Adolescence is a time of significant change. Teenagers are navigating shifts in identity, relationships, independence, academics, emotions, and expectations while their brains are still developing. This combination can create challenges that are easy to misunderstand from the outside.

During adolescence, the systems involved in emotion, motivation, and social awareness are highly active, while the parts of the brain responsible for planning, organization, impulse control, and long-term decision-making are still developing. This does not mean teenagers are incapable of making good decisions or managing responsibilities. It means that many skills develop unevenly, and the gap between what a teenager understands and what they are able to consistently do can be significant.

At Coherence, both Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP and Dr. Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP work extensively with adolescents. Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP provides neuropsychological evaluation for teenagers with questions related to ADHD, learning differences, autism spectrum presentations, executive functioning, memory, and other developmental or cognitive concerns.

Dr. Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP provides therapy and support for adolescents experiencing concerns such as anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, ADHD-related challenges, behavioral concerns, social difficulties, and adjustment to changing life circumstances. She also works with families and schools when additional support or coordination is needed.

Working effectively with teenagers requires more than understanding adolescent development. It requires recognizing that each teenager has a unique history, personality, set of strengths, and way of experiencing the world. At Coherence, the focus is on understanding what is happening beneath the surface and helping adolescents build the skills, insight, and support they need during this important stage of life.