A Special Focus: Teen Athletes

If your teenager is a student-athlete, they're carrying a unique set of pressures that don't always get the attention they deserve.

As a Mira Costa High School graduate and former competitive dance team member, I know firsthand what it feels like to show up every day and perform — physically, mentally, and emotionally — while still trying to keep up with everything else life demands. The discipline, the dedication, the team dynamics, the pressure to be "on" all the time — can be a lot to juggle for an adolescent.

Teen athletes are often some of the most driven, high-achieving young people around. But that same drive can make it harder to ask for help. Many athletes are taught to push through pain, stay focused, and keep emotions off the field — or off the floor. Over time, that can take a real toll.

Some of the unique challenges teen athletes face include:

• Performance anxiety and fear of failure

• Perfectionism and the pressure to constantly improve

• Injury, recovery, and the loss of identity that can come with it

• Balancing athletics, academics, and a social life

• Coach and team dynamics, including conflict or unhealthy environments

• Body image pressures specific to their sport

• Burnout — and the guilt that often comes with it

Whether your teen is a competitive dancer, soccer player, swimmer, gymnast, or any other kind of athlete, they deserve support that truly gets their world. Therapy can help them build the mental resilience to perform at their best — while also making sure they know their worth extends far beyond their sport.

Therapy That Moves at Your Teen's Pace

No two teenagers are the same — and therapy here isn't one-size-fits-all. Sessions are guided by your child's comfort level, readiness, and goals. There's no pressure to dive into the deep end before they're ready. Progress is built on trust, and trust is built over time. Your teen is always in the driver's seat.

Depending on what your teen needs, therapy may draw from a range of approaches, including but not limited to:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — helping teens identify and shift the thought patterns that fuel anxiety, self-doubt, and performance pressure. CBT is especially effective for athletes who struggle with negative self-talk, fear of failure, or the mental spiral that can happen before a big competition or performance.

• Exposure Therapy — for teens whose anxiety has started to hold them back, whether that means avoiding tryouts, freezing before performances, or sitting out because the fear feels too big, exposure therapy offers a gradual, supported path toward reclaiming confidence.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — building practical skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. For teens who feel emotions intensely — or who shut down under pressure — DBT offers concrete tools they can actually use in real life and in their sport.

• Art and Creative Interventions — not every teen can find the words for what they're carrying. Art-based approaches offer another language — one that can be especially powerful for young athletes and performers who already understand the connection between the body, creativity, and expression.

Collaborative Care — Because It Takes a Village

Healing and growth don't happen in isolation. When it's appropriate and your teen consents, I'm happy to collaborate with the important people in their corner — including coaches, school counselors, dieticians, and other members of their support team. This might look like a conversation with a coach about how to best support your athlete's mental health, coordinating with school staff around academic stress, consulting with a dietician on their relationship with food, or simply making sure everyone is working toward the same goal: your teen's wellbeing.

Parents play an invaluable role in the process. While your teen's sessions are their own private space, there are ways to keep you informed and involved in a way that feels right for your family.

When Substances Enter the Picture

Adolescence is a time of experimentation and boundary-testing — that's a normal part of growing up. But sometimes what starts as curiosity or a way to cope with stress, anxiety, or emotional pain can quietly become something more. If you've noticed changes in your teen's behavior, mood, or social circle and you're wondering if substances might be involved, you're not alone — and it's okay to seek support before things escalate.

Substance use in teenagers rarely exists in a vacuum. It's often connected to something deeper — a need to numb difficult emotions, fit in, manage performance pressure, or escape from stress they don't know how to handle any other way. For teen athletes especially, the pressure to perform, recover quickly, or maintain a certain image can create vulnerabilities that aren't always visible from the outside.

This is a judgment-free space — for your teen and for you. Addressing substance use in therapy isn't about shame or punishment. It's about understanding what's driving the behavior, building healthier coping strategies, and helping your teen find their way back to themselves.

Support in this area may include:

• Exploring the underlying emotional drivers behind substance use — whether that's anxiety, depression, trauma, peer pressure, or burnout

• Motivational interviewing — a collaborative, non-confrontational approach that helps teens explore their own reasons for change at their own pace

• CBT-based strategies for identifying triggers, breaking cycles, and building refusal skills

• DBT skills for managing the intense emotions that often fuel substance use

• Family communication support — helping parents and teens open up honest, productive conversations without the interaction turning into conflict

• Referral coordination when a higher level of care is needed, ensuring your family is connected to the right resources

Your teen doesn't have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. If they're struggling, stretched thin, or just not quite themselves — this is a space built for them.