If you’re concerned about your teen’s mental health, where do you begin?
These are trying times for many, and teen therapy is more important than ever. Soaring rates of anxiety and depression diagnoses have led to the conclusion that a public mental health crisis is affecting America’s young people. Rates of emergency room visits for self-harm have more than doubled for girls ages 10 to 14. During COVID-19, the incidence of depression and anxiety symptoms among children and adolescents also doubled. When it comes to young adults, three out of five (60%) college students reported being diagnosed with a mental health condition.
If you’re a parent who’s wondering how to support a child who might be struggling, sometimes it’s hard to know if your child or teen is just going through a hard phase that will pass or if they are experiencing something more serious. Our teen therapists in NYC are here to help you distinguish between growing pains and problems that should be discussed with a mental health professional. Early and effective mental health support can help your child before their struggles interfere with other parts of life.
Schedule a free consultation to learn more about therapy and medication management at the Midtown Practice. We treat a wide range of mental health conditions in adolescents, from anxiety to ADHD.
Comprehensive and Cutting Edge Care at The Midtown Practice
Between our teen therapists and prescribers at The Midtown Practice, we treat adolescents as young as 12 years old. Our therapists believe every child and family deserves a safe, nonjudgmental space to be seen and heard. We are also an LGBTQIA-affirming practice. Services we offer for children and teens include:
- Psychotherapy
- Medication Treatment
- Combination Treatment
- Family Therapy
By offering both teen therapy and medication management in-house, we can assure that your child’s care will be connected and nothing will be missed. Our therapists and medication providers will collaborate on your child’s progress, so every part of your teen’s mental health is addressed.
How Do I Know When to Call a Teen Therapist?
Maybe you’ve noticed that your child is experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety. Perhaps your child’s school has reached out to you about behavioral issues. Maybe you think your child might have ADD/ADHD. Research shows that early diagnosis and treatment can be crucial in preventing more severe issues. It’s not always easy knowing what to do, so if you are a parent whose child seems to be struggling and you are wondering how to support them, a consultation with an expert teen therapist at The Midtown Practice can help you decide how to move forward.
Meet Our 7 Top-Rated Teen Therapists in NYC
Jump to a therapist
- Holly Alderman: Good fit for teens navigating family conflict and identity
- Chrissie Brewer: Good fit for teens needing holistic psychiatric care
- Danielle Esposito: Good fit for teens struggling with school and self-esteem
- Christina Hollingsworth: Good fit for teens with complex mental health needs
- Sophia Muntyan: Good fit for high-achieving teens facing perfectionism and burnout
- Jane Ray: Good fit for teens navigating trauma and emotional challenges
- Esmé Stern: Good fit for older teens exploring identity and relationships
If you’re unsure which clinician is right for your teenager, please contact our office so we can thoughtfully match you
Holly Alderman, LCSW
Good fit for teens navigating family conflict and identity
Having worked as a middle school social worker in Brooklyn, I’ve seen firsthand how friendships, family relationships, and identity development shape a teenager’s mental health. Families often choose me for teen therapy in NYC because of my advanced training in family systems therapy at the Ackerman Institute for the Family.
Rather than focusing exclusively on a teen’s individual struggles, I help them understand how family dynamics and relationship patterns may contribute to anxiety, depression, or conflict at home. I combine this relational perspective with ACT, CBT, DBT, and emotion-focused approaches to help teens express their needs, strengthen communication, and navigate the challenges of growing up.
- Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #088473
- Specialty Areas: Family conflict, adolescent identity development, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, emotional regulation
Chrissie Brewer, PMHNP-BC
Good fit for teens needing holistic psychiatric care
I believe effective psychiatric care involves understanding the whole person, not just treating a diagnosis. As a teen therapist in NYC, I take time to consider how their sleep, nutrition, relationships, and daily routines may be contributing to challenges such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, or OCD.
My approach combines medication management, when needed, with therapeutic practices such as CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing, with the goal to help teens feel better in the present while developing practical skills and healthy habits that support their long-term well-being.
- Credentials: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board-Certified
- Specialty Areas: ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, emotional regulation
Danielle Esposito, LCSW
Good fit for teens struggling with school and self-esteem
I’ve spent much of my career helping children and teens navigate the emotional and social challenges that arise during their school years. Through 14 years of school-based clinical work, including my role as Senior Director of Social Work and Wellness at EHTP, I’ve developed a strong understanding of how anxiety, depression, and difficult experiences can affect a teen’s academic performance, friendships, and self-esteem.
