For Teens
Some teens come to therapy because anxiety has started running the show. Others are dealing with sadness they can't shake, pressure they can't escape, or friendships and family dynamics that feel impossible. Some just know something is off — and they can't name it yet.
Wherever you are, therapy at WHCP is a space built for you
Teens come to WHCP for:
Anxiety — test anxiety, social anxiety, panic, constant worry
Depression and low mood — feeling numb, hopeless, or disconnected
Identity and self-esteem — figuring out who you are and whether that's okay
Eating concerns and body image
School stress and academic pressure
Bullying and social cruelty — in person and online
Transition to college and early adulthood
Burnout — from achievement pressure, activities, or caregiving for others
Family conflict and communication breakdowns
Grief and loss
Emotional regulation — big feelings that feel out of control
For Parents
If you're a parent trying to figure out whether your teen needs therapy — and how to even bring it up — you're not alone. Here's what we want you to know:
You don't need to wait until your teen is in crisis. Early support is almost always more effective than waiting until things reach a breaking point.
Signs that a teen might benefit from therapy:
Significant changes in mood, sleep, appetite, or energy
Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities they used to love
Increased anxiety, irritability, or emotional outbursts
Declining grades or school avoidance
Concerns about eating, body image, or weight
Persistent sadness, tearfulness, or hopelessness
Difficulty coping with a transition, loss, or stressful event
Struggling with identity, sexuality, or social belonging
WHCP's teen therapists also work with parents — helping you understand what your teen is going through, how to have better conversations with them, and how to support their progress without inadvertently adding more pressure.
How we work with Teens
Our first priority is building a genuine therapeutic relationship with the teen themselves. That means teens have a confidential space within the therapy room — and we involve parents thoughtfully, not as an extension of parental oversight, but as a support system working in the same direction.
A Space That Belongs to the Teen
Dr. Acosta has specialized training and extensive experience treating adolescents with eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, ARFID, and general eating and body image concerns. She takes a collaborative approach and coordinates with dietitians, physicians, and other specialists to ensure comprehensive care.
Eating Disorders and Body Image
Motivational Interviewing is especially effective with adolescents because it doesn't rely on a therapist (or parent) telling a teen what to do. Instead, it helps teens explore their own ambivalence and find their own reasons for change — whether that's around school habits, substance use concerns, or other behaviors where teens often resist being told what's best for them.
Motivational Interviewing
Our teen therapists draw on CBT, DBT, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Person-Centered approaches — adapted for the developmental needs and communication styles of adolescents. The goal is always to give teens real tools they can use, not just insight about why things are hard.
Evidence-Based Approaches Adapted for Adolescents
For teens dealing with trauma, anxiety, or distressing memories, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) can provide meaningful relief in a small number of sessions — without requiring teens to describe traumatic events in detail. Dr. Acosta is a Master Certified in ART.
ART Accelerated Resolution Therapy for Teens
Our therapists have a deeply strength-based approach that helps teens identify and build on their own assets, insight, and capabilities. Rather than focusing on deficits, therapy at WHCP helps teens discover who they are and what they're capable of — including navigating the hard stuff.
Strength-Based and Identity-Affirming
Rather than focusing extensively on what's wrong, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy helps teens identify what's already working, get clear on specific goals, and build concrete steps forward. Many teens respond well to this practical, forward-moving style — it can feel less like rehashing problems and more like building a plan.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Meet our Teen and Family Therapists
Dr. Amy Acosta, PhD
Clinical Director, Teens & Adults · Co-Owner · Licensed Psychologist · ART Trained · PhD, Counseling Psychology, University of Houston · Adolescent Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor
Dr. Acosta has specialized in adolescent mental health for over 20 years — working with teens in university settings, independent schools, hospital-based adolescent medicine programs, and private practice. Her client-centered, strength-based approach helps teens manage anxiety and depression, navigate eating concerns and body image, develop skills for the transition to adulthood, and build the self-understanding that makes everything else more manageable. She brings clinical depth and genuine warmth to every teen relationship.
Samantha spent five years working directly with high school students as both a teacher and school counselor before transitioning to clinical therapy — which means she genuinely understands the world today's teens live in. She specializes in teen anxiety, depression, burnout, low self-esteem, and emotional regulation, and is known for creating a space where teens feel safe being completely honest. Her approach is collaborative and down-to-earth. Samantha offers therapy in both English and Spanish.
Supervision note: Samantha is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, supervised by Kacee Soto, LPC-S #6549
Samantha Pietrowski, LPC-Associate
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate · Former High School Teacher & School Counselor · Bilingual (English & Spanish) · CBT, DBT, Solution-Focused & Person-Centered approaches