Teen Therapy on Long Island
For the teenager who’s struggling more than they’re letting on, and the parent who can tell.
Something changed. Grades slipped, or they stopped talking at dinner, or a phone that used to just be a phone now seems to control their mood entirely. Nassau County’s academic pressure, from AP course loads at schools across Garden City, Great Neck, and Syosset to the college admissions climate more broadly, adds a layer of stress that didn’t exist for most parents at that age.
Signs Your Teen Might Benefit from Therapy
- Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy
- Grades dropping without an obvious cause
- Irritability or anger that seems out of proportion
- Changes in sleep or eating
- Constant phone or social media use paired with visible distress afterward
- Statements that minimize how bad things actually are (“I’m fine”)
Academic Pressure and the Nassau County Context
Many of the teens we see are high achievers by any outside measure, carrying AP and honors course loads, competitive extracurriculars, and a college admissions landscape that treats a slightly-less-than-perfect transcript as a personal failure. The pressure isn’t imagined. What often needs treatment isn’t the workload itself but the belief, usually formed well before high school, that their worth is tied entirely to performance.
Social Media and Digital Life
Social comparison, the pressure to maintain an online persona, and the loss of in-person social skill development all show up differently in this generation of teens than in their parents’ adolescence. Phone use itself is rarely the actual target of treatment; what usually needs attention is what the phone use is covering, whether that’s loneliness, anxiety, or a self-esteem that’s become dependent on likes and validation from people who don’t actually know them. Even a night out with friends at Roosevelt Field or a game at UBS Arena can end up filtered entirely through how it looks online rather than how it actually felt.
Common Presentations We Treat
Teen Anxiety
Generalized worry, social anxiety, panic, and performance anxiety tied to school or extracurriculars.
Teen Depression
Low mood, withdrawal, loss of interest, and in some cases risk that requires immediate attention. We assess risk directly and involve parents appropriately when safety is a concern.
School Refusal and Avoidance
When anxiety has grown large enough that attending school itself has become the trigger, not just a source of stress.
Family Conflict
Teens caught between their own developmental need for independence and a family system still adjusting to it. As they prepare for adulthood, these challenges can continue into college, where college counseling can provide support through new responsibilities and changing relationships.
Our Approach
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
We address anxious and depressive thought patterns directly, giving teens practical tools they can use in the moment, whether that’s before a test, during a conflict at home, or in the middle of a spiral triggered by something they saw online.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
We help teens build tolerance for difficult emotions without avoidance, since so much of what drives teen anxiety and withdrawal is an attempt to escape feelings that are actually manageable once faced directly.
- Dynamic Experiential Learning (DEL)
Developed here at Long Island Psychology by Dr. Shulman, DEL is used when a teen’s pattern is rooted in family dynamics or early experiences they may not yet have language for, working at the level where that material actually lives rather than only at the level of insight.
- Psychodynamic Therapy
Useful when a teen’s anxiety or withdrawal seems tied to something with a longer history, family dynamics, an earlier loss, a pattern that predates the current stressor.
- Positive Psychology
Building on what’s already working for a teen, their interests, strengths, and relationships, not just addressing symptoms.
- Family Involvement
Family sessions are incorporated when appropriate, without making the teen feel like the identified problem in the room.
A Note for Parents
You don’t need to have the right words or a diagnosis in hand before reaching out. Most parents who contact us are working off a feeling that something is wrong, not a clear picture of what. That’s enough to start.
Why Long Island Psychology
Teen therapy here is led by Dr. Marc J. Shulman, Psy.D., and a team of licensed clinicians experienced in adolescent anxiety, depression, and family dynamics, using CBT, ACT, and Dynamic Experiential Learning, our own approach connecting early patterns to present struggle. This page connects to our broader work on Anxiety Therapy and Depression Therapy, since teen anxiety and depression frequently overlap with what’s covered there. We see teens and families from our Garden City and Rockville Centre offices and via telehealth throughout New York State. As a self-pay practice, we provide superbill receipts for out-of-network reimbursement.
What to Expect in the First Session
For teens, the first session focuses on building enough trust that they’re willing to talk honestly, not extracting information immediately. For parents, we typically have a separate conversation to understand context and history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will you tell me everything my teen says in session
We maintain appropriate confidentiality with teen patients while keeping parents informed about safety concerns and general progress. We discuss the specifics of this boundary during intake.
My teen refuses to go to therapy. What do I do?
This is common. We can talk through how to approach the conversation, and sometimes a parent consultation alone is a reasonable first step.
Do you offer telehealth for teens?
Yes, and many teens are actually more comfortable starting there.
What if my teen needs more support than weekly therapy can provide?
We assess this directly and can help coordinate a higher level of care if needed.
What age range do you work with?
We generally see early adolescence through the end of high school, and can advise on fit for a specific age during a consultation.
Do you work with teens who are already on medication?
Yes, and we’re glad to coordinate with a prescribing physician or psychiatrist when helpful.
How long does teen therapy usually take?
It depends on what’s being addressed. Some teens need a focused course around a specific stressor, others benefit from a longer process, especially when family dynamics are part of the picture.
Can siblings be seen by different therapists at the same practice?
Yes, and we can advise on whether that’s a good fit for your specific family situation.
Will you communicate with my teen's school if needed?
In some cases, yes, with your consent and involvement, particularly around accommodations or a return-to-school plan.
What if my teen has talked about self-harm?
Please reach out directly rather than waiting for a scheduled session. We assess risk carefully and will guide you on the right next step, including a higher level of care if needed.
Do you offer appointments after school hours?
Yes, afternoon and evening availability is common for teen patients.
Dr. Marc J. Shulman, Psy.D., Founder & Director, Long Island Psychology
Explore our Anxiety Therapy and Depression Therapy pages
Families in Levittown and East Meadow can also read about our work with teens closer to home: teen therapy in Levittown and teen therapy in East Meadow.
