Adolescent Behavior

Acting-out, talk-back, and experimentation is often the language of mental health problems for teenagers. Emotional healing begins when adults not only set limits, but truly listen, respect, and show interest in them.

Adolescents are disproportionately affected during this COVID-19 pandemic––Isolated from their peers, schooling through video, and missing out on so many milestones such as athletics, prom, and new relationships. Professional counseling helps teens face the uncertainty of the pandemic, lost motivation, many upcoming transitions, and the social challenges that follow.

Teens are asking for help

Now, more than ever, teens are needing therapy and courageously asking for help. Parents are also searching for answers as conflicts increase at home, academics decline, and behavior problems increase. As a parent, you may be ready to consider counseling, and exploring your options––hoping to find a great fit for your teen.

Can therapy really work for my teenager?

You may also be wondering if therapy will work for your teen and you have questions: Can a therapist connect with my teen? Will my teen feel they can talk openly and honestly? Can the therapist handle my teen’s problems? What if my teen doesn’t talk? Will the therapist blame me for my teen’s problems? Will I get support on parenting my teen? Can the counselor help us restore our relationship? And will my teen be ready to launch into adulthood when the time comes?

For those of us at Cherry Hill, who love working with teens, these are challenges we face on a regular basis. Go ahead and ask us the hard questions––we want to hear your concerns. But know, we truly enjoy connecting with teenagers, and are up for the challenge.

How Cherry Hill therapists work with teens

Here are a few things you can expect when we work with your teen:

  1. Our relationship with your teenager comes first. We want to know what they’re all about––from their hobbies, the sports they play, the art they create, and the musicians they follow.
    Teens need to feel validated, heard, and respected, and this begins by knowing them well––as well as their issues that need to be addressed.
  2. As counselors, we are not the “third parent” in the room. You are the parent which matters to us. Our role is to support and challenge your teen, and to teach them how to respectfully advocate for themselves. With guidance, your teen can replace acting-out with healthy self advocacy.
  3. You, as the parent, matter in the life of your son or daughter. We value your insight and the unique position you have to impact the life of your teen. When relationships are strained or severed, we want to support you and the whole family in rebuilding your connection with your teen.
  4. Expect us to tailor our therapeutic approach to best serve your teen and your family. Our clinicians employ a wide collection of therapeutic approaches that include Cognitive Behavioral, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, No-talk Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Family Therapy, creative and expressive therapies, Motivational Interviewing, and many more. Our interventions include rapport building, education and training, role-playing, relaxation training, and other experiential exercises. We may also encourage other supportive therapies that can enhance his or her treatment progress.

Give us a call. Tell us a little more about your family. We would love to help your son or daughter traverse these challenging times and re-discover the joy of emerging into adulthood.

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Teens & Parents

Teen Counseling Opt-In

Related Therapist Profiles

The following therapists specialize in Adolescent Behavior

Ava Currie, Intern Therapist

Deer Park | Wheaton

Ava Currie is a Cherry Hill Counseling intern pursuing a Master's of Science degree at National Louis University. With a strong passion for helping those in need, she is committed to providing empathetic support and contributing to client growth and healing through thoughtful and effective therapeutic techniques.

Nazree Williams, MSW, LSW

Wheaton

Nazree Williams is a therapist with a background in science and medical research. She combines creativity, nature and neuroscience into her practice, offering a safe, non-judgmental space for individuals to heal, grow, and achieve goals. She makes understanding your brain engaging and easy to grasp. By breaking down how different neurological regions and chemicals influence your mood, anxiety and behavior, Nazree helps you grasp the interaction between our mind and body, which can assist with managing of emotions.

Cathy Araos, MA.Ed., LPC

McHenry | Lake Zurich

Cathy's professional path has been diverse, encompassing teaching roles across numerous school districts. A committed lifelong learner, she holds two Master's degrees. Outside of work, she finds joy in woodworking, hiking, and camping adventures with her family.

