Adolescents
When you are ready—help is here.
Individual therapy for adolescents for a continuum of issues centered on: anxiety, depression, social issues, self-harm, ADHD, and difficulties stemming from home and school demands.
Start where you are.
Being human. Many of us feel intense emotions at times. Most of us get overwhelmed in the face of certain stressors. And once in a while, we are not functioning the way we usually do—signaling that it’s something more.
Wanting things to be better. When our usual coping skills are not enough to manage the day-to-day, it’s time to try something different. Before things spiral downward, adding support can help you feel like yourself quicker. It is possible to make positive change in your own life by taking an active approach to improve coping. Check out Micro-interventions and Adolescent Mental Health Resources, as a start, to help you get yourself on a better path.
Engaging in the solution. When it’s time for more support, getting the right kind of help is essential. We want that for you, too. At INLIGHT Psychological Services, we offer therapy exclusively for adolescents. During sessions, we strengthen what works, replace things that don’t, and develop new skills so you can get back on track. (And if we are not a good match, we will help you find someone that is). In our first meeting, we sort out what’s going on and develop a treatment plan or recommendations. Sessions are focused on reframing thoughts, changing behaviors, and gaining a broader perspective to improve your way of thinking, feeling, and functioning. You have already started.
When you are ready
Micro-interventions for Adolescents
Micro-interventions are routine, yet focused strategies that can be used in everyday life that can make a positive difference. When we notice we are starting to struggle, sometimes just making a small adjustment might be enough. INLIGHT Psychological Services compiled these research-based coping strategies as a start. Explore what works best for you.
Adolescent Mental Health Resources
These easily accessible resources about commonly requested topics have been selected specifically for adolescent use.
Suicide Prevention Resources
#BeThe1To
#BeThe1To is the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s message, spreading the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide. The Lifeline network and its partners are working to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention, to actions that can promote healing, help and give hope.
R U OK?
Our mission is to inspire and empower people to meaningfully connect with those in their world and lend support when they are struggling with life. The R U OK? vision is a world where we're all connected and are protected from suicide.
#chatsafe
A young person’s guide for communicating safely online about suicide
These are evidence-based guidelines for young people to communicate safely about suicide online. (Available in multiple languages).
Know the Signs
Know the Signs is part of the Take Action for Mental Health Campaign. Prepare more Californians to prevent suicide by increasing knowledge of warning signs, how to offer help and local resources.
Suicide Safety Plan
A safety plan is designed to guide you through a crisis. As you proceed through the steps, you can help yourself and feel safer. Keep your plan accessible in case you have thoughts of hurting yourself.
The Columbia—Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
The Columbia Lighthouse Project’s mission is to light the way to ending suicide. Our message, like the Columbia Protocol itself, is simple: “Just Ask. You Can Save a Life.”
The Trevor Project
Y-Care: How to help someone in crisis (video)
This short video describes the acronym Y-CARE a project that encourages individuals to listen, respond and get help for LGBTQ youth who may be in crisis. It is designed to teach the casual learner, especially youth, about crisis intervention, and will be useful for the untrained public to remember lifesaving tips when a suicide crisis presents itself
My Life is Worth Living Series
My Life is Worth Living includes five stories told over 20 episodes. In each episode, relatable teen characters wrestle with challenges that are all too familiar for many viewers and discover strategies to cope when it feels like their own thoughts are against them. Over the course of each character’s journey, they realize that life is worth living.
Mental Health Thrival Kit
The Mental Health Thrival kit is designed to give students a space to record all of their thoughts and feelings. The kit includes a notebook with prompts that ask our students to think about their feelings and provides coping strategies for mental health wellness.
Suicide Survivors Resources
JED Foundation
I’ve lost someone to suicide
JED equips America’s teens and young adults with the skills and support they need to grow into healthy, thriving adults. Mental health impacts all aspects of our lives — school, work, home life, relationships, and our overall well-being. Supporting and protecting mental health during the challenging transition from the teenage years to adulthood requires a comprehensive approach that addresses all the factors that can impact how we think, feel and perceive the world around us.
Know the Signs
Help and Support After Suicide
Know the Signs is part of the Take Action for Mental Health Campaign. Prepare more Californians to prevent suicide by increasing knowledge of warning signs, how to offer help and local resources.
