Transforming Lives Through Therapy

Philosophy and Approach to Teen Mental Health

At the heart of my practice is the belief that teens thrive when they feel understood, validated, and empowered. Adolescence is a time of intense growth, shifting identities, and big emotions, and my approach is grounded in meeting teens exactly where they are—with curiosity, compassion, and respect. I strive to create a space that feels comforting and nonjudgmental, where young people can explore their inner world and build the skills they need to navigate life’s challenges. My work blends evidence-based treatment with creativity, flexibility, and genuine connection, always honoring the individuality of each teen who steps into therapy.

Why Adolescent Anxiety Requires Specialized Care

Anxiety in adolescence can look very different from anxiety in adults, and it often shows up in complex ways—through school stress, social pressure, perfectionism, emotional overwhelm, or sudden shifts in behavior. Teens are navigating a unique developmental stage where their brains, bodies, and relationships are all changing rapidly, which means they benefit from support tailored specifically to them. Specialized care helps teens build insight, resilience, and coping skills in a way that feels relatable and accessible. My focus is to help teens understand what they’re experiencing, reduce shame around their feelings, and learn practical tools that genuinely make daily life easier.

About
Ivy & Stone

Hi, I’m Alyssa Villarreal LPC., the owner and solo practitioner of my counseling practice. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in working with highly anxious adolescents and teenagers, helping them navigate the pressures, transitions, and emotions that come with growing up. My goal is to create a safe, supportive, and empowering space where teens can explore their feelings, build resilience, and develop the skills they need to thrive.

I earned my B.A. in Psychology from Texas State University and my Master of Education in Counseling from Lamar University. My experience spans both hospital settings and PHP/IOP programs, where I’ve provided individual and group therapy to teens managing a wide range of mental health concerns. These environments shaped my approach, allowing me to combine clinical expertise with genuine compassion and collaboration.

As a solo practitioner, I value the opportunity to offer personalized, consistent care for every client and family I work with.

Outside of my practice, I love being outdoors, spending quality time with my family and friends, and traveling to new places. These experiences help me stay grounded and bring balance and perspective to the work I do.

What I Treat:

  1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

  2. Social Anxiety Disorder

  3. School refusal / school-related stress

  4. Perfectionism and high-achiever anxiety

  5. Major Depressive Disorder

  6. Trauma-related anxiety

  7. Co-occurring concerns (depression, ADHD, OCD tendencies)

  8. History of Self harm and Suicidal Ideation

Services:

  1. Individual therapy (integrated skills)

  2. Parent coaching / guidance sessions

  3. Family Therapy

  4. Teletherapy options

Therapeutic Approach:

As a therapist, I’ve found that an eclectic approach allows me to truly tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs, strengths, and personality. While I pull from a variety of evidence-based modalities, my work with teens is strongly influenced by Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Its practical, skills-based focus helps adolescents build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and healthier communication—all essential tools during such a pivotal stage of life. By blending DBT with other approaches as needed, I’m able to create a flexible and supportive therapeutic experience that meets teens where they are.

FAQs & Policy

What should I expect for the first session?

Before we schedule a full session, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so we can get to know each other a bit and see if it feels like a good fit. This call gives you a chance to ask questions, share what you’re looking for, and get a sense of my style, while also allowing me to understand how I can best support you. Feeling comfortable with your therapist is one of the strongest predictors of positive therapeutic outcomes, so this step is really about making sure you feel safe, seen, and at ease. If it feels right after our conversation, we can go ahead and schedule your first session.

What are parent/teen communication boundaries?

Working with adolescents means balancing a teen’s right to privacy with a parent’s need to stay informed, and I approach this with clarity and respect. I typically keep session details private so teens feel comfortable being honest, but I collaborate with parents on general themes, progress, and ways they can support their child at home. If a concern arises that affects a teen’s safety or well-being, I bring the teen into the conversation and work together to share the necessary information. Clear boundaries help build trust on all sides and ensure that therapy remains a supportive space for growth.

Do you take insurance?

I’ve chosen not to work with insurance companies because I want our time together to be guided entirely by your needs, your pace, and what feels most supportive for you. My goal is to offer care that feels warm, personal, and thoughtfully tailored—not shaped by session limits, required diagnoses, or outside rules. When insurance becomes part of the process, it can start to feel like there’s an extra voice in the room influencing decisions that should belong to us. By staying independent from insurance, I’m able to protect your privacy, honor your story, and create a therapeutic space where you’re truly seen, heard, and supported.

Telehealth Privacy & Compliance

For clients who participate in teletherapy, I use secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms to protect your privacy and ensure confidentiality just as I would in an in-person session. I ask that teens join sessions from a quiet, private location where they feel comfortable speaking freely, and I provide guidelines for how to set up a safe and distraction-free space. All telehealth communication—including video, audio, and messaging—is encrypted, and no sessions are recorded. My priority is to make virtual therapy both convenient and secure so teens and families can access care with confidence.

What is confidentiality?

Confidentiality is a foundational part of the therapeutic relationship, and I take great care to protect the privacy of every teen who walks through my door. Your personal information, session content, and records are kept secure and are only shared with your written permission or when required by law. I discuss limits to confidentiality at the very first appointment so clients and families understand exactly what information is private and what situations—such as safety concerns—may require disclosure. My goal is to create a safe, trusting environment where teens can speak openly without fear of judgment or unexpected breaches.