Blackburn Clinical Services offers therapy by secure video for teens ages 13 to 17 in Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Rancho Santa Fe and the rest of coastal North County San Diego, with family and parent-only sessions by video so parents are part of the work. Our office is in West Los Angeles, roughly 85 to 100 miles away, so North County families see us only by video, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Teen therapy, family and parent-only sessions by secure video, for families in North County San Diego and elsewhere in California.
At a glance
- Who we see: high school age teens, 13 to 17, from private and independent, Catholic and public high schools, and their parents.
- How: one-on-one therapy by secure video. Our only office is at 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066; you are welcome to come in when it helps.
- How far (straight line): about 86 miles from Carlsbad and about 99 miles from Del Mar. This is a video-only relationship for most families; you are welcome to visit our office, but you should not need to.
- When: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, with flexible scheduling inside those hours.
- Parents: family sessions, parent-only sessions about your teen, and therapy for parents themselves, all available by secure video for clients located in California.
- Psychiatry: psychiatric care can be arranged if your teen needs it; we explain how when you call.
Why a Los Angeles practice by video
There are good therapists in North County, and if one fits your teen we will say so. Some families look further afield because they want more privacy in a small community where families know each other, because a teen already has ties to Los Angeles, or because they split time between the two regions. With video, the 85 to 100 miles of I-5 between us do not matter: your teen joins from home after school inside our weekday hours, and both parents can join family sessions by video from wherever they are.
Fitting therapy around the school calendar
Public districts in the area, including San Dieguito Union High School District and Carlsbad Unified, set their own calendars, and private, independent and Catholic high schools in North County often follow different ones, with their own breaks and exam weeks. A fixed weekly video time is easy to keep through finals, AP exams in May (College Board) and busy sports and surf seasons.
What we hear from parents of high schoolers here
Parents in coastal North County often describe teens who look relaxed from the outside but carry a lot underneath: competitive academics, year-round sports, a beach social scene where alcohol, vaping and cannabis are easy to find, and the feeling that everyone in a small town is watching. When substance use is part of the picture, see teen vaping, cannabis and alcohol. For academic pressure, see college admissions stress.
What video therapy looks like at Blackburn
Your teen joins a one-on-one session from a private room on a phone, tablet or computer. Approaches such as CBT, ACT and DBT skills are chosen for your teen; EMDR and Brainspotting are offered in our office, not by video. Family sessions and parent-only sessions happen by video too, so both parents can join from work or home. Use headphones, a closed door and a personal device rather than a school-issued laptop. Our online teen therapy guide covers privacy at home and when in-office care is the better choice.
What parents can do now
- Notice patterns, not single bad days: sleep, appetite, friendships, grades or activities that change for more than a couple of weeks.
- Know the county resources. The County of San Diego Access and Crisis Line, (888) 724-7240, is available around the clock for mental health and substance use support (County of San Diego).
- Call us to talk through what you are seeing and whether video therapy with our team is a good fit, or whether someone closer would serve your teen better.
When to get urgent help
Video therapy is not an emergency service. If your teen talks about suicide, has hurt themselves or you fear for their safety, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. In San Diego County, the Access and Crisis Line is (888) 724-7240.
More for families
Start with our online teen therapy in California guide. See therapy for private school students, teen anxiety treatment, therapy for high-achieving teens and teen therapy and privacy in California.
Questions parents ask
You are in Los Angeles. Can you really see my teen in Carlsbad?
Yes, by secure video. We offer video therapy to families in California, and North County families see us by video, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Why not just see someone local?
Sometimes that is the right answer, and we will tell you if we think so. Some families prefer a practice outside their small community for privacy, or already have ties to Los Angeles.
Can both parents join family sessions?
Yes. Yes. Family sessions and parent-only sessions are by secure video, and each parent can join from a different place in California.
When is in-person care needed instead?
When there are safety concerns, when a teen cannot get privacy at home, or when testing is needed, in-person care is usually better. We will help you find the right option, which may be closer to home.
Is psychiatry available?
Psychiatric care can be arranged if your teen needs it. We explain how when you call.
Get started
Call (888) 870 7405, email info@blackburnclinical.com or contact us. Blackburn Clinical Services, 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066.
Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Teen therapy by secure video for teens located in California.