Teen Counseling
A Place Where Teens Feel Heard
- Help with anxiety, depression, self-esteem and family stress
- In-person in New Lenox and telehealth across Illinois
- In-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and UMR
- No waiting list, and we reply within 24 hours
Reviewed by Jessica Davis, LCPC, Practice Owner · Updated October 2026
Teen Counseling for the Whole
Teenage Experience
Teen counseling in New Lenox, IL gives teenagers a private, judgment-free place to talk about what is really going on. Grades, friendships, social media, sports, family stress, and figuring out who they are can all land at once. Teens come to us for anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, family conflict and all kinds of life challenges, and many are dealing with more than one at a time. Our therapists help teens sort through it, feel understood, and build skills they can use long after counseling ends.
Struggling as a teenager is not a phase to wait out. Low mood, harsh self-talk, constant conflict at home, or pulling away from friends are signs your teen is carrying more than they can handle alone. We work with teens in person at our New Lenox office or online while they’re in Illinois, and we serve families from Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, Lockport, and across Will County.
In the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40% of high school students said they had felt persistently sad or hopeless, including 53% of girls. Most of them never tell an adult. Teen counseling gives them a safe place to start talking, and a therapist who knows how to help them move forward.
“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.”
– Fred Rogers
In-network with
- Aetna PPO
- Cigna / Evernorth
- BCBS PPO
- UnitedHealthcare
- UMR
- Initial assessment $200
- Ongoing sessions $150
Insurance and rates
Insurance Accepted
Davis-Smith Mental Health is in network with Aetna PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Cigna and Evernorth, UnitedHealthcare, and UMR. Not every therapist is in every network, so we check your plan with you before your first session. If you’d rather pay privately, we can give you a Superbill to use with your out-of-network benefits.
WHEN TO REACH OUT
What We Help Teens With
Teens come to counseling for all kinds of reasons, and nothing is too small to bring in. These are some of the most common ones we see:
Anxiety and Overthinking
Constant worry, racing thoughts, or dread before tests and games. Our teen anxiety counseling page goes deeper on how we help.
Low Mood and Depression
Losing interest in things they used to love, sleeping too much or too little, or seeming flat, tired, and far away.
Self-Esteem and Body Image
Harsh self-talk, comparing themselves to everyone online, or feeling like they never measure up no matter what they do.
Friendships and Social Media
Group chat drama, feeling left out, online pressure, or not knowing where they fit in anymore.
Family Conflict
Constant arguments at home, divorce, a blended family, or feeling misunderstood by the people closest to them.
School Pressure
Heavy workloads, college worries, or falling behind and not knowing how to catch up.
Anger and Big Emotions
Snapping, slamming doors, or shutting down because feelings come on fast and hard.
Identity and Self-Discovery
Questions about who they are, what they believe, and where they are headed.
Big Life Changes
Moving, changing schools, a family change, or anything that turns their world upside down.
Parents, Trust What You Are Noticing
If your teen has been pulling away, snapping more, or just not seeming like themselves, trust that instinct. You know your child. Reaching out does not mean something is terribly wrong. It means you are paying attention, and that matters more than you know.
Many teens are more open to counseling than parents expect, especially when it is framed as their space and not a punishment. We can help you figure out how to bring it up, and we will take it from there. All you have to do is make the first call.
What Teens Take Away
How Teen Counseling Helps
Teen counseling is not about fixing your teen. It is about giving them tools, confidence, and someone in their corner while they figure things out. Here is what that can look like:
A Safe Person to Talk To
Someone outside the family who listens without judgment and keeps what they share private.
Healthier Coping Skills
Real ways to handle stress, anger, and sadness that do not involve shutting down or blowing up.
Stronger Self-Esteem
Learning to quiet the inner critic and see their strengths more clearly.
Better Communication at Home
Finding words for feelings, so conversations with parents stop turning into arguments.