Boriana Raykova, Intern Therapist

Lake Zurich

Boriana is an intern therapist working towards her masters degree in mental health counseling from Wheaton College. She enjoys working with clients of all ages and is especially passionate in supporting clients who are working through transitions between cultures. Boriana is bilingual in Bulgarian and English.

Paramita Bhattacharya, LCSW, PEL

Grayslake | Vernon Hills

Paramita is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked as a clinician on 3 different continents. She speaks 4 different languages which include Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, and English. She has experience working with 5 year olds to 85 years old. Paramita utilizes evidence-based practices to support clients needs and has a background in trauma care.

Laura Shehata, MA

Vernon Hills

Laura is a bilingual counselor (Arabic & English) who is passionate about working alongside adolescents and adults to help them identify and fulfill their unmet needs. Laura has experience working with individuals who struggle with managing difficult emotions, finding stability in their relationships, and developing healthy self-esteem; all common issues in most presenting problems.

Kayal Swaminathan, MSW, LSW

Vernon Hills

Kayal has a Master of Social Work degree from Loyola University. She is a passionate mental health professional dedicated to empowering her clients through play and creativity.

Lisa LaBute, MS, LCPC

Teletherapy Only

Lisa LaBute earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University in 1984 and her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Saint Francis College in 1996. She’s had the opportunity to work in several states as well as doing an internship in London. She’s been a licensed professional counselor in the state of Illinois since 2007.

Jennifer Thelen, MA, LPC

McHenry

Jennifer works with teens, adults and couples. She is devoted to creating a safe relational environment to encourage self-exploration while supporting clients through life’s challenges.

Alexis Mathews Carr, MA, LPC

Vernon Hills

Alexis strives to make her clients feel safe, welcome, and accepted through the use of empathy, genuineness, and humor. Her counseling approach is rooted in CBT, DBT, and a strengths based approach. Alexis works with clients to identify their strengths in order to find growth and healing.

Valerie Dobrow, MSW, LSW

Deer Park

Valerie utilizes a strengths-based approach when working with children, adolescents, teens, and young adults. She has specialized training in Trauma-Focused CBT and play therapy techniques. She strives to empower clients to focus on reaching their goals through therapeutic techniques and skills development.

Veronica Gillen, MSW, LCSW

Wheaton

Veronica Gillen is a licensed social worker with a Masters Degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania with an emphasis on trauma informed care and strengths-based recovery support. Veronica is a bilingual therapist and provides services in both English and Spanish. Veronica enjoys working with women, children, and teens as well as families.

Cris Goodfellow, MA, LPC

Grayslake

Cris is an intern therapist, seeking completion of her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Trinity International University (Graduation May 2024). Cris is passionate about working with teens and adults, couples, and families, helping all people to seek individual and relational health.

Joshua Flanagan, MA, LPC

Vernon Hills

Josh earned his MA in Mental Health Counseling from Trinity International University. Josh is a compassionate and energetic individual who has a lot of passion for helping others. He loves to express himself through creative avenues such as photography, design, etc. and always will do life within community.

Deb Landeene, MA, LPC

Lake Zurich

Deb is a Master’s level counseling intern from Concordia University Chicago. She provides treatment to clients of all ages, but has a passion for working with adolescents and their parents. She is a wife and a mother to 2 grown children. She enjoys her animals, gardening and making jewelry. Deb considers herself a life-long learner.

Juan Torres, MSW, LCSW, CADC

Vernon Hills

Juan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Illinois and can provide services in both English and Spanish. He specializes in treating substance use disorders and mood disorders. He works with adolescents and adults in both individual and group settings.

Emily Nikfar, MSW, LSW

Teletherapy Only

Emily is a recent graduate from the Tulane School of Social Work, where she completed her MSW and had a concentration in Mental Health, Addiction, and Family Therapy. She has a background in Theater Arts and received her BA in Acting from Columbia College Chicago.

