Mentorship
for Teens & Young Adults
You may be here because your daughter is bright — and struggling.
She feels deeply. She thinks deeply. She is curious, sensitive, creative. She may be ahead of her peers in some ways… and completely overwhelmed in others.
Maybe she:
Keeps a mental tally of her flaws and social missteps — replaying conversations at night, auditing herself, and living with a hum of anxiety
Shuts down completely or explodes unexpectedly — going from silence to overwhelm in a matter of minutes
Feels a kind of internal void she doesn’t know how to fill
Gets swept into intense friendships — attaching quickly and feeling devastated when things shift
Absorbs other people’s moods and loses her own footing
Has a fragile sense of confidence that swings with every interaction
Feels deeply and thinks deeply — and often feels alone in that depth
Has been through treatment and is trying to reintegrate
Thinks there’s something wrong with her — that she’s fundamentally flawed, like she missed a manual everyone else got
For a sensitive, deeply feeling teen, guidance, language, and a steady relational space are what help everything else take root and grow.
This is where mentorship comes in.
While every person is unique, there are certain personality patterns and emotional profiles where I have particular depth of experience:
The one who asks big questions and sometimes feels lonely because not everyone can meet her there.
She feels deeply. She thinks deeply. She notices nuance.
She often feels older than her peers in some ways — and unsure of herself in others.
She lights up when someone matches her depth.
She wants language for what’s happening inside of her.
She wants to understand herself.
We build emotional intelligence in a way that feels alive and creative. Her curiosity leads to insight, and her sensitivity a great strength.
The girl who feels everything at full volume.
The one who can love fiercely, rage fiercely, despair fiercely.
She may struggle with intense attachment, fear of abandonment, rapid emotional shifts, or trying to fill an internal void through relationships, impulsivity, or chaos.
Her intensity can scare her. It can scare the people around her.
Together, we learn how to:
Track her emotions instead of being swallowed by them
Develop language for her internal states
Pause before reacting
Regulate without shaming herself
Build hope that intensity does not equal permanent instability
Over time, each emotional storm stops being “who she is” and becomes something she can work with.
What Mentorship Is
Mentorship is personalized, relational support designed to help teens build self-awareness, emotional resilience, and self-compassion.
Think of it as guided growth in real time — a steady space where insight turns into lived skill.
Our work is about helping her understand what’s happening inside of her and learn how to move with it differently.
We talk.
We reflect.
We build language.
We practice real-life skills.
We might:
Draw a “map” of what internal home feels like — and how to return to it
Use music, literature, or art to explore emotions that are hard to name
Track patterns in friendships and practice new relational responses
Build scripts for difficult conversations
Create grounding rituals she can use in real life
The work is reflective, but it is also practical.
Teens leave sessions not just feeling heard, but clearer, more capable, and better equipped to handle what’s in front of them.
At the heart of our work are four core areas that support resilience, clarity, and independence over time:
Key Areas of Focus
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Every teen has certain patterns or loops they can fall into — anxiety, avoidance when things feel overwhelming, negative self-talk, or impulsive escape behaviors. These loops are made up of thoughts, emotions, and habits that can start to reinforce each other over time.
Together we learn to recognize these patterns and build what I call a psychological toolkit: personalized ways of understanding and working with their inner world using metaphors, storytelling, grounding tools, meta-awareness, and creative approaches that help them navigate challenges with greater clarity and self-compassion.
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Relationships are central to a teen’s development. Friendships and peer connections play a powerful role in shaping how young people see themselves.
Together, we explore how to build relationships that are healthy, reciprocal, and supportive — allowing teens to stay true to themselves while also connecting with and caring for others. This includes navigating friendships, understanding boundaries, and strengthening communication within the family. Over time, teens begin to build a foundation of relationships that support their growth.
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Teens begin to explore an important question: What helps me feel well within myself?
Together we identify the practices and rhythms that support their wellbeing — such as sleep, movement, time in nature, creativity, and forms of self-care.
Over time, they develop habits of care that strengthen their emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing.
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Many teens who struggle begin to feel discouraged about their direction in life. Yet it is often these same teens — the sensitive ones, the questioners, the rebels — who carry tremendous untapped gifts.
Together, we explore their interests, values, and passions in ways that feel energizing and meaningful.
As they begin to see their strengths more clearly, teens often rediscover a sense of direction and possibility. This growing sense of purpose becomes a powerful source of motivation and confidence as they move forward.
How This Works
Most sessions take place virtually over Zoom, with in-person sessions available in the Denver area.
Sessions are typically held weekly, though frequency may vary depending on your teen’s needs and stage of support.
Each session is 50–60 minutes.