Healthier Friendships
Setting boundaries, handling conflict, and recognizing who is good for them.
A Better Relationship With Social Media
Noticing how scrolling affects their mood and building habits that leave them feeling better, not worse.
Confidence at School
Managing pressure and workload so school feels doable again.
A Clearer Sense of Self
Understanding what they value, what they want, and who they want to become.
What a Teen Counseling Session Looks Like
Sessions are relaxed and conversational. Some teens want to talk the whole hour. Others open up more while drawing, walking, or working through an activity together. We meet teens where they are, use approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and EMDR when they fit, and make sure every session ends with something useful your teen can take into their week.
How Confidentiality Works for Teens
For teens 12 and older, what they share in session is private. That trust is what makes counseling work. Teens open up when they know their words will not be repeated at the dinner table.
We encourage teens to share updates with you themselves, and we always let parents know if there is a safety concern. You will never be left in the dark about the big picture.
Teen Counseling Close to Home in New Lenox, IL
Our New Lenox office at 100 Batson Court is minutes from Lincoln-Way Central High School, and many of the teens we see attend Lincoln-Way schools. Families also drive in from Frankfort, Mokena, Joliet, Lockport, Manhattan and Orland Park. On weeks when practice, homework or the drive gets in the way, your teen can meet with their therapist online from home, as long as they’re in Illinois.
New Client
How getting started works
It can be overwhelming coming to counseling. Here’s every step, from your first call to the sessions that follow.
Step 1
Reach out
Request a session online or call (815) 409-5940 to schedule your first appointment.
Step 2
Fill out your intake forms
Your welcome email has everything. Finish the forms at least 48 hours before your appointment, on a phone, tablet or computer, and share your preferred times and therapist.
Step 3
We check your benefits
If you’re using insurance, we check your benefits before confirming your appointment, so you have a good idea of your cost before your first visit.
Step 4
Your first session
Check in on the iPad in our waiting room. Your therapist walks you through confidentiality, answers your questions, and gets to know you and your goals.
Step 5
Plan next steps together
Most people start with weekly sessions, at least three to build a connection, then adjust together as things improve.
Real, Warm, and Never Talking Down
Our Approach to Teen Counseling
Teens can tell right away when an adult is talking down to them. Our therapists do not. We are warm, real, and direct, and we take the time to build trust before diving into the hard stuff.
Each therapist on our team holds a defined specialty, so we match your teen with someone who fits what they are going through, whether that is depression, self-esteem, family stress, or big emotions. If anxiety is the main concern, our teen anxiety counseling is built just for that.
Our goal is not just to get your teen through a hard season. It is to help them leave with skills and self-understanding they will use for the rest of their lives.
We proudly serve teens and families in New Lenox, Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, Lockport, and the surrounding communities, with telehealth available throughout Illinois. Learn what to expect when you get started.
Personalized care
Licensed, caring therapists
Every therapist on our team works with teens and the anxiety, depression and life challenges they bring in. We will match you with the right person for your teen.
Support for the whole teen
Anxiety, depression, self-esteem and family stress, all in one place.
EMDR-trained care
EMDR helps clients process what talk therapy alone can’t reach.
Every age and stage
From children and teens to young adults and adults.
In-person and telehealth
Our New Lenox office or secure online therapy for clients in Illinois.
Teen Counseling
Questions From Parents
Get Your Teen the Support They Deserve
Tell us a little about what is going on. We will match you with the right therapist and reach out to schedule.
Trouble seeing the form? Open it in a new window or call us at (815) 409-5940.
What People Are Saying About Us
5.0 Based on 5 Google reviews
“Davis-Smith Mental Health truly cares about their clients. The therapists are compassionate, skilled, and genuinely committed to helping you grow and heal. It’s clear that Jessica has built a team that shares her values and dedication. Highly recommend to anyone looking for meaningful support and real results.”