Brendan Bell, MA, LCPC

Deer Park | Wheaton

Brendan Bell is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois. He has worked in private practice for the last 20 years, with offices in both Deer Park and in Wheaton. His expertise involves working with middle schoolers, adolescents, and their families, with extensive experience addressing behavior disorders. Brendan also works with adults and particularly enjoys counseling artists.

Diane Geiser, MSW, LCSW

Lake Zurich

Diane Geiser is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience working with adults, adolescents, couples and families. Diane is a highly skilled clinician who can work with clients in identifying goals and change strategies that promote growth. She also has experience conducting wellness seminars with corporations and executives.

Karen Robbins, MSW, LCSW

Teletherapy Only

Karen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has experience counseling teens, adults, couples, and families. She is trained in multiple empirically supported approaches including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples. She focuses on developing rapport with clients and using strength-based approaches to facilitate healing and change.

Gary Gruebnau, MA, LSW

McHenry

Gary is a social worker with several decades of experience counseling teens, adults, and couples in secular and church settings. He enjoys working with a broad age range of clients from teens to the elderly. His background includes military service, working in the business world, and teaching in both public and private settings.

Elizabeth Haines, LCPC, NBC-HWC, YACEP

Teletherapy Only

Elizabeth is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She values a strong therapeutic alliance and believes that a supportive and collaborative working relationship is instrumental in helping clients improve their overall quality of life. She uses her expertise in yoga and mindfulness to assist clients in learning to calm and relax the stressed body and mind.

Patrick Kelly, MA, LCPC, CCATP

McHenry

Patrick’s mission as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor is to utilize his diverse life experience and graduate-level education to make a positive difference in the lives of struggling and hurting people. His passion is working with troubled marriages along with helping individuals cope with and rise above anxiety and depression brought about by life’s challenges and difficulties.

Maria Statkus Ritchey, MA, LCPC, CCATP-CA

Deer Park | Wheaton

Maria is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Maria is enthusiastic about working with different populations, including children, adolescents, young adults, and families. Maria has experience utilizing non-directive play therapy and her approach is client-centered based, while integrating client strengths within the process.

Risa Becker, MA, LCPC

McHenry

Risa is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has a passion for seeing people come into the fullness of what their life could be. Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn, and having someone alongside can make a difference. Other times we need to make a change and need support to make that happen. Either way, I am here for you.

Emily Salomon, MS.Ed., LCPC

Deer Park

Emily earned her MS.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Illinois University. Emily holds deep value for the safe space that exists within the therapeutic relationship. She embraces the importance of being provided with new lenses with which a client may see the world a bit differently.

Elaine Iwicki, MA, ALMFT

Wheaton

Elaine has an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Wheaton College. She enjoys working with adolescents, adults, families, and couples. She believes that relationship health is crucial to healing and she is passionate about being a part of that healing process.

Laura Ronkoske, MSW, LSW

Lake Zurich

Laura has been a school social worker for 23 years. Nothing brings her more joy than helping young children, adolescents, and adults through life’s most challenging times. She has recently moved to private practice to help others outside the school environment to be their best selves and help give them the tools to be able to do so.

April Wazny, MA, LPC

Grayslake

April Wazny received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. She is passionate about working with children, adolescents and families. She has over 10 years experience working with children, families, blended families, trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorder, special needs and special needs parental support. She has 21 years of experience with Military families.

Nicole Taylor, MS.Ed., LPC

McHenry

Nicole is a licensed therapist who is passionate about working with children, adolescents, and young adults. She specializes in anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.

Julie Berry, MA, LPC

Grayslake

Julie is passionate about working with women, young adults, and individuals helping them find the power within themselves to navigate any struggle they may be facing. She loves forming a strong trusted relationship with her client. She focuses on helping people name their struggles or pains and identify ways to take action toward healing and wholeness. She believes we can learn from life’s experiences as helpful information to understanding ourselves more.

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