Therapy for Adolescents (12-19)
When talking is hard, we'll find another way.
At Seattle Play Therapy, we believe therapy begins with relationship. We take time to understand each teen’s world, their interests, their strengths, and how they experience life. Rather than expecting adolescents to fit into a particular style of therapy, we adapt our approach to fit the individual.
Some teens come in knowing exactly what they want to talk about, and therapy begins with conversation that gradually deepens into greater emotional understanding and self-awareness. Others might not know what they need or feel. For those teens, we offer creative and experiential ways to connect and express themselves until words begin to come more naturally.
Therapy may include conversation, art, games, music, journaling, sand tray, making slime, playing a favorite video game together, looking at social media, movement, or other activities that feel natural and meaningful. These experiences aren’t simply activities—they are often the pathway to understanding, connection, and growth.
Our goal isn’t to tell teens what to do. We strive to join them in their world, helping them better understand themselves, make thoughtful decisions, strengthen relationships, and build confidence in who they are becoming.
FAQs for Teen Therapy:
Every teen is different, so every therapy process looks a little different.
Some sessions are primarily conversation. Others include creative activities that help make expression feel more natural. Depending on the individual, therapy may involve art, games, music, journaling, movement, sand tray, making slime, exploring interests together, playing a favorite video game, or discussing social media and online experiences. We follow each teen’s interests and developmental needs rather than expecting every adolescent to participate in therapy the same way.
No.
Some teens enjoy talking from the very first session, while others need time before they feel comfortable opening up. We never force conversation. Instead, we focus on building a genuine relationship and creating opportunities for expression that feel comfortable and authentic.
Often, meaningful conversations emerge naturally while doing something together.
Absolutely.
A teen’s interests are often one of the best ways to build connection and understand their experiences. Playing a favorite video game together, listening to music, discussing online relationships, or exploring social media can provide valuable opportunities to understand how a teen sees themselves, relates to others, copes with challenges, and makes sense of their world.
These activities are not distractions from therapy—they are often the pathway into it.
Confidentiality is an important part of helping teenagers feel emotionally safe in therapy.
For adolescents ages 13 and older, Washington law gives teens control over who their therapist may share information with. This means we cannot discuss the content of therapy with parents or caregivers unless the teen has signed a Release of Information (ROI), except when disclosure is required by law or necessary because of a safety concern.
As part of our intake process, we ask teens to sign a Release of Information (ROI) allowing us to communicate with caregivers about scheduling and finances. We then have a conversation with each teen about how they feel regarding communication with their parents and what, if anything, they would like their therapist to share about treatment. Beyond scheduling and finances, it is the teen who decides how much information may be shared.
We understand this can feel uncomfortable for some parents. However, we have found that when teens know their privacy will be respected, they are more likely to trust the therapeutic process and engage honestly. That trust often creates more opportunities—not fewer—for meaningful communication between teens and their caregivers.
When a teen chooses to sign a broader Release of Information, there are many ways parents can be involved. Sometimes the therapist meets with caregivers to help them better understand and support their teen. Other times, we work with teens to help them find ways to communicate important thoughts and feelings directly with their caregivers, offering support for those conversations when needed.
Yes—in some capacity.
The exact level of communication depends on the teen’s age, legal rights, and any Release of Information they choose to sign.
Although the therapeutic relationship belongs to the teen, parents and caregivers remain an important part of the process. When appropriate and with the teen’s permission, we collaborate with families, provide guidance and support, and help caregivers better understand adolescent development and how to support their teen outside of therapy.
This is one of the most common concerns we hear.
Our goal is not to force a teenager into therapy. In our experience, requiring a teen to participate before they are ready often decreases trust—not only in the therapist, but sometimes in therapy itself.
Instead, we encourage families to think of the first appointment as an opportunity to meet the therapist rather than a commitment to begin therapy. We let teens know there is no expectation that they have to talk. They can ask questions, get to know the therapist, or engage in an activity together if that feels more comfortable.
After that initial meeting, we invite the teen to decide whether they would like to continue. Giving adolescents a meaningful voice in the decision often increases trust, engagement, and investment in the therapeutic process.
While there are situations in which therapy can occur without a teen’s consent, that is not the model we practice. We believe therapy works best when adolescents feel respected, have a choice in participating, and experience the therapeutic relationship as something that is done with them—not to them.