Collaboration & Level of Care
In some cases, I serve as a teen’s primary support. In others, I collaborate closely with therapists and other providers to ensure continuity of care.
If at any point your daughter requires a higher level of support than mentorship provides, I will communicate that clearly and help guide you toward appropriate resources.
Next Steps
To begin, please reach out to schedule a complimentary 25-minute parent consultation.
This conversation allows us to discuss what’s been happening, explore whether mentorship feels like the right fit, and answer any questions you may have!
My Denver office — filled with plants, tea options, and plenty of art supplies!
Hope Restored: Stories from Parents & Teens
"My daughter had refused to go to therapy for the last three years. She wasn’t willing to talk to anyone. After two residential therapeutic programs, she was completely burnt out on therapy—and still struggling. When I suggested a call with Ciara, she was hesitant, unwilling to engage with anything at that point. But after that one call, she actually came to me and asked when she could see Ciara again.
In the last six months, my daughter has worked with Ciara to get back on track at school, build friendships in her community, and establish a healthy routine. Ciara has been there for the middle-of-the-night crises, giving us hope and energy when we needed it most. My daughter trusts her, adores her, and actively uses their sessions to make real progress in her life. Our family is so grateful to have found her."
- Laura, Mother
"Ciara is my favorite person I’ve ever worked with—and I’ve been to more therapists than I can count! She explains things in a way that actually makes sense and helps me feel like I can handle what’s going on in my life. Every time we talk, I walk away feeling better, knowing what to do next, and actually feeling like I can go do it.
Since working with her, I have so much more self-awareness. Instead of feeling stuck, I spend my time doing things I love, and for the first time, I feel genuinely excited about my future. Ciara has helped me learn how to take care of myself and value myself."
- Camille, 17
“I was skeptical when my wife first brought up working with Ciara. Our daughter seemed fine overall—there were some challenges, sure, but I didn’t think we needed outside help. I didn’t realize how different things could be.
Now, I see my daughter truly engaged with school, with our family, with her own life. She’s taking charge, making healthy choices, and carrying herself with a confidence I didn’t even know was in there. It’s like a whole new version of her has come to life.
Ciara is whip-smart. The first time we spoke, I was convinced she had a PhD or something. When my wife told me she wasn’t a therapist, I was shocked. She’s real, she’s reliable, and most importantly, my daughter trusts her. And so do I.”
-Richard, Father
"I really didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to be alive. I was getting bullied at school, therapy wasn’t helping, and my parents just didn’t get it. I was skeptical about talking to Ciara because I figured it’d just be another therapy session that wouldn’t change anything. But she actually understood. She made me laugh. She made me feel seen.
I found myself actually looking forward to our sessions. She helped me build confidence, take more risks, and believe in myself. Now, I’m playing music, taking college-level classes, and I have real friends. My life is so different than when we first met.
Ciara was the one person who understood when no one else did. Because of her, I learned how to take care of myself and build a life I’m actually proud of. I actually want to be alive now. Life is finally good."
-Emily, 17
"I used to feel like I was kind of drowning. Life just felt really hard, and I had no idea how to make it not feel that way. It seemed like nothing worked. I’d been to a lot of therapists before, but it never felt like we were actually getting anywhere.
This was the first time anything worked. I actually felt like I could be honest. Ciara helped me make sense of things in a way that didn’t make me blame myself. She made me feel really supported—like I wasn’t alone in it.
I started doing hobbies again. I got a part-time job, started working on a book, and actually feel excited about my future. Ciara has cheered me on every step of the way.”
-Emma, 15
"We found Ciara when our daughter was going through a really tough time. From the very beginning, she went above and beyond—she even flew out when our daughter was coming home from treatment to help her get settled, create a plan, and actually feel excited about this next chapter.
Our daughter opened up to Ciara instantly. She trusted her in a way she hadn’t with anyone else, because Ciara has been through this herself. She gets it. I truly believe that the reason our daughter was able to thrive after wilderness therapy was because Ciara helped her bring all the progress she made home—and actually integrate it into her life.
She was there in the tough moments, when our daughter felt the loneliness of being back home after treatment. She helped her keep going, stay connected, and build a life she wanted to be part of. We are forever grateful for her."
-Melissa and Brian, parents
"As parents, we felt like we were walking on eggshells, afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing. Ciara helped us understand our daughter in ways we never had before. She gave us tools to communicate better and helped our daughter feel truly seen. I don’t know where we’d be without her guidance."
— Mark & Lisa, Parents
"You are the first person I ever trusted to be honest about what I was going through. I finally felt like I wasn't alone.”
-Bella, 13
"Ciara is better than any therapist my daughter has ever seen. I'm so glad we found someone who truly understands these situations, and knows the path forward."
