Online Teen and Child Therapy for California Residents

Address: 5330 Carroll Canyon Rd Suite 120, San Diego, CA, 92121, US
Telephone: (858) 634-0502

Get long lasting support for your teen or child from the comfort of their own home!

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Online teen therapy and child counseling can provide the skills your teen or child needs to overcome their struggles and allow them to do so where they feel most comfortable

Does your teen or child struggle to understand and express their emotional process in a way that appears healthy and productive? Lost interest in activities that they once enjoyed? Does your teen or child experience difficulties in their relationships with family, peers or school/work? Perhaps they are struggling with self-esteem issues due to a specific event, or sequence of events, that result in isolation, mood swings, hopelessness, or feeling hypercritical of themself or others? Maybe your teen or child has noticed physical side effects of these struggles; such as muscle tension, headaches, poor sleeping patterns, stomach aches, decreased/increased appetite, inattentiveness, and risky/careless behaviors/choices.

They are not alone...

Whether your child is younger, reaching adolescence or a teenager, these are the most developmental and influential years of one’s life. Not to say this can’t/doesn’t happen later in life as well, but it’s the early and middle stage… you’re either just getting started or still in-between… You have some experience, but not enough for the trust and autonomy you get with the title of “adult”. It’s as if we know just enough to know all the things we don’t, so we know where to pretend for others; as well as ourselves… And, if that isn’t difficult enough, throw in a pandemic that causes them to feel even more unsure, stressed and isolated! Not to mention causing youth to miss out on – or experience modified versions of – events that they’ve been told to look forward to throughout their life; such as prom, graduation, and so forth. So if your teen or child is struggling, it’s not only a natural part of development, but it’s even more understandable than ever before. They are not alone…

Why Do Most Parents Seek Online Therapy for Their Child or Teen?

Online teen therapy and child counseling can help build self-esteem and gives a place to work through what holds your teen or child back in a way they may not have thought possible. Teen behaviors are simply refined versions of childhood behaviors that were repeated enough to become engrained; a process that continues to evolve into the adult behaviors they may have later on. Your teen or child will learn lasting coping techniques to decrease or eliminate the problems they face, and feel better about themselves and their circumstances. Online child counseling and teen therapy can help youth that struggle with:

Seeing a Teen and Child Therapist Online Can Help!

Online child therapy and teen counseling teaches numerous perspectives, techniques, skills and strategies that promote the self-soothing, problem-solving and emotional awareness/expression necessary for avoiding/overcoming obstacles and achieving goals. Most importantly, a child / teen therapist intervenes at the stages right before young adulthood; which is a crucial time for self-discovery and establishing the patterns we will take into our adult years. It is during this crucial time in your child’s life that I will be there. I will provide the space and safety required to make real change, and I will listen to their side of the story and never waiver in my support. As long as you both will have me, I will be there. In addition, I will make time for you (and anyone else that your teen sees as a support person) to assist, simplify and educate wherever needed so that your teen can experience consistency and support wherever possible. Simply put, if it benefits your child / teen, I’m in!

Benefits of effective online child therapy and teen counseling can be:

What Are the Benefits of Doing Online Child Counseling and Teen Therapy?

Online child counseling and teen therapy can provide the same therapeutic benefits that they would get in person; such as improved coping skills, the ability to understand and process their difficult emotions, and setting and achieving goals. But, what sets online therapy and teletherapy apart is that they can do it from the comfort of their own home. No having to worry about getting ready, battling traffic, or finding a parking space… just opening their computer and logging in. They can even do therapy in their PJs if they want! During a time when emotions and hormones are essentially at an all-time high, it can be helpful to be in a place where they already feel familiar and comfortable. Additionally, it takes geographics almost entirely out of the equation! As long as the therapist is licensed in the same state, it allows your teen or child to meet with whichever teen therapist fits them best! So if you’re in California, I can help!

Why Book an Online Teen Therapy or Child Counseling Session with Me?

Spencer Chernick, LMFT - ADHD, Couples, Teens, Children - San Diego, CA 92109

I have worked with youth and their families all throughout my career in a variety of circumstances and treatment settings including online, school, community-based mental health care, and private practice. Additionally, I very much remember the trials and tribulations of my teenage years, and the pressure and expectations that came with it. With my self-esteem-focused approach, I have successfully helped many children, teens and their families process significant events and overcome obstacles through improving self-worth, emotional awareness, communication, problem-solving, and overall perspective of their circumstances and options.

I have found that I really connect with younger individuals. Not only because of my positive psychology background and relaxed and friendly approach, but because many of my personal interests align with theirs; including sports, music, video games, movies/tv shows, and experiencing adventure. Furthermore, I personally understand what it’s like to try and navigate middle school and high school during times of great hardship in my personal life. I find this creates a very specific and special bubble of trust and safety because, as a result, I am often viewed as an adult they can trust and as a peer with whom they can relax. I will use this unique relationship to relate and empathize with their struggles, so that they can feel more confident and better trust approaches that I have found to be effective and helpful.

Are you ready to help your teen or child overcome obstacles and feel more confident?

Contact me today to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation and see if online teen or child therapy is right for your family!

MY STANDARD RATE IS $200 PER SESSION (50 MINUTES)
Prefer a longer session time? Just ask for details!

