Mentorship

for Teens & Young Adults

When a person feels truly understood and connected, their world begins to shift.

This is the place to be if you’ve ever felt too sensitive, too much, or just too different—while trying to navigate the chaos of growing up. Some teens move through the world feeling like they don’t quite fit. Like the way they see the world is a little different from everyone else. Their emotions run deeper, their thoughts spiral further, and it seems like no one really gets it.

Maybe they’ve started to wonder if something is wrong with them. They may even feel like the “black sheep.”

What if they’re actually a green sheep?

Green, because they absorb everything—feelings, energies, unspoken words—so intensely that navigating life can be exhausting.

This sensitivity, while challenging to live with at times, is a gift. When a teen learns how to harness it, relate to it in a healthy way, and understand what they need, they gain the ability to move through life with confidence, self-awareness, and resilience. They become capable of creating an authentic, fulfilling life—one that feels true to who they are.

What teens want more than anything is to feel understood. They all need to believe they aren’t alone in their struggles and that a better, brighter future is not only possible but within reach.

That’s where I come in.

As a mentor, I take on the role of an older sister figure, who is trustworthy, relatable, and encouraging —someone who’s walked the path before them and is here to guide them. I help teens develop self-worth, self-awareness, and self-compassion to create success in their own way. Step by step, I support their growth into a resilient, healthy, and thriving young adult. With compassion and understanding, I help them see that they’re not alone—and that they already have everything it takes to move forward.

You are on the most important journey of all—the journey back home to yourself.

My philosophy is rooted in helping teens discover and nurture their own internal sense of home—a deep understanding of who they are, what matters most to them, and how to create a life that reflects their values and aligns with their true self.

Deep down, they already know how to be this person. Growth isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about uncovering who you’ve always been. It’s a process of clearing the way for your authentic, resilient self to emerge.

To help them build this awareness and create a strong foundation for their life, we focus on understanding, nurturing, and developing four key aspects:

 The Key Ingredients

  • My work centers on helping teens build self-awareness and understand the patterns that shape their lives. Many teens face challenges like negative self-talk, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed by their heightened sensitivity—a trait that, while sometimes difficult, is also one of their greatest strengths. Together, we explore these patterns, make sense of their experiences, and uncover the core themes that continually influence their lives.

    From there, we co-create what I call a “psychological toolkit.” This personalized set of strategies draws on metaphors, archetypes, storytelling, and creative techniques like drawing and visualization. It’s designed to help teens reframe their struggles, approach challenges with self-compassion, and navigate life with a greater sense of agency and clarity.

    For example, with a teen who loved fantasy novels, we created a metaphor where she became the heroine of her own story. Daily struggles, like feeling excluded or worrying about a test, transformed into side quests or foes to overcome. By stepping into her role as the heroine, she began to see herself as someone capable of triumphing through these challenges, focusing on her approach and attitude rather than feeling overwhelmed by them.

    A psychological toolkit is about building a personal framework that helps teens make sense of their struggles while connecting with their authentic selves. It’s a way for them to work through challenges and align with who they truly are in the process. This equips them to face life’s challenges with strength, clarity, and a renewed sense of courage.

  • Relationships are essential to a teen’s journey of discovering who they are. Peer connections and friendships have a profound influence on how teens develop their sense of self, yet we often underestimate their impact. Together, we cultivate an inner sense of home while navigating relationships that are healthy, reciprocal, and supportive—connections that allow a teen to stay true to themselves. These are the kinds of relationships that nurture growth, provide a sense of belonging, and foster confidence in who they are becoming.

    For friendships, this means learning how to form connections that are mutually supportive. Within the family, it’s about cultivating open communication and trust, so they can honor their individuality while working together in ways that feel authentic and connected. Through these experiences, a teen begins to build a solid foundation for relationships that enrich their life and strengthen their sense of self.

  • This work is about guiding a teen to explore meaningful questions: What do I need to feel well within myself? What are my needs? By fostering this awareness, they begin to understand the unique combination of care and practices that help them feel grounded, balanced, and whole.

    We work to create a gentle, supportive, and realistic routine that nurtures their mind, body, spirit, and heart. Practices like restful sleep, movement, time in nature, and self-care help them discover what supports their overall wellbeing. This process is not just about building habits—it’s about fostering a sense of balance, respect, and self-compassion that becomes the foundation for mental, emotional, and physical resilience. By tuning into their body’s needs, they begin to develop a deeper connection to themselves and their internal sense of home.

  • Teens who face struggles often feel defeated or discouraged about their direction in life, unsure of their value or path forward. Yet, it’s often these very teens—the rule-breakers, the rebels, the sensitive souls—who hold massive untapped gifts. Together, we’ll explore their interests and passions in ways that feel exciting and inspiring, helping them reimagine what’s possible for their future.

    This journey helps them uncover what truly brings them joy and connect with the values and aspirations that matter most, creating a foundation of meaning and purpose. A clear sense of purpose becomes a powerful source of motivation and sustenance, especially during challenging times. By recognizing their unique strengths and contributions, a teen will begin to see their worth, reclaim their sense of direction, and feel empowered to share their gifts and play an important role in the world around them.

