High-Achieving Teens

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I know how stressful it can feel to keep up with school, friends, parents’ expectations, and your own high standards. Maybe you’re trying to look like you have it together but constantly feel behind. Maybe you’re tired of second-guessing yourself or feeling guilty for not doing enough. The pressure to stay motivated, manage big emotions, and still feel “normal” can be exhausting. You deserve to feel grounded and comfortable being yourself and not like you're just holding it all together.

In therapy, we’ll explore the thoughts and patterns that keep you stuck in self-doubt or worry, and gently shift toward a mindset that feels more empowering and supportive. This is a safe, judgment-free space where you can show up as you are (messy moments and all) while building skills to manage stress, quiet the inner critic, and reconnect with your strengths.

As a former competitive dancer, I spent years chasing perfection and pushing through exhaustion. I learned how easy it is to tie your worth to performance and how hard it can be to balance it all. Whether it’s learning to set boundaries, cultivating self-compassion, or simply finding ways to breathe a little easier, our work is tailored to you.

  • "Adolescents are often torn between the signals they’re receiving from the outside world and those arising from within. They can doubt the validity of their own emotions, especially when their feelings don’t line up with what their peers seem to feel”

    - LISA DAMOUR

  • “The grandiose person is never really free; first because he is excessively dependent on admiration from others, and second, because his self-respect is dependent on qualities, functions, and achievements that can suddenly fail.”

    - ALICE MILLER

  • experience general anxiety or chronic worry.

  • experience panic attacks, racing thoughts, or overwhelm.

  • are trying to balance school and the demands of a sport or artistic endeavor.

  • consider themselves perfectionists or are very self-critical.

  • have trouble finding balance and confidence beyond constant achievement.

  • have physical symptoms like shortness of breath, muscle tension, dizziness, exhaustion, restlessness, feeling “on edge”, or gastrointestinal issues.

  • have anxiety or fear specific to social situations, phobias, etc.

  • are anxious in their relationships and are often seeking validation.

  • constantly feel like they’re behind or “not enough”.

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Clients look like people who: