TEEN COUNSELING IN CARLSBAD

Support for Adolescents and Their Families

Adolescence is a time of major transformation—for teens and their families. At New Growth Counseling in Carlsbad, we help teens navigate identity, emotions, and relationships while empowering parents to adjust, connect, and support their child through this pivotal stage of development.

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/floating_image_04.png

Expert Therapy For People Who Expect Results.

Expert counseling and therapists serving Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, Leucadia, La Costa, Encinitas, and San Diego County.

bt_bb_section_bottom_section_coverage_image
https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/floating_image_13.png

Navigating the Storm: Teen Counseling for Developmental Shiftsand Family Dynamics

Adolescence is a time of seismic change—for teens and for their families. Hormones surge. Brain development accelerates, especially in areas responsible for decision-making, emotional regulation, and impulse control. Peer influence intensifies. Identity questions emerge. Erik Erikson identified this phase as a quest for identity versus role confusion—making it a psychologically and emotionally complex stage.

Key developmental challenges include:

Surge of hormones and emotional intensity
Rapid brain development in areas tied to impulse control and decision-making
Rising influence of peers and social identity
Inner struggles with self-image, belonging, and autonomy
Teens wrestle with who they are and how they want to be seen.

At the same time, family bonds shift in confusing ways. Teens often withdraw from parents, testing boundaries and craving independence, yet still need connection and guidance more than ever. For parents, it can feel like losing touch with a child you used to understand—and being replaced by uncertainty, defiance, or silence.

Family and relational changes often include:

Emotional distance between teens and parents
Confusion about how much independence to allow
Increased family tension and boundary testing
Sibling dynamics shifting due to teen behavior
Parental feelings of grief, rejection, or helplessness

At New Growth Counseling, we help families navigate this transformative time with expertise, empathy, and evidence-based support.

Take the first step towards a healthier and happier life. Share your concerns with us and let's embark on a journey of growth and healing together. Schedule a free consultation today.

bt_bb_section_top_section_coverage_image
bt_bb_section_bottom_section_coverage_image

When It’s Time to Consider Teen Counseling

Teens don’t always ask for help—but signs of distress often surface at home, school, or in social settings. Counseling can help teens feel safe, seen, and supported while helping families restore trust and communication.

Consider therapy when you notice:

Withdrawal, isolation, or refusal to communicate
Mood swings, anger outbursts, or prolonged sadness
Academic decline or school avoidance
Risk-taking behavior, substance use, or unsafe choices
Persistent conflict between teen and parents
Struggles with identity, self-esteem, or fitting in
Emotional overwhelm that seems bigger than the moment

Therapy can help before things escalate—and it’s never too early to reach out.

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/floating_image_13.png

Client Success Stories

REVIEW FROM:

David, Oceanside

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/line_03.png
“My son hated the idea of therapy at first—but his therapist earned his trust. Now, he asks when his next session is.”
REVIEW FROM:

Mike, Leucadia

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/line_03.png
“My daughter used to bottle everything up and explode. Now she’s learning how to talk about her emotions without shutting down or lashing out.”
REVIEW FROM:

Chris, Encinitas

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/line_03.png
“School was a disaster—failing grades, cutting class. It turns out he was really struggling emotionally. Therapy helped him turn things around.”
https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/floating_image_13.png

Parents: You’re Not Failing—You’re Facing a New Phase

Losing influence over your teen can feel like losing your child altogether. But this phase doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means the rules are changing. Your teen is stepping into a new stage of development, and your parenting style needs to evolve with them.

Common struggles parents face include:

Feeling helpless as peers seem to become more influential
Difficulty setting limits that are respected
Guilt or grief about mistakes or lost closeness
Confusion about what’s “normal” vs. what needs support
Being triggered by your own unresolved teenage experiences

We meet parents with compassion—not shame. Together, we build strategies that empower you to parent from a place of clarity and confidence.

How We Help: Therapy for Teens, Parent-Child Relationships, and the Whole Family

Adolescents often benefit from individual therapy where they can speak freely, reflect on choices, and develop tools for

emotional and social resilience such as:

Peer struggles, dating pressure, and friendship challenges
Family conflict or parental misunderstandings
Risk-taking behavior, impulsivity, or poor judgment
Emotional regulation and coping with big feelings

Sometimes, therapy includes both teen and parent(s) working together to shift relational dynamics for:

Rebuilding communication and restoring trust
Renegotiating rules and responsibilities as teens grow
Clarifying roles within the family and sibling dynamics
Exploring the past to better understand current struggles

Parents also need support—this phase can feel like a grieving process mixed with fear and uncertainty:

Processing the loss of control and influence
Understanding the balance between letting go and holding boundaries
Learning how to stay connected without pushing teens away
Developing new parenting skills tailored to adolescent development

Our therapists are trained to hold all these pieces at once—guiding each member of the family toward greater connection and confidence.