I do not accept insurance but I do offer Superbills that can be presented to insurance companies for reimbursement. Learn more about my rates and insurance.

Here are some typical questions regarding online child counseling and teen therapy...

Is online teen therapy and child counseling as effective as in-person?

Absolutely. Since online teen therapy and child counseling provides the same support and techniques as in-person, families often find immediate improvement because they’ve learned techniques that they didn’t know before. That excitement can be very motivating and euphoric, and result in the most important element of therapy; consistency.

Is virtual teen / child therapy necessary? Won’t things just improve over time?

I get this question all of the time, and for good reason. Without a doubt, childhood frustration and raging teen hormones don’t help with all the other things they have to deal with on a daily basis; and yes, some things can and do improve over time. However, even in the cases where it will “fix itself” over time, online youth counseling and virtual therapy can assist in the development of healthy behavior patterns and mindsets that improve current struggles and increase the chances of overall satisfaction in life. Additionally, there is the preventative aspect! Seeing a Teen therapist can possibly prevent one or more events that your teen or child may grow to feel negatively about into and throughout adulthood.

Is the information my teen or child shares confidential?

Yes! An online therapist cannot share client information with anyone without their prior consent; unless it is in order to protect the youth or public from serious harm.

Can parents be involved in online treatment?

The short answer is yes. With children, I feel it is important so that the child experiences consistency in session and at home. With teens, it’s more about how they feel about it. Either way, if the teen or child is comfortable with it, I encourage it! However, if they won’t share in online sessions due to parent engagement, then it may be best to keep parents informed; as opposed to involved. This means being kept up-to-date as to whether progress is being made around particular themes, or if there are safety concerns to the youth or public; but no specifics that would break trust between the therapist and client.

How do I know if my teen or child needs online therapy?

Although there is no all-encompassing answer to this question, common instances where parents seek online teen counseling and child therapy is when their teen or child is struggling with…

Low self-esteem
Persistent nightmares or feelings of anxiety, worry or fear
Preoccupation with physical illness or their own appearance
Regular conflict with peers and/or support figures
Changes in patterns of sleeping or eating
Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
An inability to concentrate, think clearly, or make decisions
A sudden, unexplained drop in grades at school or work performance
A loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed
Constant anger or sadness, and a tendency to overreact to situations

However, in all honesty, I believe this question is best answered with another question: could your teen or child benefit from additional support without needing to leave the comfort of their home? If you’re still not sure, you can always contact me for a free 15 minute consultation and to see if I am the right online therapist for your teen or child!

What to Expect in an Online Therapy Session?

An online teen / youth therapist can assist your teen or child in understanding harmful patterns they engage in and how/why they were created in the first place. Improving pattern recognition gives the control and awareness to avoid falling back into similar – if not the exact same – patterns. Children and teens can often forget how much more control they have compared to how it feels, so reminders from an unbiased person they trust can make a world of difference. No judgement. No criticism. Just support and understanding. Once they feel comfortable, sessions with me will just feel like having a conversation with anyone else who supports them… I’ll just know more and have less of an agenda than they’re used to. This becomes incredibly important during times of repetitive struggles and the self-deprecation that often follows. Where someone in their inner world might express emotions that could interfere with a child or teen’s ability to be receptive and effectively move forward, an online youth therapist has the ability to provide support, patience and guidance; while remaining neutral.

Approaches I Use in Online Child Counseling and Teen Therapy

Positive Therapy

Positive Therapy is a relatively new therapeutic model that reorients the therapeutic approach to be more focused on supporting clients to use their inner resources to overcome challenges, understand and recognize areas of growth, and focus instead on working towards resilience and a greater sense of well-being. Its core focus is on moving away from what’s ‘wrong’ or the negative aspects of an individual, and instead move towards what’s good and positive; which promotes solution-focused problem-solving, self-esteem, and a positive mindset.

Mindfulness Therapy Practices

Engaging in mindfulness practices assists in calming down the nervous system and decreasing the impulsivity, restlessness, and struggles with memory and focus that are so often experienced by teens with ADHD, or its symptoms. However, what I love most of all about mindfulness practices is how easily and seamlessly they can be incorporated into our lives. Although mindfulness is often associated with specific approaches, such as yoga, mindfulness can be as simple as focusing on your breathing; or what you are eating.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic modality that focuses on the cause and effect patterns we fall into and the power of mindset. Through increased awareness of the negative thinking patterns and factors that influence our less-desired behaviors, CBT provides the tools necessary to effectively break the patterns that put us in our own way and develop productive patterns to put us back in the driver’s seat.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a therapeutic modality that focuses on solutions and what has worked in the past. Instead of examining negative patterns or identifying “problems”, SFBT promotes solution-oriented and positive thinking that is so beneficial for the decreased self-esteem and repeated frustrations that are so often experienced throughout childhood.

Online Teen Therapy and Child Counseling for California Residents

If you and/or your youth want to break free and overcome obstacles, learn more about my online teen therapy and child counseling services, please use the button above or call (858) 634-0502 for a free 15 minute phone consultation.

Spencer Chernick, LMFT
ADHD, Teen & Couples Therapy
5330 Carroll Canyon Rd Suite 120,
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 634-0502

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