- Melissa, mother of Dawn, 16
“Ciara's approach is effective, and she demystifies what is so confusing about struggling teens, while also bringing a tremendous insight and depth that is unlike anything else we've encountered.”
- Corinne, mother of Amy (14)
"Ciara is an angel. She is generous, understanding, and deeply kind-hearted. For other parents who know the fear and heartbreak of watching their child struggle, you understand how rare it is to find someone who is not only invested but truly cares.
This has been the hardest time of our lives, but connecting with Ciara felt like finding a guardian angel. She was there when we felt lost, when we didn’t know what to do next, and when we needed hope the most.
Now, our daughter is in a solid, healthy place—she’s motivated, engaged with life, and our relationship with her has never been stronger. We could not be here without Ciara, and we will be forever grateful."
-Mary and Randall, Parents
"I felt like I was doing pretty okay. I had friends, did decent in school. My parents’ divorce and my dad not being around definitely affected me, but I didn’t realize at the time just how much I was struggling with anxiety. I questioned a lot of my relationships, was super hard on myself, and felt like I was always on edge.
Working with Ciara helped me see where I was letting anxiety run my life. She helped me start trusting myself and kind of becoming my own healer in a way—like, now I actually know how to get myself through it instead of just spiraling.
She’s honestly the funniest, smartest, kindest, most loving person ever, and I really feel like she changed my life.”
-Alison, 15
"As a parent, more than anything, you just want your child to be healthy, well, and have a good, happy life. It’s devastating to feel like you’ve somehow failed them—to watch them struggle and feel helpless to step in. Our relationship with our daughter had so many rifts, and no matter how hard we tried, we felt like we just couldn’t reach her. We were so worried. More than anything, we just wanted her to be okay.
Finding Ciara was like finding the missing puzzle piece. She connected with our daughter in a way no one else could. She helped her feel truly listened to, taught her how to trust and communicate with us, and guided her to start taking small steps toward self-care, finding a passion, and being kinder to herself. Little by little, she helped our daughter hold herself to a higher standard—not out of shame, but out of self-worth. We got to watch her become the person we always knew she could be.
Ciara helped us, too. Every time we were worried, panicked, or didn’t know what to do, she was there—talking us through it, helping us figure out the best path forward, and calming us down when we felt like we were losing hope. Just knowing that Ciara made it through all of this herself, that she walked the same path our daughter did and found her way to the other side—it gave us hope. And most importantly, she helped our daughter get there too."
-Alicia and Brian, parents
“If you’ve found Ciara, consider yourself incredibly lucky. She has been the single greatest resource in our years-long struggle to support our daughter’s mental health. She is unlike any therapist we’ve worked with before. Ciara explains things in a way that makes sense and resonates—not just with our daughter, but with us as parents. She’s helped us understand Amber in ways we never could before.
Amber treasures her time with Ciara. She describes her as an older sister. She trusts her, feels genuinely cared for by her, and Ciara encourages and motivates her. Before working with Ciara, Amber’s life felt chaotic, and as a family, we were always bracing for the next crisis. Now, she has developed real self-love, self-compassion, and a deep commitment to her well-being.
For the first time, she’s looking ahead—applying to colleges, feeling clear about her direction in life, and, most importantly, taking care of herself because she wants to. That is all we ever wanted for her, and we are forever grateful to Ciara for helping her get here.”
-Julia and Brand, Parents
"I’ve had so many people try to ‘help’ me, but Ciara was the first one who actually understood what I was going through. She didn’t treat me like a problem to fix. She listened, gave me space to figure things out, and somehow knew exactly what I needed to hear."
- Caroline, 14
"I always felt like there was something wrong with me—like I was just too much. Ciara helped me realize that I’m not broken; I just needed the right support. Now, I can actually say I like who I’m becoming. I’m proud of myself and motivated to have a good life.”
— Mia, 15
"I used to hate talking about my feelings because I thought no one would understand. But Ciara makes it easy. She doesn’t judge, and she always seems to know when I need a reality check or just someone to listen. I’m in such a better place now because of her."
— Alex, 18
"I could write an entire essay about how Ciara has helped me, but to put it in one phrase: she believed in me so much it made me believe in myself."
- Kaitlin, 15
“I felt like a 100 lb weight was lifted off my shoulders after just the first call. You bring a completely different perspective that is so compassionate, and also, so right on the point!”
- Alison, mother of Ashley (18)
“I wouldn’t have made it through high school without Ciara. Now I’m at college, thriving, on good terms with my family, making friends, and studying psychology. I want to work in mental health now, because of my time with Ciara! I want to help people too.”
- Kennedy, 18