Orange County Teen Therapy Blog

Avoidance Fuels Anxiety

Helping teens grow and families improve connection,Lauren Goodman, MS, MFT

Happiness eludes many of us. Listen to this brief story of how Dr. Martin Seligman determined to become a happy person. His research has shaped what we know about happiness and how we have the power to increase our feelings of positivity and happiness. Helping teens...

Help for school anxiety

For some teenagers, school is exciting. They cannot wait to see friends, and really don't even mind being in class. If you're reading this though, that is probably not your kid. For a lot of adolescents, Monday is the worst day of the week. Going to school is...

High School Dating

Dear teenagers, Dating in high school is a challenge no matter who you are. You might be the captain of the cheer team, and have more dating opportunities than you want. You might be the guy who is so shy you can't talk to a girl even if it's just to ask what the...

Tips for Teens: Social Stress at School

The social aspects of school are difficult. They often leave teens feeling overwhelmed and nervous. It is hard to navigate being in middle or high school when it feels difficult to make and keep friends. Helping teens grow and families improve connection,Lauren...

What to do if my teen is “sexting”

Sexting among teens is false intimacy Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Sexting is happening much more often than you think. I have been completely SHOCKED as a therapist for teens at how frequently teens are texting sexy messages to one...

Using Mindfulness for Calm

Help reduce anxiety for your teens with a simple grounding exercise. I quickly demonstrate it in this short video. You will want to walk them through this more slowly, but you will easily understand the concept. Helping teens grow and families improve...

Tips for Test Taking Anxiety

Taking tests is a miserable process for a lot of teenagers. They feel nervous, overwhelmed, and stressed out. There is a lot of pressure to do well, but it is really hard for some people to relax enough to let their mind work. Here are some tips and tricks that can...

Successful Back to School

I had a client who was a mediocre student. Her parents worked really hard to help her improve her academics. They studied with her. They paid for tutors, and even obtained a 504 plan from the school district. Things got a little bit better for her, but not...