At Decades, we know that teenagers respond best to warm, real, and genuine connecting with a caring therapist. We will focus on them as a whole person, not just what's "wrong." We use research-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR for trauma, and family systems work when appropriate, but we adapt every approach to fit your teen specifically.
Common reasons teens come to therapy at Decades include: anxiety and chronic worry, depression and low mood, academic stress and perfectionism, social struggles and loneliness, the impact of social media and comparison, body image and self-esteem, trauma and difficult past experiences, family relationship issues, identity exploration, grief and loss, anger and emotional dysregulation, and major life transitions.
We also work closely with parents, not by reporting on session content (that stays confidential with your teen), but through periodic parent check-ins that help you understand what your teen is working on at a high level and how to best support them at home.
We know every teen and every family has unique needs and schedules. We offer in-person sessions at our downtown Austin office and virtual sessions for any Texas resident — including evenings to accommodate school schedules.
We work with teenagers starting at age 14 and continue with young adults through college and beyond. Our clinicians are skilled in navigating the specific developmental challenges of each stage.
We balance protecting the client's trust and confidentiality with including parents into the therapuetic process. We know that what happens at home is going to be most impactful, so we will thoughtfully bring in parent's perspective and input throughout therapy. Our clinicains work colloboratively with the whole family system to ensure the client (teen) is getting the best care possible. Practically speaking, clinicains can share general themes and progress with parents, but the content of their sessions belongs to the teenager.
This is one of the most common questions we get. We recommend starting with a free 20-minute consultation — just a conversation between your teen and a therapist, no commitment. Once teens feel genuinely heard, most are willing to try a session. We often suggest committing to just three sessions before deciding whether to continue. By session three, most teens are engaged.
We typically recommend periodic parent check-ins separate from your teen's individual sessions — especially early on. This gives you a space to share observations and helps us understand context, without compromising your teen's confidentiality. Family sessions can also be incorporated when appropriate and welcomed by everyone.
Yes. Virtual sessions actually work well for many teens — they can meet from their own room, which often feels less intimidating than an office visit. We offer in-person sessions at our Austin office and virtual sessions for any Texas resident.
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