What ages do you work with?
Karen Garcia, MHC-LP, and Zaire Smalls, MHC-LP, work with teens ages 16 and 17, as well as adults. Our other clinicians work with adults only. We do not offer therapy for children or teens under 16.
Therapy for Teens 16 and 17 in New York, With Room to Be Yourself
Sixteen and seventeen are heavy years. School pressure, friendships, family expectations, identity, and big decisions about what comes next can all land at once — often without many places to talk about them honestly.
Peace Love Wellness offers online therapy for teens ages 16 and 17 across New York with two clinicians, Karen Garcia, MHC-LP, and Zaire Smalls, MHC-LP. Both are accepting new clients. We do not offer therapy for children or teens under 16.
You may be here because
- You are 16 or 17 and things feel harder than you are letting on — anxiety, low mood, stress, or just feeling off
- You are a parent or guardian, and your teen has asked for therapy or seems to be struggling in ways you cannot reach
- School, college plans, or pressure to perform have started to take over sleep, mood, or motivation
- Questions about identity, friendships, family, or culture feel too big to sort out alone
- Focus, organization, or big emotions keep getting in the way, and the usual advice is not helping
Nothing has to be in crisis for therapy to be worth it. A teen who wants someone to talk to, and a parent who wants their teen to have that, are both good enough reasons to reach out.
What therapy for older teens can help with
- Anxiety, overthinking, and stress about school, college, or the future
- Low mood, withdrawal, and loss of motivation
- ADHD, focus, and managing big emotions
- Identity, self-esteem, and figuring out who you are becoming
- Friendships, dating, and family conflict
- Growing up between cultures or languages, and the expectations that come with it
Two clinicians who work with ages 16 and 17
Karen Garcia, MHC-LP, works with teens ages 16 and older in English or Spanish. Her approach is warm and practical, drawing on person-centered counseling, CBT, and solution-focused therapy, and she can include parents or family in sessions when that would help.
Zaire Smalls, MHC-LP, works with teens ages 16 and older using CBT and DBT skills for anxiety, mood, focus, and emotional regulation, with attention to culture, family, identity, and community. Zaire meets in the evenings, after the school day, and Karen offers evenings and weekends.
For parents and guardians
For clients under 18, a parent or guardian is part of getting started. We walk you through consent and paperwork before the first session, and we talk with you and your teen about how therapy will work.
Therapy works best when a teen can speak freely, so we explain at the start what stays private between your teen and their therapist and what you will hear about. Safety concerns are always shared with you.
Family Counseling for Families With Teens 16+Online therapy across New York
All sessions are online for clients located in New York, held on a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. For teens, that means no commute, sessions that fit around school and activities, and a familiar space to talk from. A private spot with a door that closes and reliable internet is all it takes.
Learn More About Online TherapyInsurance and cost
Karen and Zaire are supervised clinicians, which means lower fees and, often, sooner openings. We are in-network with Aetna, Anthem / Empire BlueCross (including Excellus, Highmark, and out-of-state BlueCard plans), Carelon, Cigna, EmblemHealth, MagnaCare, Meritain, and NYSHIP / The Empire Plan. With a supervised clinician, individual sessions are $150 at full fee, with sliding-scale rates of $75–$150; couples sessions are $200, with sliding-scale rates of $100–$200. We confirm coverage and cost before the first session.
Related reading
Writing from the Peace Love Wellness blog that older teens and their parents may find useful.
What Happens in Therapy? What to Expect in Your First Sessions
A plain walk-through of what the first few sessions are like, for anyone starting therapy for the first time.
Read MoreWhy Can't I Stop Overthinking Everything?
When your mind will not slow down about school, friends, or the future, there is usually something underneath worth understanding.
Read MoreWhy Do I Have Low Self-Worth Even When I'm Doing Well?
Good grades and a full schedule do not always add up to feeling good about yourself. Here is why.
Read MoreWho You Could Work With
Karen Garcia, MHC-LP
Individual therapy for teens ages 16–17, plus family sessions when they would help, with evening and weekend times, in English or Spanish.
Currently accepting new clients
Zaire Smalls, MHC-LP
Individual therapy for teens ages 16–17, plus family sessions when they would help, with evening sessions after school and CBT and DBT skills for anxiety, mood, and focus.
Currently accepting new clients
Sessions are online for clients located in New York. We review clinical fit, insurance, and current openings before you begin. Insurance & Fees · Get Started
Therapy for teens 16–17 FAQ
Questions we hear from older teens and from parents considering therapy at Peace Love Wellness.
Does a parent need to be involved?
For clients under 18, a parent or guardian is part of getting started, including consent and paperwork. After that, sessions are usually one-on-one with the teen. Karen and Zaire also offer family sessions for families with teens 16 and older when working together would help.
Will my teen’s therapist tell me what they talk about?
Teens need privacy for therapy to work, so the details of sessions generally stay between your teen and their therapist. At the start we explain to both of you what stays private and what gets shared. If there is a safety concern, we tell you.
Is online therapy a good fit for a 16- or 17-year-old?
For many older teens, yes. They are comfortable on video, sessions fit around school, and they can talk from their own space. It works best with a private room and reliable internet. Online outpatient therapy is not the right level of care for a teen in crisis; in an emergency, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Do you offer therapy for teens in Spanish?
Yes. Karen Garcia, MHC-LP, offers individual and family sessions in Spanish or English for teens ages 16 and older.
Do you accept insurance for teen therapy in New York?
Yes. We are in-network with Aetna, Anthem / Empire BlueCross (including Excellus, Highmark, and out-of-state BlueCard plans), Carelon, Cigna, EmblemHealth, MagnaCare, Meritain, and NYSHIP / The Empire Plan. Karen and Zaire are in-network with each of those plans. Coverage varies by plan, and we confirm it before the first session.
A place for your teen to talk, and be taken seriously
Tell us a little about what is going on, whether you are the teen or the parent. We will reply within two business days and help you find a time with Karen or Zaire.