Adolescent and Young Adult Treatment: Help for Teens and College Students

Is your teenager experimenting with drugs? Is your college student struggling with anxiety, depression, or substance use? Dr. Lori Washton provides specialized treatment for young people ages 13-25 and their families.

When Achievement Masks Struggle

Your child has always excelled. So when grades slip, moods shift, or you find evidence of drug use, it's shocking. In families where success is the norm, problems often stay hidden until crisis hits.

The warning signs are often subtle at first: a shift in friendships, a drop in motivation, increased secrecy, or emotional volatility that goes beyond typical teen behavior. For high-achieving young people, the pressure to maintain appearances can mask serious struggles with substances, anxiety, or depression until the situation becomes a crisis.

Young people from successful families may:

Use stimulants (Adderall, cocaine) to maintain academic performance
Self-medicate anxiety or depression with alcohol or marijuana
Hide substance use behind a facade of achievement
Feel intense pressure to maintain perfect appearances
Resist help because admitting problems feels like failure

What Dr. Washton Treats

Substance Use

Marijuana, alcohol, vaping, prescription stimulants (Adderall abuse), opioids, and experimental drug use.

Anxiety & Depression

Panic attacks, social anxiety, academic pressure, perfectionism, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts.

ADHD & Executive Function

Attention issues, impulsivity, time management struggles, and the substance use that often accompanies untreated ADHD.

Trauma & OCD

Past trauma, intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and their impact on substance use and mental health.

For Parents: What to Expect

You're worried. You're not sure what's normal teenage behavior and what's a serious problem. You may be getting resistance from your child about seeing a therapist.

Initial Parent Consultation

We start with you. What have you observed? What's changed? What have you tried? This helps us understand the situation before meeting your child.

Building Trust with Your Child

Teens and young adults need to trust their therapist. Dr. Washton specializes in engaging resistant young people without forcing them.

Appropriate Confidentiality

Your child needs privacy to open up. You need to know they're safe. We establish clear boundaries about what stays confidential and what gets shared with parents.

Family Sessions

Individual therapy alone isn't enough. Family dynamics play a role, and parents need tools too. We include family sessions as part of treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ages do you treat?

Adolescents ages 13-17 and young adults ages 18-25. Treatment is adapted to each developmental stage.

What if my child refuses to go?

This is common. Sometimes we start with parent-only sessions to develop strategies for engagement. Dr. Washton is skilled at building rapport with resistant teens.

Will you tell me what my child says in sessions?

We establish clear confidentiality boundaries upfront. Safety concerns are always shared. General progress updates are provided, but details of sessions remain private to build trust.

Do you work with schools?

Yes, when appropriate and with consent. Dr. Washton can coordinate with school counselors, communicate with college health services, or provide documentation for academic accommodations.

Does my child need to go to rehab?

Most young people don't need residential treatment. Outpatient therapy with Dr. Washton is appropriate for many situations. If higher-level care is needed, we'll help you find the right program.

Is this covered by insurance?

Dr. Washton is out-of-network. We can provide documentation for you to submit for out-of-network reimbursement. Many families prefer paying privately for maximum confidentiality.

Recovery and a Brighter Future

Young people have an extraordinary capacity for change. With the right support, teens and young adults can develop healthier coping strategies, rebuild relationships, and get back on track academically and socially.

Dr. Washton's approach is not about punishment or control -- it's about helping your child develop the self-awareness, emotional skills, and resilience they need to thrive on their own terms.

Happy young friends together — recovery and a brighter future

Dr. Lori Washton

Clinical Psychologist | Adolescent & Young Adult Specialist

For 25 years, Dr. Washton has worked with adolescents and young adults navigating substance use, anxiety, depression, and the pressures of academic achievement. She specializes in families where success is expected and problems are hidden.

Her approach builds trust with resistant teens while keeping parents appropriately informed. Treatment addresses the whole person, not just the symptom that brought them in.