Art Therapy for Teens

Be who you are. Become who you want to be.

Therapy for neurodivergent & LGBTQ+ young people (ages 10-20) who have trouble managing their emotions

In-Person in Gibbsboro, NJ
Virtual in NJ, CT & PA

Three teen girls laughing at the beach

Teens, you want acceptance & support to become your own person.

There’s a lot going on in your head and in your life. Talking to family and friends can be kind of helpful sometimes, but you don’t want to teel your parents everything and your friends are dealing with their own stuff.

Being neurodivergent has its complications and being queer comes with other complications, which is, well, complicated. You’re stressed, maybe anxious or depressed, and you’re all over the place emotionally – losing it with your family, pushing away the few friends you have, and constantly feeling like you can’t do anything right.

What would you want to be different? Lasting friendships? Less arguing at home? Confidence to be yourself? Coping skills to avoid falling apart? Less anxiety about school? In art therapy, we’ll figure out what will work best for you to make the changes you want.

Yes, talking to a stranger is weird.

But everyone you know was a stranger once.

We don’t know each other (yet?), so it will definitely be a little weird at first. There’s no getting around that, but building trust and feeling like you can be yourself are important to benefiting from therapy.

In order to help you feel comfortable, I show up as me, casual, a little awkward, kind of a smartass, not fake because I’m not good at that.

I don’t have all the answers, but between the two of us – you with your ideas, insights, and unique experience, me with my degrees and stuff – I hope we can sort through whatever is causing your distress.

Above all, I want to get to know the real you and help you figure out whatever is driving your frustration and unhappiness. You’ll be heard and validated, so you can feel good about your identity and learn positive coping mechanisms.

You deserve to feel like you belong and have meaningful friendships, confidently advocate for yourself to get your needs met, and learn practical skills, like managing routines, as you gain more independence.

Teens who go to art therapy

Parents, you want your teen to thrive in the present & build resilience to achieve their aspirations.

Your teen’s wellbeing is a priority because you want them to enjoy all the small and big moments of being a teenager, while you impart the skills, values and mindset that will help them find fulfillment in the years ahead.

You expected some difficulty through the teen years. After all, you were a teen once, but it’s a whole different world as a parent.

Now your teen is struggling and you’re hoping therapy can help. It’s normal to feel heightened worry and a sense of urgency when deciding where to go next.

Ideally, you’d like to find a therapist who’s experienced, nonjudgmental and knowledgeable about adolescent development. In addition to being attuned to your values and concerns, your teen needs to connect with them. Importantly, they should be able to build trust and mutual respect so your teen can get the most out of therapy.

I’m committed to working alongside you to help your teen benefit from therapy. Stylistically, I’m informal and flexible so I can respond to your teen’s individual needs. My approach to art therapy aims to support your teen by managing obstacles, boosting confidence and improving coping and communication skills.

Ultimately, waiting to “grow out of it” can prolong their struggle and related conflict at home. Instead, by working together, the hope is that your teen will be able to grow from it, taking an active role so they emerge thriving with greater insight, perseverance and hope for the future.

Teen and mom pulling a pumpkin in a wagon while pumpkin picking

” We tried that, and it was ok, but…”

By the time you’re looking for a therapist for your teen, you’ve likely tried countless resources to help them – planners, youtube, books for you, workbooks for them.

Maybe you’ve already met a therapist who wasn’t a good fit, or the problem wasn’t the therapist but their approach. Talk therapy might not have gone well because they need less talking and more doing. Many teens are unbearably uncomfortable in traditional talk therapy, like they’re under a microscope, which makes them doubt therapy can help.

