I approach teens and young adults from a place of curiosity, compassion and respect. Instead of being another adult telling them what to do, I encourage them to consider who they are, why they act and react to certain situations in certain ways and how to apply tools to reduce anxiety and achieve personal goals.

Because the pre-frontal cortex -- the part of the brain responsible for reasoning, discernment, and impulse control -- is not well-developed in people under 25 (it continues to develop after that as well – good news for

those of us past that age!), it is almost impossible for young people to take a bird's-eye-view and put things into appropriate perspective. In therapy, young people can come to understand that while feelings may be real, they are not necessarily true and are not always a reliable guide for attitudes and behavior.