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/floating_image_13.png
https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/floating_image_13.png

Evidence-Based Therapies We Use with Teens and Families

We draw from several powerful and developmentally appropriate therapy models:

Mindfulness-Based Interventions – Help teens manage anxiety, impulsivity, and strong emotions through present-moment awareness.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Builds skills to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors.
Family Systems Therapy – Examines how family dynamics shape individual behavior and supports healthy relational changes.
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) – Strengthens emotional bonds and improves communication between family members.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – Effective for teens struggling with trauma, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation.

Each treatment plan is tailored to the teen and their family—because one size never fits all.

Our Team

Our team is dedicated to providing you with the help you need with the results you desire. With a combined many decades of experience in counseling and therapy, our team aims to partner with you towards a better future.

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Jussi-Headshot-2025-4.avif

Jussi Light

Licensed MFT

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bryson-2.avif

Bryson Greaves

Licensed MFT

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Anne-3_edited_edited_edited_edited_edite.avif

Anne James

Associate MFT

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Jussi-Headshot-2025-4.avif

Jussi Light

Licensed MFT

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bryson-2.avif

Bryson Greaves

Licensed MFT

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Anne-3_edited_edited_edited_edited_edite.avif

Anne James

Associate MFT

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Andrea-2.avif

Andrea Morinoue

Associate MFT

bt_bb_section_top_section_coverage_image
bt_bb_section_bottom_section_coverage_image

We Are Board, Licensed Therapists & Associates

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CAMFT.avif
https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AAMFT.avif
https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ICEEFT.avif
https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IFS.avif
https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/EMDRIA-png.avif

Frequently Asked Questions

  • General Questions
  • Insurance Questions
  • Good Faith Estimate

We provide both in-person counseling in Carlsbad and secure telehealth options for maximum convenience.

Many people have insurance plans that reimburse them for payments made to out-of-network providers – New Growth is an out-of-network provider. New Growth does not accept insurance, does not bill insurance companies, nor file claims. If you decide to see one of ur therapists, you pay the fee discussed at the beginning of therapy and seek reimbursement by filing a claim directly with your insurance company. We provide a monthly “super bill” that has the necessary information for you to complete your claim.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your mental health care may cost. Since we do not accept insurance, New Growth is required to provide an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your New Growth therapist for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.

It is not possible for a psychotherapist to know, in advance, how many psychotherapy sessions may be necessary or appropriate for a given person, relationship issue, or diagnosis. Psychotherapy is talk-therapy and involves an ongoing conversation that involves the participation of one or more people for the sake of achieving a goal or goals. In relationship counseling (couples or parent-child), it is impossible for a therapist to know each person’s motivation to creating change—people in distress often feel uncertain about how they wish to proceed at times and their ambivalence affects the length of therapy. Since the therapist relies on people’s motivation and follow-through as necessary components to achieving treatment goals, the therapist cannot predict how long therapy will take. The same is true for individual counseling which often involves inner conflicts that pull a person in more than one direction at once. The therapist cannot make choices for an individual, and so relies on that individual’s free will to achieve an outcome—the therapist cannot predict how long that will take.

While the “No Surprises Act” requires a good faith estimate, the above discussion illustrates how difficult that is to provide. However, all of our therapists reveal their hourly fee before therapy begins. Your total cost of services will depend upon the number of psychotherapy sessions you attend, your individual circumstances, and the type and amount of services that are provided to you. This estimate is not a contract and does not obligate you to obtain any services from the provider(s), nor does it include any services rendered to you that are not identified here.

Good Faith Estimates are not intended to serve as a recommendation for treatment or a prediction that you may need to attend a specified number of psychotherapy visits. The number of visits that are appropriate in your case, and the estimated cost for those services, depends on your needs and what you agree to in consultation with your therapist. You are entitled to disagree with any recommendations made to you concerning your treatment and you may discontinue treatment at any time.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, please visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

Can I use my insurance?

New Growth is out-of-network and does not accept insurance.

PPO plans allow you to go out-of-network and will reimburse according to your plan.

Let's Get Social

https://www.newgrowthcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/cb2a3355157f41b7bcb57a48483c9b72.avif

Start Your Journey Towards Healing

Speak with our Intake Specialist

Taking the first step into therapy can feel overwhelming. Our dedicated intake specialist will listen to your needs then connect you to the right therapist.

  • We’ll get to know you and what you’re looking for.

  • You’ll receive expert guidance on the best next step.

  • No commitment required—just a conversation to help you move forward.

Address 1
3088 Pio Pico Dr.  Suite 203,  Carlsbad, CA 92008

Address 2
7946 Ivanhoe Ave, Suite 310, La Jolla, CA 92037

(760) 494-4394 (fill out the nearby form to get the quickest response)

Need court-ordered assistance? Go here.

bt_bb_section_bottom_section_coverage_image