Help Guide
Suicide Grief: Coping with a Loved One’s Suicide
HelpGuide.org is an independent nonprofit that runs one of the worlds’ leading mental health websites. Each month, millions of people from all around the world turn to us for trustworthy information they can use to improve their mental health and make healthy changes.
Mental Health Resources
Seize the Awkward
Starting a conversation about mental health does not need to be uncomfortable, and it can make all the difference. Check out these resources to learn how to support a friend – or get help for yourself.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
In our own words: Coping with mental illness (videos)
National Alliance on Mental Health:
NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.
Social Media and Mental Health Resources
Facebook & JED Foundation
Facebook and Instagram are proud to work with The Jed Foundation (JED), a non-profit that works to protect emotional health and prevent suicide. JED equips teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and others. The following recommendations, suggested by the experts at JED, aim to provide helpful guidance in the event someone you care about is in need of support
Facebook & Media Smarts
Think Before You Share
We always hear that sharing is a good thing. And thanks to technology, we can share our ideas, opinions, pictures and videos with our friends and other people. Most of the time, sharing is good. But if we aren’t thoughtful about how we share, we run the risk of hurting ourselves or someone else.
The Entertainment Industries Council-TEAM Up
Social Media Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention
The Entertainment Industries Council’s TEAM Up Social Media Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention provide tips for organizations and individuals communicating about mental health and suicide on social media to reduce stigma, increase help seeking behavior and help prevent suicide.
Safe and Strong
The LGBTQ+ Guide to Facebook and Instagram.
We at ACON want to make sure the social media experiences of people in our communities is positive. That’s why we worked with Facebook and Instagram to develop this resource to support your wellbeing and to help you stay safe, to practice and express self-care online. Facebook and Instagram provide great opportunities for our communities to connect with and support each other, exchange ideas, access resources and share information. We hope this guide helps in making your online experience enriching and empowering.
Bullying/Cyberbullying Resources
Stop Bullying
StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying.
Cyberbullying
What is cyberbullying and how can you spot it? This video explains whether certain online behavior is or isn't cyberbullying. You'll also learn tips about what you can do if you or someone you know is being cyberbullied. For more information visit
Gender/Sexuality Resources
The Trevor Project
Coming Out: A Handbook for LGBTQ Young People
The Trevor Project’s Coming Out: A Handbook for LGBTQ Young People is here to help you navigate questions around your identity. You know yourself and what works for you better than any- one else. Each of us has the right to share or not share different aspects of ourselves with others. No one else is entitled to information around your identities, if you do not want them to know. If you choose not to share parts of your identity with others, it does not make you any less valid than those who may choose to share their identities with other people.
Harvard Law School—The Trans Youth Handbook
Co-authored with the National Center for Lesbian Rights the Trans Youth Handbook is a legal resource guide that covers the rights of trans youth across such a wide spectrum of situations, including identity documents, school, health care, non-affirming care environments, and work.
The Trevor Project and Instagram
Protect Your Space and Well-Being on Instagram: The Trevor Project LGBTQ Safety Guide
As the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people, we at Trevor Project want make sure your experience on Instagram is positive and intentional. That’s why we worked with Instagram to develop a guide to support your well-being and help you practice self-care online.
Self-injury Resources
Cornell Research Program on Self-injury and Recovery Self-Injury & Recovery Resources (SIRR)
This website is part of the Self-Injury & Recovery Resources research program at Cornell University and summarizes our work, and provides links and resources to self injury information. Our work is intended to generate new research and insight into self-injury. We also aim to translate the growing body of knowledge about self-injury into resources and tools useful for those seeking to better understand, treat, and prevent it.
(Under the resources tab, there is a section of resources entitled for “People who self-injure” which offers information about coping strategies, therapy, and recovery from self-injury)
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
In Our Own Words (videos)
A series of videos of youth and young adult advocates talking about their experiences with mental illness.
Headspace for Teens
What is Headspace?
Stressed out? Tired? Unfocused? All of the above? We’ve all been there. But what can you do about it? That’s where Headspace comes in. Headspace has hundreds of meditations and mindfulness exercises to help you learn the skills you need to be healthier and happier.
ADHD Resources
ADHD and Teens: Information for Teens
National Resource Center on ADHD: A program of Ch.A.D.D. We believe in improving the lives of people affected by ADHD.