Overall, you feel like it’s been mixed results, so your teen is still struggling and you’re still trying to find the thing that will help them turn the corner. For kids who need an action-oriented, engaging, multisensory approach, art therapy could  tie everything else you’ve done together, so you see real progress – fewer outbursts because they monitor their emotions and use coping skills before they go to an 11, and for you, less anxiety and more opportunities to take a breath.

neurodivergent teen spending time with parents after art therapy

Art Therapy for Teens
Developmental Benefits

Healthy Risk-Taking

Risk-taking is normal for adolescents. Risks exist on a spectrum, from low risk to high risk and harmful. For example, trying a new hair style is one kind of risk, whereas drinking alcohol is another.

Any kind of creative endeavor requires a kind of risk. Art-making is a low-stakes risk with potential high reward in the form of increased confidence, sense of competence, and enhanced self-awareness.

Reduced Anxiety in Session

Imagine sitting across from your teen at the kitchen table and asking for eye contact during hard conversations. Compare that to talking with them in the car or when you’re doing an activity side-by-side.

Similarly, teens can bristle in conventional talk therapy because the direct nature of the interaction feels threatening. As such, sitting across from each other and eye contact expectations while talking can lead to defensiveness and reluctance to participate.

In art therapy, the art mediates the interaction because it’s the focus, which can ease discomfort and anxiety. Both teen and therapist are paying attention to the art making process, and when that’s complete, focus is split between each other and the art.

The Value of "Best Effort"

Most adolescents give up art as an activity. Reasons for this include a harsh inner critic, criticism from others, and lack of positive feedback. Also, the importance of identity development at this stage can compel teens to give up art if they don’t identify as an artist.

However, there’s something to be said for doing activities even if we aren’t “good at them.” You’d see what I mean if you ever caught a glimpse of me at the bowling alley.

Creating something that meets high aesthetic standards isn’t the only valid reason to make art. It can be fun and relaxing and a healthy emotional outlet.

Valuing “best effort” can help quiet the inner critic and cultivates adaptability, so your teen is less likely to be overwhelmed with negative feelings about themselves that lead to breakdowns.

Communication Alternatives

Teens can be skepitcal of disclosing information to adults. They can also be uncomfortable discussing more personal issues due to embarrassment.

Visual expression can be a way of introducing or exploring topics that are uncomfortable. Art therapy for teens can serve as a stepping stone to more effective dialogue and transparency.

Is art therapy right for your teen?

Art therapy with Lee Ann is not right for your teen if:

  • Your teen is not open to the idea of making art in therapy
  • You’re looking for a family therapist
  • Your family is in the midst of a custody dispute
  • Your teen is in crisis and needs urgent care
  • You need to work with a therapist who’s in-network with your insurance
  • You’re primarily looking for a provider who prescribes medication
  • You’re looking for short-term treatment that follows a standard protocol, rather than a style of outpatient therapy that is about building trust and responsive to your teen’s unique needs

Art therapy with Lee Ann Thill is right for your teen if:

  • Your teen enjoys art or is at least open to doing it in therapy
  • You and your teen are looking for a therapist who can form a respectful, trusting relationship with your teen, so they feel like they’re being heard
  • You want your teen to value having dedicated time to focus on what’s on their mind, so they feel like it’s a worthwhile use of their time
  • You want a therapist who values your perspective and will keep you in the loop according to your teen’s comfort level (note: safety concerns are always shared with caregivers)
  • Your teen wants therapy. or is willing to try even if they’re unsure, because they want to feel better and realize they might benefit
  • Your teen needs a therapist who will work at their pace, for example, giving space to share more personal information when they’re ready
  • Your teen is interested in working with a therapist who’s neurodivergent and queer so they feel better understood
  • You’re looking for a therapist with specific expertise, rather than a generalist (accepts clients of all ages with a wide range of mental health concerns)
smiling neurodivergent teen who went to art therapy

Consistency instead of chaos. Peace instead of power struggles.

Your teen can be less frustrated and more engaged in ‘regular teen stuff.’ You can have less conflict at home and a more satisfying relationship with your teen, even as they become more independent.

Book a consultation or first appointment to start art therapy

in Gibbsboro, NJ or virtual art therapy in NJ, CT or PA.