Helping Teens Overcome Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma — and Helping Families Heal Together

Being a teenager is hard enough. Add anxiety, fear, or traumatic experiences on top of everyday pressures, and life can start to feel overwhelming — for the teen and their family.

At Open Compass Counseling in Flagler Beach, Florida, I specialize in using EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help teens and adolescents work through anxiety, trauma, and overwhelming emotions so they can live more freely and confidently.

I offer both in-person sessions in Flagler Beach and telehealth counseling across Florida.

🌱 How Anxiety and Trauma Affect Teens and Families

When a teen is struggling with trauma or anxiety, it doesn’t just affect them — it ripples through the entire family. Parents may notice:

  • Intense emotional reactions or “shutdown” moments

  • Difficulty managing stress or regulating mood

  • Avoidance of school or social situations

  • Withdrawal from friends or family

  • Panic attacks or anxiety spirals

  • Academic struggles and declining motivation

This can be painful and confusing for both the teen and their caregivers. Often, parents are trying everything they can but feel helpless when nothing seems to work. That’s where EMDR therapy can make a profound difference.

🧭 How EMDR Therapy Helps Teens

EMDR therapy is an evidence-based approach that helps the brain process difficult or overwhelming experiences so they no longer hold the same emotional power.

For teens, EMDR can help with:

  • Anxiety and panic attacks

  • Social anxiety and fear of judgment

  • Effects of bullying or social trauma

  • Emotional fallout from toxic or high-conflict situations

  • Grief, loss, or sudden changes

  • Medical trauma, accidents, or other overwhelming events

Instead of talking in circles about the same pain, EMDR works directly with how the brain stores distressing experiences. This allows your teen to move forward with more calm, confidence, and emotional regulation.

🫂 Supporting the Whole Family

When one member of the family is struggling, everyone feels it. Part of my work with teens also involves supporting parents and caregivers — helping them understand what their child is going through and how to best support the healing process.

This may look like:

  • Family check-ins or collaborative sessions

  • Psychoeducation about trauma and anxiety

  • Building communication skills within the home

  • Helping parents feel more equipped to support their teen

  • Strengthening family bonds as healing happens

The goal isn’t just to help your teen feel better — it’s to bring more peace, understanding, and stability to the entire family.

💬 What Sessions Look Like

EMDR sessions with teens are tailored to their comfort level. I take time to build trust, explain the process in an age-appropriate way, and move at a pace that respects their boundaries. Teens don’t need to retell every detail of their trauma to heal.

Sessions may include:

  • Building emotional regulation and coping skills

  • Identifying and processing distressing experiences

  • Working through anxiety triggers in a safe and structured way

  • Rebuilding self-esteem and confidence

🧠 EMDR Can Help Teens Who Feel “Stuck”

It’s common for teens to feel like they can’t explain what’s wrong, or that “talking about it doesn’t help.” EMDR can be a powerful tool for those who:

  • Struggle to open up verbally

  • Feel “numb” or overwhelmed

  • Experience intrusive thoughts or flashbacks

  • Have tried other therapy approaches without success

📍 In-Person and Telehealth Options

I offer EMDR therapy at Open Compass Counseling, located at:

📍 712 S Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
📞 386-259-0557

Telehealth sessions are also available for teens and families anywhere in Florida, providing access to effective trauma therapy from the comfort of your home.

🕊 Start Your Teen’s Healing Journey

If your teen is struggling with anxiety, trauma, or overwhelming emotions, help is available. EMDR therapy can support your teen in building resilience and a stronger sense of self — and help your family reconnect and heal together.

👉 Schedule a consultation or call 386-259-0557 to get started.
Your teen deserves to live with more calm, confidence, and hope.