarity with the dynamics of adolescence and family life.

Anna Griggers, MS, APC focuses on trauma, attachment wounds, anxiety, disordered eating, and relationship concerns, using attachment-focused therapy, EFT, IFS, and ERP for OCD and anxiety.

Tamalyn Meller, M.Ed. offers trauma-informed therapy for anxiety, eating disorders, grief, life transitions, and identity, integrating IFS, Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT), ACT, and ERP.

In-person in Buckhead and telehealth across Georgia

We see teens in person at our Buckhead office in Atlanta and offer secure telehealth to families anywhere in Georgia which is a good fit for busy school schedules, longer commutes, or a teen who feels more comfortable talking from home. Whether you’re in Buckhead, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Decatur, or elsewhere in the metro, we can usually find a way to make sessions work.

Getting started

The easiest first step is a free 15-minute consultation. It’s a low-pressure way to share what’s going on, ask questions, and see whether one of our therapists feels like the right fit for your teen before committing to anything.

Sea Change is a private-pay, out-of-network practice. We provide a monthly superbill you can submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement; we’re glad to walk you through how that works so there are no surprises.

Contact us today to schedule a free 15-minute consultation and take the first step toward getting your teenager support.

Frequently asked questions about teen therapy

How do I know if my teen needs therapy?

You don’t need to be sure. If you’re noticing lasting changes including more anxiety, withdrawal, sadness, school struggles, or shifts in sleep and eating, those are worth paying attention to. A consultation can help you figure out whether therapy makes sense, and there’s no harm in asking early.

How is teen therapy different from adult therapy?

With teens, we spend more time building trust and making therapy feel like their own, and we’re intentional about how parents are involved. We also set clear expectations up front about privacy, so your teen knows what stays between them and their therapist and you know how you’ll be kept in the loop.

Will you tell me what my teenager says in session?

We’ll talk through how confidentiality works for a minor at the start, so it’s clear for everyone. In general, teens need to know their sessions are a private space in order to open up, while parents are kept informed about the overall direction of care and anything involving safety. We set those expectations together.

How much does teen therapy cost?

Sea Change is a private-pay, out-of-network practice. We provide a monthly superbill you can submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Reach out and we’ll go over fees and how the superbill process works so you can plan with a clear picture.

Do you offer virtual sessions for teens in Georgia?

Yes. We offer secure telehealth to teens and families anywhere in Georgia, alongside in-person sessions at our Buckhead office in Atlanta.

How do I get my teen to agree to go?

This is one of the most common questions parents ask. It often helps to frame therapy as support rather than a consequence, to give your teen some choice in the process, and to start with a low-stakes consultation. If you’re not sure how to bring it up, our guide on how to find the right therapist in Atlanta is a helpful starting point, and we’re happy to talk it through with you.