Teens and Young Adults
Who We Help
Being a teen can feel like being on a rollercoaster – big emotions, shifting friendships, social pressures, academic challenges – all while trying to figure out who you are. This time in life is full of change and not having all the answers can feel unsettling and overwhelming.
Prime Therapy is a judgement-free space to work through anxiety, depression, identity exploration, academic and social pressure, family conflict, and major life transitions.
If you're a teen or young adult who is struggling and you're not sure whether it's "normal" or something more, our clinicians are here to help you figure things out and help you build real tools for handling it.
Prime Therapy is a Leader in NJ
That's the short version. Here's what it means, who it’s for, and what this looks like in practice.
What Does "Teen and Young Adult Therapy" Mean at Prime?
It's more than "someone to talk to." It means recognizing that both the teenage and twenty-something brains are still developing — especially in areas tied to emotional regulation and decision-making. Our clinicians utilize their clinical experience in adolescent and young adult development to build a therapeutic approach for each individual. At Prime Therapy, this shapes both the pace of sessions and the specific skills we teach.
Who is this therapy for?
We work with teens and young adults navigating the pressures of school, friendships, and identity exploration as they transition into early independence and adulthood.
Teens often come in dealing with school-related anxiety, social pressures, bullying, self-esteem, family conflict, emotion dysregulation, or signs of mental health struggles that parents have started to notice, but can't quite name.
Young adults often come to manage mental health symptoms and for support during big life changes or transitions – leaving home, college, entering the workforce – along with the identity and relationship questions that come with it all.
Prime Therapy Leads Teen and Young Adult Therapy in NJ
In addition to individual sessions, we also run a Teen Dialectical Behavioral Skills Peer Group (ages 14-18) and a Young Adult Dialectical Behavioral Skills Peer Group (ages 18-24).
All DBT Groups are available in-person at our Bedminster, NJ office or virtually via Telehealth throughout New Jersey.
These groups are a safe space for young people to connect with peers and learn practical coping skills to use in everyday social situations – at school, work, home, and everywhere in between.
Each session combines guided processing, skills training, and peer connection to help feel more in control of your choices and reactions.
You do not have to be a client at Prime Therapy to join any of our DBT Groups.
Manage mental health symptoms
Anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, social anxiety etc.
Substance use concerns
Past trauma or loss
Questioning social media use and influences
What Brings Teens and Young Adults to Therapy?
Teens usually begin sessions at the request of their parents, while young adults usually begin sessions on their own or at the suggestion of another health care provider. Both populations (ages 12-24) come to Prime for various reasons, including:
Overwhelming, intense emotions
Frequent emotional outbursts
Feeling stuck or disconnected
To figure out who you are and your purpose
School, work, and the pressure to succeed
Parents who reach out on behalf of their children are usually concerned with signs of behavioral changes or mental health struggles that they’ve noticed, but can’t quite name. They come to Prime looking for a safe, therapeutic space where their child has the opportunity to openly discuss what’s going on in their world.
Young adults come in grasping the realization that adulthood doesn’t come with instructions – They are looking to manage their mental health symptoms and learn coping strategies to help navigate the world of adulting.
Decision-making
Overthinking, negative thoughts
Bullying or peer pressures
Making and maintaining friendships
Understand family and relationship dynamics
How We Actually Approach This Work
Our clinicians draw upon evidence-based approaches proven effective for this population, ages 12-24 — DBT for emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills, CBT for anxiety and negative thought patterns, and Attachment-Based Therapy for family and relationship dynamics.
Many clients who've learned DBT skills often call them “life skills” – they're amazed how these skills have influenced change in their life and how effective they are in everyday situations, especially in moments of high stress or dysregulation.
For teens and young adults, this approach might involve challenging anxious thoughts and replacing them with alternative perspectives, or building routines that support long-term motivation and confidence. Our goal is to teach strategies to help with any personal or peer struggles as you learn how to regulate yourself and feel more in control, less overwhelmed, and more capable of managing academic, work, and social stressors.
What Sessions Actually Feel Like
Individual Sessions are a safe space to speak openly and feel heard. These sessions are structured to help build practical skills and strategies to use as you navigate stressors in your life. You and your therapist will meet privately and work together, on your own terms.
We can loop in parents or other important people in your life based on what you are comfortable with to help open up communication, while still protecting the confidentiality that makes therapy actually work.
Where Sessions Happen
Individual Therapy and DBT Groups are available in-person at our Bedminster, NJ office and virtually via Telehealth throughout New Jersey.
This virtual option allows you the flexibility to meet with your therapist around busy school or work schedules. It is your choice whether you meet in-person or virtually.
What The First Session Will Look Like
The first session involves a discussion around what’s going on and what your goals are, whether you or your parent have brought you to Prime Therapy.
Your therapist will review the kind of supports that can genuinely help you based on what you discuss together. You will have the option to schedule your first session for 60- or 90-minutes with one of our licensed clinicians.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is therapy for teens different from therapy for young adults?
Yes — While both groups benefit from the same core approaches, session pacing, language, and the level of parent or family involvement are adjusted based on age and developmental stage.
Will my teen's session be confidential from me as a parent?
Generally yes, within the limits required by law and safety — We can talk through what confidentiality looks like for your specific situation before starting.
What if my young adult doesn't think they need therapy, but I'm worried about them?
This is a common starting point— We're happy to talk with you about how to approach this topic. Ultimately, therapy works best when the client is ready to engage, even if that takes time.
Are virtual Telehealth appointments available for teens and young adults juggling school schedules?
Yes — Prime Therapy Services offers virtual appointments via Telehealth throughout New Jersey, which allows many teens and young adults to fit sessions around school, sports, or work.
Do you only treat diagnosed conditions like anxiety or depression?
No — Many teens and young adults come to therapy without a diagnosis — just feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unlike themselves — and that's a valid reason to start.