I draw on psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapies to help adolescents better understand their emotions, recognize unhelpful patterns, and build confidence in themselves. Above all, I work to create a trusting, nonjudgmental relationship where teens feel comfortable opening up without fear of being judged.
- Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #082757
- Specialty Areas: Childhood and adolescent trauma, anxiety, depression, school-related challenges, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, identity-affirming therapy
Christina Hollingsworth, LMSW, PMHNP-BC
Good fit for teens with complex mental health needs
Some teens experience mental health challenges that require a more comprehensive approach to care, particularly when symptoms overlap or are difficult to understand. My background in both psychiatric nursing and clinical social work allows me to consider the medical, emotional, and behavioral factors that may be contributing to these difficulties.
I bring extensive experience treating complex psychiatric conditions, including my work establishing and leading the Psychiatric Consultation Liaison Department at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. Alongside psychiatric evaluation and medication management, I incorporate mindfulness and mind-body techniques to help teens better understand and manage their emotional well-being.
- Credentials: Licensed Master Social Worker, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board-Certified
- Specialty Areas: Complex psychiatric conditions, medication management, adolescent mental health, mind-body approaches, mindfulness, behavioral interventions
Sophia Muntyan
Good fit for high-achieving teens facing perfectionism and burnout
Growing up in the demanding world of classical ballet taught me how easily the pressure to succeed can become tied to your sense of self-worth. Having performed professionally, I understand the anxiety, perfectionism, and fear of failure that many high-achieving teenagers experience.
This background inspired me to found Ballet Hotline, a resource supporting dancers’ mental health, and continues to inform my clinical work with young performers and athletes. As a therapist in training, I draw on CBT, ACT, and strengths-based approaches to help teens manage expectations, develop healthier relationships with achievement, and recognize that their value extends far beyond their performance.
- Credentials: Master’s Candidate in Mental Health Counseling
- Specialty Areas: Perfectionism, performance anxiety, academic and achievement-related pressure, burnout, self-esteem, identity development, anxiety, emotional regulation
Jane Ray, LMHC-D
Good fit for teens navigating trauma and emotional challenges
Throughout my career, I’ve worked with adolescents from middle school through college, helping them navigate everything from anxiety and depression to school refusal and difficult life experiences. My time as a school-based clinician at LaGuardia High School gave me a deeper understanding of how emotional struggles can affect teens during these important developmental years.
I’m also certified in EMDR and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which allows me to provide specialized support for teenagers processing trauma. As a teen therapist in NYC, I combine these approaches with a collaborative, individualized style, helping teens work through challenging experiences at a pace that feels manageable while developing greater confidence in themselves.
- Credentials: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Specialty Areas: Adolescent trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, school refusal, eating disorders, creative and performing arts challenges
Esmé Stern, LMSW
Good fit for older teens exploring identity and relationships
The transition from adolescence into adulthood often brings questions about identity, independence, and relationships that can feel difficult to navigate alone. I’m particularly interested in helping young people explore these changes and better understand the experiences that shape how they see themselves.
My background in journalism and media has influenced my interest in personal narratives and how the stories we tell ourselves affect our relationships and sense of identity. In teen therapy, I combine psychodynamic approaches with CBT, mindfulness, and somatic techniques to help older teens recognize emotional patterns, understand their needs, and develop a stronger sense of who they are as they move toward adulthood.
- Credentials: Licensed Master Social Worker
- Specialty Areas: Identity development, life transitions, relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, trauma-informed therapy, self-awareness, emotional growth
Our Process
Connect
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation with our highly trained Clinical Coordinator, Alli Malamut, by either:
- Call or text us at:
212-286-8801 - Email us at:
info@midtownpractice.com - Or complete the form below
Get matched
In order to find you an ideal fitting clinician or therapist, our Clinical Coordinator will want to learn more about you. Specifically, it would be helpful to hear about your concerns, personal preferences, and any relevant logistical matters (for example, in-person or video sessions? best time or day to meet?)
Check the fit
Connect with the clinician or therapist you are matched with to ask questions, share history, and make sure you feel comfortable about moving forward. If so, book your first session. If it does not feel right, circle back with us.
Schedule time to meet with your new clinician or therapist and work towards living a more fulfilling life! Over the years, we’ve found our thoughtful matching process is the surest way to find you an ideal clinician or therapist and achieve the best outcome for you.