How Mentorship Works

Every teen’s journey is different, but the goal remains the same: helping them develop the confidence, resilience, and self-leadership needed to navigate life on their own terms. True change doesn’t happen through quick fixes—it’s a process of gaining stability, building momentum, and ultimately, stepping into independence.

This is why mentorship follows a phased approach. Each phase is designed to provide the right level of support at the right time—starting with frequent, intensive guidance when they need it most, and gradually shifting towards greater independence and self-trust as they gain confidence in themselves.

At the beginning, we front-load the investment of time and energy because deep transformation requires a strong foundation. We focus on gathering context, understanding her unique challenges, and creating a realistic, thoughtful plan that will actually work. From there, the work evolves—helping them take ownership of their decisions, navigate challenges with confidence, and integrate the skills they need for long-term success.

This is about empowering your child to become their own guide. By the final phase, they are no longer looking to me for answers—they are looking within themselves, equipped with the mindset, tools, and self-awareness to lead their own lives.

The Four Phases of Mentorship

Orientation – Building trust, gathering context, assessing challenges, creating a solid foundation
Alignment – Establishing routines, setting goals, and navigating early challenges
Integration – Strengthening independence, self-trust, and real-world problem-solving
Autonomy – Sustaining progress with flexible support as needed

This structure ensures that support is strongest when they need it most and shifts naturally as they step into their own leadership.

Phase 1: Orientation (Month 1)

Laying the Foundation & Building Trust

The first month is the most intensive because trust-building and stabilization are key. Your teen may be in a place of uncertainty, hesitation, or crisis, and this phase is about gathering context, understanding their world, and creating a strong foundation. This naturally takes time—there’s an intake process, background gathering, and collaboration with clinicians and other consultants to ensure we’re approaching this journey thoughtfully. Rather than rushing into solutions, we take the time to fully understand your teen’s needs and create a path forward that is both realistic and effective.

We focus on:
✔ Building a genuine, trusting relationship so your teen feels safe opening up
✔ Assessing strengths, challenges, and underlying struggles
✔ Developing a realistic and thoughtful plan that sets them up for long-term success

During this phase, I am highly involved—frequent check-ins, high availability, and an optional in-person home visit to ensure a solid start.

Phase 2: Alignment (Month 2)

Creating Structure & Navigating Challenges

Once the foundation is in place, we begin diving into the work—helping your teen put our plan into action and actively engage with the process. This phase is about exploring what’s working, what’s not, and where we can focus our efforts to create meaningful change.

We start to identify patterns, experiment with new approaches, and work through real-life challenges as they come up. This is often when old habits—resistance, self-doubt, avoidance—begin to surface. Rather than seeing this as a setback, we use these moments as opportunities to understand what’s getting in the way and develop tools to move through it.

✔ Begin putting strategies into practice and seeing what works in real time
✔ Explore small, meaningful shifts that create a sense of progress and possibility
✔ Stay engaged in the process, even when challenges or resistance arise

Support remains steady and consistent, ensuring they don’t retreat into past struggles but instead learn how to navigate them with greater awareness and resilience.

Phase 3: Integration (Month 3)

Strengthening Independence

By this stage, your teen is gaining confidence and stability, and our work begins to shift toward reinforcing independence and helping them trust themself in a deeper way. They are no longer just reacting to life’s challenges—they are learning how to actively shape their experience and make choices that align with their values and well-being.

This phase is about strengthening their ability to navigate life while still having support when needed. They are practicing self-reliance in a real, tangible way, which means facing challenges head-on, experimenting with solutions, and learning from the process rather than shutting down.

We work on:
✔ Building self-trust—learning to recognize their needs and make choices that support their growth
✔ Practicing problem-solving—so they can face challenges with confidence instead of feeling overwhelmed
✔ Staying accountable while gaining independence—ensuring they can keep themself on track

They aren’t completely on their own yet, but they are stepping into a new level of self-assurance and personal agency—a critical step in creating lasting, meaningful change.

Phase 4: Autonomy (Month 4+)

Sustaining Progress & Flexible Support

At this stage, your teen is demonstrating greater independence. They have developed the tools, mindset, and self-awareness to manage challenges on their own, and they are taking more ownership of their decisions. While they may still face obstacles, they now have the confidence and resilience to navigate them without feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

Support remains available, but it shifts to a more flexible model. Some families choose to continue with individual sessions as needed, while others opt for a monthly plan to maintain consistent check-ins and reinforcement as their teen continues to grow.

This phase ensures that your teen has the freedom to step fully into their own stability, while still knowing she has a trusted guide in her corner whenever they need it.

This process is designed to help your teen build stability, confidence, and self-trust, so they can navigate life with greater ease and resilience. By the end of this journey, they will have the tools to face challenges, make empowered decisions, and continue growing—while knowing that support is still available when needed.

If you're ready to explore this support for your teen, please reach out to request a call below.

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