Does My Teen Need Therapy? A Checklist for Parents

If your high schooler has seemed down, anxious, withdrawn or not like themselves for two weeks or more, or if their sleep, schoolwork, friendships or substance use have changed, it is reasonable to talk with a professional. This free self-check for parents of teens 13 to 17 takes about two minutes. Answer 14 quick questions about mood, sleep, school, friends, substances and safety, and you will get plain guidance on a next step: keep an eye on it, have a conversation with a professional, or call this week. It is not a diagnosis, and nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.

Already worried about your teen? Call (888) 870 7405

Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Therapy for teens 13 to 17, with family sessions, in our Mar Vista office in West Los Angeles, or by secure video for clients located in California.

If your teen is in danger right now, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.

The checklist

Think about the last two to four weeks. Answer each question about your high schooler as best you can. Nothing you choose leaves this page: there is no form, no email and nothing is saved or sent anywhere. This is not a diagnosis.

1.Does your teen seem sad, down, irritable or hopeless?
2.Have they lost interest in things they used to enjoy (sports, music, friends, hobbies)?
3.Do worry, panic or fear keep them from things like school, tests, practice or social plans?
4.Has their sleep changed a lot (much more, much less, or up most of the night)?
5.Have you noticed changes in eating or weight, or worrying comments about food or their body?
6.Is school slipping: falling grades, missing work, skipping class or not wanting to go at all?
7.Are they pulling away from friends or family, or spending most of their time alone?
8.Are there angry outbursts or conflict at home that feel different from normal teen pushback?
9.Do you know or suspect they are vaping, using cannabis, drinking or taking pills?
10.Is it hard for them to get through ordinary routines, like getting up, showering or finishing simple tasks?
11.How long have you been noticing these changes?

Safety questions. Please answer these honestly. Any yes or not sure will show you what to do right away.

12.Has your teen talked or written about wanting to die, being better off dead, or suicide?
13.Do you know or suspect they have hurt themselves on purpose (for example cutting or burning)?
14.Have they done something dangerous that put their life at risk, or talked about hurting someone else?

Why these questions

The questions follow the warning signs that national health agencies ask parents to watch for. The National Institute of Mental Health lists persistent sadness or irritability, loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep and appetite, trouble concentrating and pulling away from friends as possible signs of depression in teens. Short sleep matters on its own: the CDC uses at least 8 hours on school nights as the benchmark for teens, yet only 23 percent of U.S. high school students got 8 or more hours on school nights in 2023, according to the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Substance use often travels with anxiety and low mood. And because about 1 in 5 high school students seriously considered suicide in 2023 (CDC YRBS), the safety questions are there for every parent, not just those who expect a yes.

For the full set of national, California and Los Angeles County figures, see Teen Mental Health in Southern California: The Numbers.

What you can do this week, whatever your result

  • Pick a low pressure moment. Car rides and walks work better than a sit-down talk. Say what you have noticed, not what you think it means: "You have seemed really tired and quiet lately. How are you doing?"
  • Listen more than you fix. Let them finish. You can come back to solutions later.
  • Ask about safety directly. If you are worried, ask plainly whether they have thought about hurting themselves or about suicide.
  • Protect sleep. Phones charging outside the bedroom at night is one of the simplest changes a family can make.
  • Loop in the right adults. A school counselor or your pediatrician can be a useful ally. Share only what your teen is comfortable with where you can.
  • Get a professional opinion early. You do not need to be sure something is wrong to call.

How Blackburn Clinical Services helps high schoolers and their parents

We see teens ages 13 to 17 for one-on-one therapy in our office at 12326 Venice Blvd in Mar Vista, West Los Angeles, or by secure video for clients located in California, with family sessions so parents are part of the plan. We help with anxiety and school stress, depression, vaping, cannabis or other substance use alongside mental health concerns, and questions about attention, for which ADHD testing is available. Psychiatric care can be arranged when it is needed. Appointments are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, with flexible scheduling within those hours, and when clinically appropriate we can provide documentation for your teen's school, shared only with your written permission. Teens who need more than a weekly session can be considered for the Concierge Outpatient Program, typically 3 to 5 hours a week of one-on-one care with no groups. Students at private and independent high schools can also see therapy for private school students, and more about our work with teens is on adolescent services.

If your result points to a call, what to expect at a first teen therapy appointment walks you through the visit, and my teen won't go to therapy helps if your teen resists.

When to get help right away

Do not wait for a checklist or an appointment if your teen talks about wanting to die, has hurt themselves, has taken something dangerous, or you cannot keep them safe. Call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, or call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Stay with your teen until help arrives. For next steps, read if your teen talks about self-harm or suicide.

Questions parents ask

Is this checklist a diagnosis?

No. It is a guide for parents, based only on what you select, to help you decide on a next step. It cannot tell you whether your teen has a mental health condition. Only a licensed professional who meets your teen can assess that.

How can I tell normal teen moodiness from depression?

Ordinary moodiness comes and goes and does not stop a teen from functioning. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that depression is more than moodiness: signs such as sadness, irritability, loss of interest, changes in sleep or eating, pulling away from friends and trouble concentrating last for weeks and get in the way of daily life. If you are seeing that pattern, talk with a professional.

Can I call before my teen agrees to therapy?

Yes. Parents often call first to talk through what they are seeing and how to bring it up. Blackburn Clinical Services offers family sessions, so parents can be part of the work from the start.

What does therapy for a teen look like at Blackburn Clinical Services?

Teens ages 13 to 17 meet one-on-one with a therapist in our Mar Vista office or by secure video for clients located in California, with family sessions as needed. Appointments are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, with flexible scheduling within those hours, and psychiatric care can be arranged if it is needed. Call (888) 870 7405 to start.

What should I do if my teen talks about suicide?

Take it seriously and act now. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if there is immediate danger. Stay with your teen and lock up medications and firearms.

Talk with us

Ready for a next step? Call (888) 870 7405

Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Therapy for teens 13 to 17, with family sessions, in our Mar Vista office in West Los Angeles, or by secure video for clients located in California.

Call (888) 870 7405, email info@blackburnclinical.com or contact us. Blackburn Clinical Services is at 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066.

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