To choose a therapist for your teen in Los Angeles, start by writing down what you are seeing, then call two or three practices and ask each one the same questions: who would see your teen, how parents are involved, where sessions happen, when appointments are available and what happens in a crisis. A good fit matters as much as credentials, because a teen has to feel safe enough to talk. Blackburn Clinical Services sees teens ages 13 to 17 for one-on-one therapy in our office in Mar Vista, West Los Angeles, or by secure video for clients located in California, with family sessions and parent-only sessions in the office; parents can also book therapy of their own.
Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Parents usually make the first call. Therapy takes place in our West LA office or by secure video for clients located in California.
Who this guide is for
Parents and guardians of teens 13 to 17 across Los Angeles, whether your teen attends a private or independent high school, a Catholic high school, a public high school or is home from a boarding school. School counselors and deans are welcome to share it with families. If your child is in college, see help for parents of a struggling college student instead.
You are not alone in looking. In the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 39.7 percent of U.S. high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year (CDC, MMWR 2024). For figures closer to home, see teen mental health in Southern California: the numbers.
Step 1: Write down what you are seeing
Before you call anyone, take ten minutes to note what has changed and when. Practices will ask, and it helps you compare answers. Useful things to note:
- Changes in sleep, eating, mood or energy, and roughly when they started
- School changes: grades, missed days, a teacher or counselor who has raised a concern
- Pulling away from friends, activities or family
- Worry or panic that keeps your teen from school, sports or social plans (see anxiety)
- Sadness, irritability or hopelessness that lasts most days (see depression)
- Vaping, drinking or other substance use
- Questions about attention or learning (see ADHD testing)
- Any talk of self-harm or suicide. If that is happening now, skip to when to get urgent help.
Step 2: Make a short list
Your teen’s pediatrician and school counselor can often suggest names. If you plan to use insurance, your plan’s directory or member services can tell you what is covered. Aim for two or three practices you can reach this week rather than a long list you never get through.
Step 3: Ask the same questions on every first call
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests parents ask why therapy is recommended, what results to expect, how long treatment will last, how often sessions will happen, whether sessions include only the teen or the family, what each session costs and how parents will be updated (AACAP Facts for Families). We would add:
- Who would see my teen, and how much of their work is with teenagers?
- How do you involve parents, and what stays private between you and my teen?
- Do you offer family sessions alongside my teen’s individual therapy?
- Where do sessions happen: in an office, online, or both?
- What days and times are open, and how does that fit my teen’s school day and activities?
- What happens in a crisis between sessions?
- Can you coordinate with my teen’s school, and how does permission work?
- If medication might help, how would psychiatric care be arranged?
- What if weekly therapy is not enough? What is the next step without leaving school?
What do good answers sound like?
| You ask | A good answer usually includes | Worth a follow-up question |
|---|---|---|
| Who would see my teen? | A named clinician with regular experience working with teenagers | A vague answer, or no one who works with teens often |
| How are parents involved? | A clear plan: family or parent sessions, and what is shared with parents and when | No parent role at all, or a promise to tell parents everything |
| Where and when? | Office, video or both, with times that fit the school day | Only times that would mean missing the same class every week |
| What happens in a crisis? | A plan that includes 988 and 911, and what the practice does between sessions | No answer |
| What if weekly therapy is not enough? | A next step, such as more sessions or a more intensive one-on-one option, ideally without leaving school | Only one level of care offered for everything |
| How is medication handled? | A clear way psychiatric care is arranged and coordinated with the therapist | No plan to coordinate |
Weighing formats? See teen therapy online or in the office, and for an overview of our teen care, teen therapy in Los Angeles. Not sure who to see first? Read psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist for teens.
In an office or somewhere else
Teen therapy happens in a few settings, and each has tradeoffs worth thinking through with your teen.
- In an office. A private room away from home, siblings and phones can make it easier for a teen to open up, and the drive becomes part of a weekly routine. The cost is travel time, which in Los Angeles is real, so try the drive once at the hour you are considering.
