If your teen is home from boarding school for Thanksgiving or winter break and something seems off, the break is a good time to find out what is going on: you can see your teen up close, and a first appointment can fit into the weekdays before they head back. Blackburn Clinical Services in West Los Angeles offers assessments and one-on-one therapy in our office or by secure video (for clients located in California) for teens 13 to 17, plus family sessions, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Breaks are short, so it helps to call as soon as you are concerned.
Worried about your teen this break? Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Therapy takes place in our office at 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066, or by secure video.
Who this is for
- Parents in Los Angeles and Southern California whose teen attends a boarding school, near or far, and is home for Thanksgiving, winter or spring break
- Families who noticed changes on phone calls during the term and now see them in person
- Parents wondering whether their teen should go back to campus as planned, or needs more support first
- Teens home from school who want to talk with someone and are not sure how to ask
Why breaks are when parents notice
During the term you mostly hear from your teen by text or a quick call, and boarding school life is busy and structured. At home, the structure drops away and you see the whole day: how your teen sleeps, eats, talks and spends time. Some changes are simply growing up. Others are worth a closer look, especially if they are new, last more than a couple of weeks, or get in the way of daily life.
Signs worth paying attention to
- Mood. Sadness, irritability or emptiness that does not lift, or losing interest in things your teen used to love (NIMH on teen depression).
- Sleep and eating. Sleeping most of the day, being awake all night, or noticeable changes in eating or weight.
- Pulling away. Avoiding family and old friends, staying in their room, or seeming unable to relax.
- Dread about going back. Panic, stomachaches or tears as the return date gets closer, or asking not to go back at all. See school refusal and anxiety in high school.
- School and social stress. Grades that dropped, trouble with roommates or friends, or comments that they do not fit in.
- Substances. Vaping, alcohol, cannabis or other drugs, which can be easier to hide on campus. See teen vaping, cannabis and alcohol.
- Self-harm or hopelessness. Cuts or burns, talk of not wanting to be here, or giving things away. These need urgent attention; see below.
How to use the break
- Let your teen land first. A day or two of rest is normal. Then make time for relaxed, unhurried conversations, often in the car, on a walk or over food.
- Ask open questions. “What has been the hardest part of this term?” invites more than “Is everything okay?”
- Listen before solving. Many teens stop talking when a parent jumps to fixes or consequences.
- Notice patterns over several days rather than reacting to one bad evening.
- Book an assessment early in the break. If you are worried, do not wait until the last few days. An intake in the first week leaves time for a follow up and a plan before your teen goes back.
- Make the return decision together. If you are unsure whether your teen is ready to go back, an assessment can help you and the school think it through.
Booking an intake during break
We see teens in our office at 12326 Venice Blvd in Mar Vista or by secure video for clients located in California, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. During a break your teen has no classes, which can make weekday appointments easier to schedule. Parents usually make the first call; your teen does not need to be on the line. A typical first step looks like this:
- A phone call with a parent to understand your concerns and find a weekday appointment during the break.
- An assessment with your teen, and with you, covering mood, anxiety, sleep, substances, school and friendships.
- A plan that fits what happens next, whether your teen returns to campus, stays home for a while, or comes back to Los Angeles for good.
- Family sessions when it helps parents and teens talk through school, pressure and expectations.
- Psychiatry, if medication may be part of the picture; psychiatric care can be arranged.
- More support if needed. If your teen stays home for a period, the Blackburn Concierge Outpatient Program offers typically 3 to 5 hours a week of focused one-on-one therapy, with no groups, as an individualized alternative to traditional IOP.
If attention or learning seems to be part of the struggle, our page on ADHD and learning evaluations for private school teens explains how testing works.
Working with the school, only with your permission
Boarding schools usually have their own counseling and health staff, and the school makes its own decisions about health requirements, leave and return. With your written permission, we can speak with the school’s counselor or health staff so that the plan at home and the support on campus line up, and when clinically appropriate we can provide documentation for your teen’s school. Without written permission, we do not share anything with the school, including whether your teen has been seen.
Research on the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey links feeling connected to school with better mental health in high school students (CDC, MMWR 2024). For a teen far from home, a clear plan and a trusted adult on campus can matter a great deal.
If your teen is coming home for longer
Sometimes a break ends with a decision that a teen should take time away from boarding school, or a teen comes home after a wilderness program, therapeutic boarding school or residential treatment. Our page on coming home from residential or wilderness programs covers planning that transition and the return to a local school.
When to get urgent help
If your teen is in danger right now, call 911. If your teen talks about wanting to die, is harming themselves, or you are worried they might, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time of day. You can call 988 as a parent for advice about what to do next. Do not send a teen back to campus while you are worried about their immediate safety; contact the school and get help first.
Questions
Can we get an appointment during Thanksgiving or winter break?
We see teens Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and a break can be a good time to start because your teen has no classes. Because breaks are short, call as early as you can so the intake, and ideally a follow up, happen before your teen returns to school.
My teen goes back to school in a few days. Is a single assessment still worth it?
Often, yes. An assessment can clarify what is going on, whether it is safe and sensible for your teen to go back as planned, and what support to put in place at school, with your permission.
Will you contact my teen’s boarding school?
Only with your written permission. With it, we can speak with the school’s counselor or health staff and, when clinically appropriate, provide documentation for your teen’s school. Without it, we share nothing.
My teen does not want to see a therapist. What should we do?
That is common. Parents can call us first for guidance, and family sessions can be a gentler starting point than individual therapy. Our guide on how to find a therapist for your teen has more ideas.
What if my teen should not go back to school yet?
The school decides on leave and return. We can assess your teen, recommend a level of care, and, with your permission, coordinate with the school. For more support at home, the Blackburn Concierge Outpatient Program offers typically 3 to 5 hours a week of one-on-one therapy, with no groups.
More for families: therapy for private school students, teen depression signs parents miss, does my teen need therapy? a checklist, a winter break plan for a struggling teen and how to find a therapist for your teen.
Get started
Book a weekday intake during break. Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
You can also email info@blackburnclinical.com or contact us.