Is your teen withdrawing from friends and family?
Are they struggling to manage the weight of academic expectations?
Is social anxiety keeping them from experiencing life?
As graduation nears, many teens experience “transition anxiety.” We help older teens and young adults prepare for the “real world” by focusing on:
Adulting Skills: Building the emotional maturity needed for independence.
College Readiness: Managing the stress of applications and the fear of leaving home.
Career & Purpose: Exploring interests and finding a sense of direction.
Specialized Care for Neurodiversity
We provide expert-level support for teens who process the world differently. Whether your teen is navigating ADHD, Autism (Level 1), or sensory processing challenges, we offer a neuro-affirming environment that celebrates their strengths while providing practical tools for a neurotypical world.
At Intuition Wellness Center, we know that watching your teenager struggle with depression, anxiety, or the weight of modern expectations is heartbreaking. You want the best for them, but sometimes the “parent-child” dynamic makes it hard for them to open up. Located in the heart of Tucson, our specialized adolescent therapists provide a neutral, sophisticated space where teens feel respected and heard.
We don’t just offer “talk therapy”; we provide a roadmap for the teenage years. Our approach combines evidence-based practices with a deep understanding of the adolescent brain. We help your teen navigate:
The heavy “fog” of depression and social withdrawal.
The paralyzing effects of academic and social anxiety.
The complexities of identity, self-esteem, and digital wellness.
Meet Our Tucson-Based Experts: Our team is passionate about helping your teen build the resilience they need to move toward a confident, independent future.
When a teenager begins to heal, the shift is felt by the entire family. Our goal is to move your teen from a state of “surviving” the day to actively engaging with their life. By focusing on evidence-based adolescent care here in Tucson, we help your teen bridge the gap between where they are and who they want to become.
You will notice a shift in how your teen handles "the big stuff." Instead of spiraling into anxiety or withdrawing into silence, they will gain the tools to identify their triggers and regulate their emotions in real-time.
One of the most profound outcomes is the reopening of doors—literally and figuratively. We work with teens to help them express their needs and frustrations effectively, replacing "I don't know" or "Go away" with meaningful conversation.
As the weight of depression or social anxiety lifts, teens often find their way back to the things they used to love. You can expect to see:Increased engagement with schoolwork and extracurriculars.Healthier boundaries with social media and digital peer groups.Renewed interest in friendships and family time.
Therapy isn't just about solving today’s crisis; it’s about preparing them for adulthood. Your teen will develop a "toolbox" of coping strategies that will serve them through college and beyond, fostering a sense of self-worth that isn't dependent on external validation.
Click the button to the right to complete our secure online intake form. This helps us understand your teen's unique needs and ensures we make the best possible match with one of our compassionate pediatric counselors.
Once we receive your form, our team will thoughtfully review it to connect your teen with the counselor best suited to their needs. We'll then contact you to schedule the initial session, where your child will begin building a trusting relationship with their therapist.
With consistent support, your teen will learn new skills, gain confidence, and experience positive changes at home, school, and with friends. You'll see them build resilience and move towards their full potential.
Determining the difference between “typical teenage moodiness” and a mental health concern can be difficult. While adolescence is naturally a time of change, certain persistent patterns suggest that professional support could provide much-needed relief for both your teen and your family.
Here is a guide to help you evaluate the situation:
Professional counselors often look at these three factors to determine if therapy is necessary:
Duration: Have these behaviors lasted for more than two or three weeks?
Intensity: Are the emotional outbursts or periods of withdrawal significantly more intense than they used to be?
Interference: Is their mental state preventing them from doing “normal” things, like attending school, seeing friends, or maintaining personal hygiene?
While every teen is different, these are common signs that an adolescent is struggling with an underlying issue like anxiety or depression:
Social Withdrawal: Moving away from long-term friends or losing interest in hobbies they once loved.
Changes in Sleep or Appetite: Sleeping excessively, inability to sleep, or a noticeable shift in eating habits.
Sudden Academic Drop: A high-achieving student suddenly failing classes or expressing a total lack of care about their future.
