Licensed Educational Psychologist · LEP #4701
Jessica Craig Psych Testing · A Bespoke Concierge Practice in Hermosa Beach
Therapy for Teenagers, Adolescents & Teenage Girls in the South Bay
Individual therapy for tweens, teenagers, adolescents, teenage girls, and young adults in Hermosa Beach. Former South Bay school psychologist with direct experience in MBUSD, RBUSD, Torrance USD, and PVPUSD. Specializing in anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, and identity work in adolescent clients.
Now booking. Individual therapy from $225 per session. Superbills provided for PPO out-of-network.
Teenagers Are Not Small Adults — and Not Difficult Children
Teenagers are people in the middle of one of the most neurologically complex, socially demanding, identity-defining periods of a human life — and the mental health system frequently treats them like neither.
I am a former South Bay school psychologist. I have sat in high school hallways and lunch rooms and quiet corners with teenagers who were holding more than anyone around them knew. I understand how adolescents think, what they will and will not say to a stranger, and what it actually takes to build the trust necessary for therapy to work.
I am also a parent of teenagers. I know what it is like to watch your adolescent struggle and not know what to do — to try to get through and find the door closed.
Tweens, Teenagers, Adolescents & Young Adults
I work with adolescent clients roughly between the ages of 10 and 21. I particularly enjoy working with:
- Teenagers who are high-achieving on the outside and exhausted on the inside — the students who hold it together at school and fall apart at home
- Adolescents with ADHD or autism who have not yet received a diagnosis, or who have a diagnosis but are not yet receiving appropriate support
- Teenagers who have tried therapy before and found it unhelpful — skeptical adolescents who need an approach that meets them where they are
- Teenage girls navigating anxiety, social exhaustion, identity questions, and the specific pressures of adolescent girlhood
- Adolescents and teenagers dealing with family transitions: divorce, parental conflict, a new household configuration
- High school students overwhelmed by academic pressure, college preparation anxiety, or both
- Teenagers using substances, screens, or self-isolation to cope — and needing to understand what they are coping with
What Brings Families to Teen Therapy
Anxiety
Anxiety is the most common reason teenagers are brought to therapy — and it is also the most underestimated. What looks like avoidance, procrastination, or anger in an adolescent is often anxiety underneath. For neurodivergent teenagers in particular, anxiety is almost always present and is frequently the primary thing interfering with daily life.
Depression
Adolescent depression does not always look like sadness. It often looks like withdrawal, irritability, sleep changes, declining grades, loss of interest in things that used to matter. I assess carefully and do not assume — the clinical picture matters.
ADHD & Neurodivergence
I work frequently with teenagers who are neurodivergent — whether formally diagnosed or not. I understand how ADHD and autism interact with anxiety, social dynamics, academic pressure, and self-concept in adolescent clients. Therapy with neurodivergent teenagers is most effective when the therapist understands the neurology, not just the behavior.
Identity & Social Dynamics
Adolescence is fundamentally about identity — who am I, where do I belong, what does the future look like? These are not “soft” questions. They are the organizing challenges of the developmental period. I take them seriously.
Family & Relationships
I work with teenagers navigating difficult family situations — divorce, parental conflict, sibling dynamics, stepfamilies. I also work with adolescents experiencing peer relationship difficulties, social rejection, and the particular cruelty of teenage social dynamics.
Direct, Warm & Genuinely Curious
I do not use a lot of therapeutic jargon, and I do not make teenagers feel pathologized for having a hard time. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a primary framework, integrated with psychoeducation, acceptance-based strategies, and — when relevant — specific approaches for ADHD or autism.
I also work closely with parents. You are not excluded from your adolescent’s therapy — you are a critical part of it. We find the right balance of teenager autonomy and parent involvement for your specific family.
Teen Therapy Fees
Adolescent Therapy
50-minute individual sessions in person at the Hermosa Beach office or via secure telehealth throughout California.
Parent Consultation
50-minute sessions for parents seeking clarity, direction, and clinical insight about their teenager’s needs.
Therapy bundles are available for clients pursuing weekly work — save up to 28% versus per-session rates. See all therapy packages. Superbills provided for all sessions.
Hermosa Beach Office & Secure Telehealth
I see teenagers and adolescents in person at my Hermosa Beach office. Telehealth sessions are available for teenagers throughout California — useful for adolescents with school or transportation constraints, or for families who prefer the accessibility of virtual sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
My teenager refuses to go to therapy. How do you handle that?
Resistance to therapy is common in adolescents and is often part of why teenagers benefit from it. Jessica's approach is direct, non-preachy, and meets teenagers where they are. The first session is exploratory, not interrogative. Many teenagers who walked into their first appointment skeptical end up willingly continuing. Parents are involved in the process; the structure is collaborative.
What is your approach to therapy with teenage girls?
Therapy with teenage girls integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, neurodivergence-affirming psychoeducation, and a developmentally attuned recognition of the specific pressures of adolescent girlhood including academic perfectionism, social complexity, identity exploration, and the often-underdiagnosed presentations of ADHD, autism, and mood disorders in girls. Sessions are confidential within the limits of safety, and parents are looped in through scheduled consultations.
How much does teen therapy cost?
Adolescent therapy is $225 per 50-minute session. Therapy bundles are available for clients pursuing weekly work and can save up to 28% versus per-session rates. Superbills are provided for PPO out-of-network reimbursement. Many PPO plans reimburse a significant portion of mental health services.
Do you offer telehealth for teenagers?
Yes. In-person sessions are available at the Hermosa Beach office, and secure telehealth is available throughout California. Telehealth is often a good fit for teenagers with school or transportation constraints, or for families who prefer the accessibility of virtual sessions.
Do you work with neurodivergent teenagers?
Yes. Jessica works frequently with adolescents who are neurodivergent, whether formally diagnosed or not. Her approach integrates an understanding of how ADHD and autism interact with anxiety, social dynamics, academic pressure, and adolescent identity formation.
Schedule a Free 15-Minute Consultation
No commitment required. Jessica speaks personally with every prospective client to determine fit, answer questions, and walk through next steps.