Signs your teen might benefit from a therapist
Teenagers change quickly, and some moodiness is normal. What tends to worry Farmers Branch parents is a shift that lasts: a teen who used to talk at dinner and now heads straight to their room, grades that drop without explanation, or friendships that seem to disappear. Sometimes the signs are physical, like headaches before school or trouble sleeping. Sometimes a parent finds something on a phone or in a notebook that stops them cold.
Common reasons parents look for a therapist for their teen include:
- Anxiety, panic attacks or constant worry about school and the future
- Depression, irritability or losing interest in activities
- Self-harm, cutting or talk of not wanting to be here
- ADHD, autism spectrum traits or sensory processing challenges
- Questions about identity, sexuality or gender
- Conflict with parents, siblings or a stepparent
- Grief, a family move, divorce, or a frightening experience
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911. Dr. Audrey's practice does not provide crisis services.
What therapy with a teen actually looks like
Teens often expect therapy to feel like being called into the principal's office. Dr. Audrey Kteily works hard to make it the opposite. Early sessions are about getting to know the teen as a person: what they care about, what drains them, and what they would change if they could. Many teens open up once they realize the therapist is not there to take sides with their parents.
From there, sessions become more focused. A teen with anxiety learns how worry works in the body and how to interrupt it. A teen who self-harms learns other ways to get through overwhelming moments. For intense emotions, Dr. Audrey draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, in which she holds C-DBT certification. DBT teaches concrete skills for tolerating distress, regulating emotions and handling conflict without blowing up relationships.
Sessions also leave room for the ordinary things that matter to teenagers: friendships, group chats, coaches, a breakup, or feeling like no one at home understands. Her overview of adolescent issues lists more of what she works with, and you can read about teen counseling services she offers to North Texas adolescents.
What a first session with a teen covers
The first meeting is mostly conversation. Dr. Audrey asks about school, friends, family, sleep and what the teen does to unwind, then gently moves toward whatever prompted the call. Teens are never pushed to share more than they are ready to. By the end, the goal is simple: the teen should have a sense of who she is, what therapy will involve, and one small thing that might make the coming week a little easier.
How are parents involved?
Parents are part of the work, but not in every minute of it. Teens need a private space to speak honestly, and Dr. Audrey explains confidentiality and its limits to both the teen and the parents at the beginning. Safety concerns are always shared; most other details stay between teen and therapist unless the teen agrees otherwise.
At the same time, parents receive guidance on what to do at home. That can mean learning how to respond when a teen shuts down, how to set limits around phones and sleep without starting a war, or how to tell when a worry needs more attention. Parents who want ongoing support can read about how parent counseling sharpens parenting skills.
When family patterns are part of the problem, Dr. Audrey brings the household together. Her doctoral specialty is family systems counseling, and she explains the difference between family and individual work in her article on what a family counselor does. Professional groups such as the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy describe why including parents often helps teens change faster.
Why online therapy works well for Farmers Branch teens
For many teenagers, joining a session from their own room is easier than sitting in an unfamiliar office. They can use headphones, keep a pet nearby and log on from a phone or laptop. It can feel more like a normal conversation. There is no app to download; the secure, HIPAA-compliant link opens in a browser.
It also helps busy families. Farmers Branch sits between I-635 and I-35E, and afternoon traffic can turn a short trip into a long one. With online sessions, a parent does not have to leave work early to drive across town, and a teen does not miss practice or rehearsal. Sessions are scheduled flexibly in Central Time.
Dr. Audrey is a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, so teens in Farmers Branch are seen under her Texas license. The teen needs to be physically in Texas, New Jersey or New York during each session. A parent traveling for work can still join a family session from any of those states.
School stress and life in Farmers Branch
Most Farmers Branch teens attend Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD schools, and many feel pressure from several directions at once: grades, activities, college planning, jobs, and family responsibilities such as caring for younger siblings. Teens from families with roots in many different countries may also be balancing two cultures and two sets of expectations.
Dr. Audrey treats school stress and performance pressure directly. She helps teens break overwhelming workloads into manageable steps, push back on all-or-nothing thinking, and recover from setbacks without deciding they have failed. She also works with teens who have ADHD on organization and emotional regulation, and with parents on how to support without micromanaging.
The practice is LGBTQ+-friendly and LGBTQ+-owned, and aligned with GLSEN and the Human Rights Campaign. Teens questioning their identity can talk openly without having to explain or defend who they are.
For general information about adolescent mental health, the National Institute of Mental Health and the World Health Organization offer reliable overviews. Directories such as Psychology Today can also help you understand different therapist types and approaches.
About Dr. Audrey
Dr. Audrey Kteily holds a PhD in Family Studies and a Bachelor's in Psychology from Texas Woman's University, and a Master's in Counseling from Dallas Baptist University. She has been a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor since 2001 and a Supervisor since 2004, and she is also licensed in New Jersey (LPC) and New York (LMHC). She is a Certified Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations, is C-DBT certified through Evergreen Certifications, and is a published author on family dynamics. Her long-standing practice address is in nearby Coppell, and she has served the Dallas-Fort Worth area for more than two decades.
Read more on Dr. Audrey's background and how the practice works, explore her other specialties, or send a general question to Ask Dr. Audrey.
Getting your teen started
Parents usually make the first contact. Use the request form on the home page or text the practice; texting is easiest, and please keep health details out of texts. You will hear back within one business day. Dr. Audrey often speaks with a parent first, then meets the teen.
She is an out-of-network provider and provides a superbill you can submit to your insurer for possible reimbursement. Check your out-of-network mental health benefits before the first session.
Request an appointment for your teen, or text or call (917) 905-3183. Email: [email protected].