Rhonda McRae

I view confidentiality as essential to building trust with teens and creating a safe space for open communication. At the start of counseling, I review confidentiality with both the teen and parent/guardian so everyone understands what remains private and the situations where I must share information for safety reasons, such as risk of harm or abuse. I encourage healthy communication with parents while also respecting the teen’s growing independence and involving them in decisions about how important information is shared.

I believe parent involvement is an important part of supporting a teen’s progress while also maintaining the trust and confidentiality needed in therapy. Communication with parents is typically provided as needed regarding general progress, concerns, scheduling, or ways to support their child outside of sessions. If significant concerns arise related to safety or wellbeing, I will communicate promptly. I also encourage collaborative conversations that help strengthen understanding and support within the family.

The first session is focused on getting to know your teen, understanding your concerns, and building a comfortable and supportive environment. I typically meet with both the parent/guardian and teen together at the beginning to gather background information, discuss goals for counseling, and review confidentiality and expectations. I also spend time meeting individually with the teen so they can begin building trust and sharing openly. The first session is collaborative, low-pressure, and designed to help everyone feel heard and supported.

It is very common for children and teens to feel unsure or guarded at first, especially when starting counseling. I approach this with patience, warmth, and without pressure. Building trust takes time, and I focus on creating a safe, supportive environment where they can feel comfortable at their own pace. I often use conversation, humor, creative approaches, and relationship-building to help them engage naturally. Even when a child is quiet initially, meaningful progress can still develop as trust grows over time.

Progress in therapy can look different for each child or teen, but common signs include improved communication, better emotional regulation, healthier coping skills, increased confidence, improved behavior, or reduced stress and anxiety. I regularly monitor progress through conversations with the child or teen, parent feedback, and ongoing review of treatment goals. I also encourage open communication with parents about general progress while maintaining the trust and confidentiality that support effective therapy.