- Online. No commute, which can help a busy schedule. The challenge for many teens is privacy: it is hard to talk freely with a parent or sibling on the other side of a bedroom door.
- At school. School counselors are a great first stop and can be a steady support on campus. School-based counseling is usually brief and focused on school, so many families add outside therapy when concerns go deeper or last longer.
At Blackburn, therapy takes place in our office at 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066, near Culver City, Venice, Santa Monica and Palms, or by secure video for clients located in California.
How families are involved
Teens need enough privacy to talk honestly, and parents need enough information to help. Good teen therapists explain up front how they balance the two. California has specific rules about consent and confidentiality for minors, so ask the practice to walk you through how they apply to your family.
At Blackburn, parents are part of care. Alongside your teen’s individual sessions, we offer family sessions so you can understand what is happening and learn how to respond at home. See family services and adolescent services.
What the first call to Blackburn is like
When you call (888) 870 7405, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, here is what to expect in general terms:
- We listen first. We ask what is going on, how old your teen is, what school schedule you are working around and whether there are any safety concerns.
- We explain the first appointment, an assessment, and how it is scheduled within our weekday hours.
- We talk about how parents fit in, including family sessions.
- We explain fees. See fees and insurance.
- If more support is needed, we can describe the Blackburn Concierge Outpatient Program, an individualized, one-on-one alternative to a traditional IOP with no groups, typically 3 to 5 hours a week of focused therapy.
- If medication may help, psychiatric care can be arranged, and we explain how.
You do not need a referral to call. If your teen’s school counselor suggested us, you can mention it, and with your written permission we can coordinate with the school. When clinically appropriate, we can also provide documentation for your teen’s school. Counselors can read more on our page for school and college counselors.
Ready to talk? Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, with flexible scheduling within those hours.
What you can do this week
- Tell your teen, calmly, what you have noticed and that you want to find someone they can talk to. Let them have a say in the choice.
- Look at the school schedule for free periods, late starts or early dismissals that could fit a weekly appointment.
- Make your two or three calls and write down the answers.
- Save 988 in your phone and your teen’s phone.
If your teen refuses to go, read my teen won’t go to therapy; to prepare for the first visit, see what to expect at a first teen therapy appointment and teen therapy and privacy in California.
When to get urgent help
Blackburn is an outpatient practice, not a crisis service. If your teen talks about suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day. If your teen is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For next steps, read if your teen talks about self-harm or suicide.
If a medication evaluation may help, see how to choose a psychiatrist for your teen, or start with psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist: who to see first.
Questions parents ask
How do I know whether my teen needs a therapist or is just having a hard week?
Look at how long it has lasted and how much it gets in the way. Changes that last for weeks, or that affect school, sleep, friendships or safety, are worth a professional look. A phone call with a practice can help you decide.
Should my teen see someone in an office or online?
It depends on your teen. Some teens talk more freely in a private office away from home. Online sessions save travel but can be hard to keep private at home. At Blackburn, therapy is available in our West LA office or by secure video for clients located in California, so you can choose what fits your teen.
Will the therapist tell me what my teen says?
Not word for word. Teens need privacy to be honest, and parents need enough information to help. Ask any practice how it balances the two. At Blackburn, family sessions are one way parents stay involved.
What if my teen does not want to go?
That is common. Giving your teen a say in who they see, and agreeing to try a few sessions before deciding, often helps. If you are worried about safety, do not wait for agreement: call 988 or 911.
When are appointments at Blackburn?
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, with flexible scheduling within those hours. Many families plan around a free period, a late start or the end of the school day.
What should I look for when choosing a therapist for my teen?
Experience with teenagers, a clear plan for how parents are involved and what stays private, a schedule that fits school, a crisis plan, and a teen who feels comfortable after the first few sessions. You can check a California license on the Department of Consumer Affairs license search.
Sources
- CDC: Mental Health and Suicide Risk Among High School Students and Protective Factors, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023 (MMWR Supplement, 2024)
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents (Facts for Families No. 53)
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline