Depression in teens does not always look like sadness. It can show up as irritability, withdrawal, exhaustion, or a drop in school and friendships, and for some teens it includes self-harm. Therapy helps teens understand what is driving their pain, build skills to manage intense emotions safely, and reconnect with the people and activities that matter to them. Parents are part of the work. Sessions are available in person and online.
Understanding Teen Depression and Self-Harm
Depression in adolescence is common and treatable. It can look like low mood, but it can also look like anger, numbness, or a loss of interest in things a teen used to enjoy. Self-harm is often a way of coping with emotional pain that feels unmanageable in the moment. It is a sign that a teen needs support and better tools, not a sign of failure by the teen or the family.
Teens who are exploring who they are, including LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse teens, may face added stress at school, with peers, or at home. Our clinicians offer a respectful, nonjudgmental space to talk about identity, belonging, and how those experiences affect mood.
Concerns We Treat
Persistent Low Mood
Ongoing sadness, emptiness, or loss of interest that lasts for weeks and affects school, friendships, and home life.
Withdrawal and Isolation
Pulling away from family and friends, spending long stretches alone, or stopping activities that used to matter.
Irritability and Anger
Short temper, outbursts, or conflict at home that can be depression showing up as anger.
Self-Harm
Hurting oneself as a way to cope with overwhelming emotion, and the urges that come with it.
Hopelessness and Thoughts of Suicide
Feeling that things will not improve, or having thoughts of ending one’s life. These are taken seriously and assessed directly.
Identity and Belonging
Questions about identity, fitting in, or feeling different that weigh on mood and self-esteem.
If your Teen Is In Crisis
PPG provides outpatient care and is not an emergency service. If your teen is having thoughts of harming themselves, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, at any time. If your teen is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
How Our Approach Works
Understanding the Why
We look at what is behind the withdrawal or distress, whether it is depression, pressure at school, trauma, conflict at home, or questions about identity and belonging. Naming the pain makes it less isolating for your teen and for your family.
Building Safety and Skills
We teach practical skills for handling intense emotions and urges, including distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and communication. We also build a safety plan with your teen and family, so everyone knows what to do when things get hard.
Therapeutic Methods
DBT-Informed Skills
Skills for tolerating distress, regulating emotions, and communicating needs. Teens learn to get through intense moments without turning to self-harm, and parents learn the same language.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Helps teens notice and change the thoughts and patterns that keep depression going, and re-engage in activities that improve mood.
Safety Planning
A written plan, created with your teen and family, that names warning signs, coping steps, people to contact, and how to reach help. We review and update it as treatment progresses.
Parent Guidance and Family Sessions
Guidance on responding to your teen with support rather than alarm, and, when helpful, sessions that include the whole family to repair communication and rebuild connection.
What to Expect
You don’t need to have it all figured out before you reach out.
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1
A Free Consultation
We talk briefly about what your teen is experiencing and match your family with a clinician whose training fits your needs.
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2
Understanding Your Teen
Your clinician learns about your teen’s mood, safety, relationships, and daily life, and talks with you about goals and any immediate concerns.
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3
A Treatment Plan
Treatment typically combines sessions with your teen, skills practice, a written safety plan when needed, and guidance for parents. Goals are reviewed regularly.
Care That Connects Across Specialties
Depression and self-harm often overlap with anxiety, attention difficulties, trauma, or family stress. Our clinicians work across specialties, and with your consent your teen’s therapist can coordinate with colleagues across the practice.
- When worry or rituals add to low mood, see anxiety and OCD therapy for children and teens.
- When attention and executive function difficulties add to the stress, see neuro-affirming ADHD therapy for children and teens.
- Parents can find additional guidance through parent-focused therapy.
- When the strain affects the whole household, family therapy can help everyone work together.
- Teens who express themselves more easily through making things may benefit from art therapy.
- Psychoeducational and neuropsychological testing can clarify learning, attention, or other factors that affect mood.
