Adjustment disorder therapy for kids, teens, & young adults

Evidence-based therapy that helps kids navigate life's biggest changes.

Support for emotional and behavioral responses to divorce, moves, loss, and other life transitions.

Insurance accepted. Appointments often available within days.

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Trusted by 5,000+ kids, teens, and families.

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Adjustment disorder, at a glance

5-20%

of youth in outpatient care are diagnosed with adjustment disorder

8.2

average sessions before families see meaningful improvement at Emora

3 months

is the typical duration when early treatment prevents escalation

Understanding adjustment disorder

When a child's reaction to change feels bigger than expected.

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A young girl with long, light brown hair sits at a desk, concentrating while writing or drawing and resting her chin in her hand. She appears focused and thoughtful, likely in a classroom or study environment.

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Adjustment disorder develops within 3 months of a stressful event such as a divorce, a move, a loss, or a big change at school. The child's emotional or behavioral response exceeds what you would normally expect for the situation.

Unlike clinical depression or anxiety, adjustment disorder is directly linked to a specific stressor. A licensed clinician evaluates the timing, severity, and functional impact to guide treatment.

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With anxiety

Excessive nervousness, worry, or fear of the future following a stressful life change.

With depressed mood

Sadness, hopelessness, crying, or loss of interest in activities after a significant event.

With behavioral changes

Acting out, defiance, or conduct problems that started after a specific stressor.

Common signs of adjustment disorder by age

Symptoms look different at every stage of development.

A young boy sits alone on a set of indoor stairs, appearing sad and withdrawn with his head down and arms resting on his knees. A backpack is visible next to him on the stairs.

Young Children (4-7)
Regression (bedwetting, thumb-sucking)
Increased clinginess or tantrums
Refusing to go to school
Changes in eating or sleeping
School-Age (8-12)
Declining grades
Withdrawal from friends
Frequent crying or outbursts
Physical complaints (stomachaches, headaches)
Teens (13-17)
Irritability or defiance
Social withdrawal
Drop in academic performance
Risky behavior or substance experimentation
Young Adults (18-25)
Difficulty adjusting to college or work
Persistent sadness after a life change
Relationship problems or isolation
Loss of motivation or direction

Common triggers

Life events that can lead to adjustment disorder in children and teens.

What causes adjustment disorder?

Adjustment disorder is always linked to a specific stressor. Common triggers in children and teens include:

Parental divorce or separation
Moving to a new home or school
Death of a family member or pet
Bullying or social conflicts
Academic pressure or school changes
Illness or hospitalization

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How adjustment disorder therapy helps

Evidence-based strategies for processing change and building resilience.

Identifies the stressor and the child's response pattern
Teaches healthy coping strategies for difficult emotions
Builds problem-solving skills for navigating change
Involves parents in creating a supportive home environment
Prevents escalation to more chronic conditions

Why families choose Emora

Specialized pediatric care vs. general providers.

Other providers

Licensed pediatric and young adult clinicians

Generalist providers

Solution-focused, time-limited approach

Open-ended therapy without clear milestones

Parent-inclusive therapy model

Limited parent involvement

Virtual sessions accessible during stressful transitions

In-person visits that add scheduling stress

Insurance accepted

Insurance not always accepted

Built-in screening and progress tracking

Limited progress visibility

Get started in minutes

Three simple steps to connect with the right clinician.

1
Share what's going on
Answer a few questions about symptoms and goals.
2
Verify coverage
See insurance estimates and available times.
3
Start sessions
Meet your clinician and begin building skills.

Find Care

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Frequently asked questions

What parents and young adults ask most about adjustment disorder therapy.

Real stories of growth

Every session is rated by parents. Our therapists maintain a 4.9+ average, because results matter.

Great session today. Love that my son felt like opening up about friendship issues and talk through options to conflict resolution

Parent of a 9 year old

7 hours ago

Provider:

Anita Plank, LCSW

Provider was very easy to talk to and my daughter felt safe speaking with her.

Parent of a 13 year old

7 hours ago

Provider:

Stephonia Llewellyn, LPC, LMHC,-QS

Ms. Williams was very thorough in her process and gave clear objectives of her style of therapy. I think her expertise and knowledge will be very beneficial for my daughter.

Parent of a 16 year old

9 hours ago

Provider:

Seairra Williams, LPC-A

Dr Don is such a light and our 10 year enjoys him

Parent of a 10 year old

15 hours ago

Provider:

Donald Schroeder, LPC

Good introduction , she felt safe and I’m glad she opened up a little bit. Look forward to the next time.

Parent of a 7 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Bianca Cardenas, LMSW

She instantly made my son feel comfortable sharing things that bother him.

Parent of a 12 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Stefanie Luttrell, LPC, NCC, C-DBT

Very welcoming and non-judgmental

Parent of a 14 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Fabiola Mendoza-Bautista, LPC

Great session. I felt seen and understood

An Adult client

1 day ago

Provider:

Crystal Ford, LPC-Associate Supervised by Virginia Elam-Manning, LPC-S, LCDC

The audio was difficult, he could hear and see us but we could not hear him. I ended up join through the phone. My son said he’d like a second session

Parent of a 15 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Francisco Guzman, LCSW

I feel like the intake was led exactly as I’d hoped! I feel good about what we accomplished and her understanding of ADHD and how it shows up in elementary especially.

Parent of a 10 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Jennifer Onibudo, LPC

Dr Liz was extremely helpful I feel blessed that she was able to help me with my situation and give me more clarity to who I am and hopefully be better for it

An Adult client

1 day ago

Provider:

Dr. Liz Nitsch, PsyD

Very helpful great communication

Parent of a 7 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Jennifer Onibudo, LPC

Jennifer was great. She made us feel at ease, listened to all of our concerns and explained everything so well. We look forward to working with her and learning from this program.

Parent of a 9 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Jennifer Guzman, LPC

Melinda always gives us the time we need. She is encouraging and supportive. We always leave the session having a strategy/tool to implement into our week. We have seen tremendous progress in our son and family dynamic.

Parent of a 10 year old

1 day ago