Therapy for teens and parents in Walnut Creek

Anxiety, Depression
Obsessive Compulsive and Bipolar Disorder
Issues with Self-Esteem, Gender or Sexual Identity
ADD/ADHD, Learning Differences
Eating Disorders, Weight Problems
Relationship Problems, Anger, Loneliness, Withdrawl
Suicidal Feelings or Gestures
Self-Destructive Behavior, Cutting
Divorce, Grief, Loss or Trauma
Drug and Alcohol Use, Precocious Sexuality
Health Issues, Sleep Problems

Parenting, Teen, and Family Therapy:

My academic and clinical training in child development and family systems enables me to provide excellent care for you and your loved ones.

Parenting:

I am familiar with the increasing social, athletic and academic challenges and stressors with which parents and their children contend in our local communities. I understand the dynamics of today's modern family: divorcing, blending and changing. I grasp how challenging and humbling parenting can be, especially with the challenges emerging from rampant violence and social media.

I can help you untangle the issues when you get overwhelmed, maintain your own balance while meeting the needs of your jobs and family, and learn how to be the best parent you can be to your individual children. I help you understand your children's problems, the underlying issues, and what you can do to help. I help you to understand what your children trigger in you, how to reduce conflict and maintain your composure, and when to employ compassion or discipline. We work together to decide if your children need therapy, what the goals will be and what format will best meet your needs.

I can help when your teen is struggling with:

Teenagers:

Adolescence is a particularly challenging stage: in addition to outside stresses, teens are also dealing with the inner turmoil of hormones and issues around identity, sexuality and growing up. I understand the enormous stress and pressure our high achieving athletes and college-bound students endure, and the toll it takes on their health and well-being.

Even successful kids from good families may begin to suffer from symptoms of distress or feeling out of control and need help coping in healthy ways. Even when they have good relationships with their parents, they may benefit from talking to an objective professional in a private context. Without help, some teens begin to use drugs or alcohol to manage their distress or bond with peers. Some teens can become very rebellious and challenging for parents to manage. While they desperately need us, they may shut us out or angrily push us away. When a child suffers or acts out, it can throw the balance for the rest of the family off. When a suffering teen makes bad choices and becomes out of control, it can lead to dangerous and life-altering consequences.

Their healthy, developmental need for independence and issues around blended families, sexuality and relationships, drugs and alcohol, values and their futures can make it very difficult for teens to talk to their parents. They may not act like it, but they may be suffering more than we realize. Teens are still children who need and want guidance, support, and admiration. Some teens need help seeing their parent's perspectives, taking responsibility, developing self-discipline and impulse control, using good judgment and making healthy choices.

Teens and I enjoy working with each other and achieve successful results. They consistently find me to be "very understanding" and "easy to open up and listen to," and most find much affection and comfort from my therapy dog, Luna In my experience, helping them to work through their issues, understand and communicate with their parents and stay on track at this critical stage has been invaluable.

Dr. Karyn Goldberg-Boltz

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Psychotherapy for Teens, Adults and Couples

Walnut Creek, CA

Create Clarity, Change, and Well-being