Increased Irritability: While some “snapping” is normal, constant hostility or explosive anger toward family members is often a mask for internal pain.
Teens often experience mental health struggles physically. If your teen frequently complains of the following—and a pediatrician has ruled out medical causes—it may be a sign of anxiety:
Chronic headaches or migraines.
Frequent stomachaches or digestive issues.
Persistent fatigue or “feeling heavy.”
If you notice any of the following, we recommend reaching out for professional help immediately:
Talk of hopelessness or having no future.
Signs of self-harm (e.g., wearing long sleeves in Tucson heat to hide cuts).
Discovery of substance use as a way to “numb out.”
Extreme or risky behavior that is out of character.
The “Gut Feeling” Rule: As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. If your intuition is telling you that something is “off,” it is always better to seek a consultation early rather than waiting for a crisis.
The first step is to gather information through a comprehensive intake process. Your child’s provider will ask many questions during this process to get to know you and your child. Next, your child’s provider will work with you and your child to identify treatment goals that are personalized to your child.
Great care will be taken to build a trusting relationship and solid rapport with your child. This rapport is absolutely critical to treatment success and can take time to establish before jumping in fully. The next step is the one that you’ve probably been looking for— therapy.
Most of us picture an adult sitting on a couch talking to their therapist when we think of counseling or therapy, but that’s simply one of many treatment approaches! In fact, pediatric therapists rarely expect children to communicate exclusively through talking. While the Intuition Wellness team does offer talk therapy, team members are also trained in a variety of play-based and expressive arts approaches.
Parents are sometimes surprised to hear from their child that they “just played” during their session. In fact, they are doing so much work during their play with their provider, but kids often don’t even realize it! Your child’s provider will make every effort to keep your child engaged and interested. Sessions might even be a lot of fun for your child.
At times and depending on your child’s presentation, you may also be invited into a portion or all of sessions.
Counseling can work for people of any age. However, Intuition Wellness Center’s counseling team specializes in birth to 25 years old and their family members. Intuition Wellness counselors can provide services in numerous formats: individual, family, parent support, etc. Intuition Wellness cares about YOU, too, and knows that parenting can be very challenging. Your child’s provider may recommend a member of the team or a trusted community partner to support you individually as well.
Intuition Wellness has limited its contracts with insurance providers to ensure that your family is able to receive the best care possible. Many counseling services are directly billable to Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Aetna insurances. Please contact your insurance company with questions about your benefits. At your request, Intuition Wellness can also provide you with a superbill which you may be able to submit for reimbursement.
Additionally, Intuition Wellness places great value on supporting the professional community and hires professionals in training such as those working on independent licensure or their PhDs. There are many benefits to working with a therapist in training, including reduced fees for your family and a great deal of attention from your provider.
Visit our pricing page for more information about specific fees.
We recommend explaining it as a special place where they can talk to a kind adult helper about their feelings and challenges. You might say, “We’re going to visit a helper who knows a lot about feelings and can teach you new ways to feel better and solve problems. It’s a safe place where you can talk about anything.” For younger children, you can emphasize that they’ll play and talk.
Absolutely. While children need a safe, confidential space, parental involvement is crucial for successful outcomes. We typically involve parents in initial intake sessions, periodic check-ins, and discuss strategies you can use at home to support your child’s progress. The level of direct involvement in sessions depends on your child’s age, needs, and therapeutic goals, always respecting your child’s privacy.
The duration of counseling varies for each child, depending on their unique needs, goals, and the complexity of their challenges. Some children benefit significantly from short-term support, while others may need longer-term engagement. We will discuss a preliminary treatment plan and estimated timeline during your initial consultation and regularly review progress.
Our experienced therapists utilize evidence-based approaches tailored to your child’s age and needs. This may include play therapy for younger children, talk therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, family systems therapy, and more. Our goal is to make therapy engaging and effective for your child.
Confidentiality is essential for building trust in therapy. What your child discusses in sessions is confidential, just like with adult therapy, with a few important exceptions (e.g., if there’s a risk of harm to themselves or others). We will clearly explain our confidentiality policies to both you and your child during the intake process to ensure everyone understands.