Kasia Budyn · Posted on Google
“Jessica provides a safe and welcoming environment for all the teens she sees. She tailors treatment to each teen and is incredibly patient and open to their needs. I have seen first hand the work she does and the connection she has with kids. I cannot recommend her enough as someone who will care for your teen and your family!”
Google User · Posted on Google
“Davis-Smith Mental Health is a trusted resource for providing compassionate, high-quality therapy for teens and emerging adults. I know confidently that clients are supported with empathy, professionalism, and respect. Jessica leads her team with integrity and intention. She clearly prioritizes the well-being of her staff, which allows them to show up fully for the clients they serve. Their commitment to the healing journey is evident in every interaction. I’m grateful to have them as a referral partner and deeply value their work in the mental health community.”
Sherri Wick · Posted on Google
“Jessica is a dedicated therapist and absolutely loves working with teens. You are able to feel the love from the moment you walk through the door. She and her staff will provide a safe and private environment for that one on one attention you deserve.”
Melanie K. Hall · Posted on Google
“Jessica and her team are so passionate and helpful! I would recommend this practice to anyone looking!”
Biljana Krzywinski · Posted on Google
More ways we can help
Other Ways We Help
Anxiety Therapy
Anxiety is the most common reason families come to us, and it’s the foundation of everything we do. Whether your teen is avoiding school, your young adult can’t stop overthinking, or worry has taken over your daily life, we can help. Our therapists use CBT and EMDR to help clients understand what’s driving their anxiety and build real tools to manage it.
Teen Anxiety Counseling
The teen years are when anxiety tends to hit the hardest. School pressure, social stress, comparison, and the weight of figuring out who they are can leave teens feeling overwhelmed and stuck. We work with teens to understand what’s behind the anxiety and give them real skills they can actually use, at school, at home, and in the moments that feel like too much.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a well-researched approach for trauma, and it’s also used for anxiety. It works by helping the brain reprocess difficult memories and experiences that are keeping you stuck. Our EMDR-trained therapist works with teens, young adults, and adults.
Depression Therapy
Depression and anxiety often show up together. If your teen has lost interest in things they used to enjoy, is sleeping too much or too little, or seems hopeless about the future, therapy can help. We work with clients to find what’s underneath the depression and build a path forward that actually feels possible.
Trauma Counseling
Trauma is one of the most common drivers of anxiety in teenagers and young adults. It doesn’t always look like what you’d expect. It can show up as constant worry, anger, trouble concentrating, or emotional shutdown. Our therapists help clients work through trauma at their own pace, in a space where they feel safe.
Emotional Regulation
When anxiety runs high, emotions feel unmanageable. Some children, teens, and adults feel everything. Small frustrations become explosions. Sadness becomes despair. We help clients understand their patterns and develop strategies for handling intense feelings without shutting down or lashing out.
Relationship Counseling
Anxiety doesn’t just affect the person experiencing it. It changes how they show up in every relationship. We help teens, young adults, and adults work through the ways anxiety and other challenges are impacting their connections with family, friends, and partners.
Life Transitions
Starting high school. Leaving for college. A new job, a divorce, a move. Life transitions can trigger anxiety, depression, and self-doubt, even when the change is something you wanted. We help clients work through the uncertainty and build confidence in who they’re becoming.
Young Adult Counseling
The years between 18 and 30 come with a unique kind of pressure. A lot of young adults are dealing with anxiety they’ve carried since their teenage years but never had the chance to address. We help them get unstuck and start building a life that feels like theirs.
Learn More About Teen Counseling
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You don’t have to figure this out alone
If something told you to keep reading this far, trust that feeling. Whether it’s for yourself, your teen, or your young adult, the hardest part is deciding to start. We are here when you are ready.
there is courage in change ♥
- Anxiety counseling for children, teens and adults
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- In-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and UMR
- Telehealth for clients in Illinois
- In-person in New Lenox
- EMDR therapy for anxiety and trauma
- We truly care about every client
- There is courage in change