Everyday is Halloween for your beloved dark teen. She’s weird and quiet and you love it but you can see she’s lonely even if she won’t admit it.

To say she’s mastered the art of the nonconformist teenager is an understatement. And honestly, you couldn’t be prouder. You know a thing or two about marching to the beat of your own drum. And while she’s happiest at home with her bearded dragon, you long for her to feel confident in exploring new friendships. You know she's been burned in the past, but you want her to start giving new people and experiences a chance. You understand her discernment, but it's time to start letting people in.

Misfits need friends too. You think she's too quick to push people away. She knows that it's a form of protection, and the reason is way more complicated. You think finding a therapist for her will be impossible (she's not a big fan of authority). She knows she's highly suspicious of authority, but even more skeptical that anyone will ever really understand her (or wants to).

Using her innate strengths, we'll explore further under the surface to understand her why. Therapy with me has no hidden agenda; it is an invitation. Using talk, art, and dreamwork, we explore what usually stays hidden or avoided. We draw awareness to defensive structures and protective patterns to uncover a new way of relating.

Together, we explore both the conscious and unconscious realms, leading to a deeper understanding of who she is and how she wants to be in this world. Let's find the real reasons behind her resistance to connection. Schedule a consultation today.

She's much too wonderful to be without friends. You long for her to be more open, but she freezes up around new people. She resides in that sticky place that most teenagers (and adults, too) find themselves--where the fear of being seen and the deep longing to be seen go to battle. It's a terrifying and potentially magical place.

Connection is inherently risky. As a parent, it's incredibly hard watching her get in her own way. Secretly, even she knows that this gnawing hunger for connection will only grow stronger and harder to satisfy. With endless curiosity and dry humor, we can challenge the places she feels stuck and begin to explore a new path.

From the beginning of our work together, she will learn to find safety in connection with others and discover that her incredible, unique self-expression is not in conflict with belonging. Email me today to schedule your initial consultation.

• Teens: 13-17
• Young Adult: 18-25
• Adults: 26-65

• Individuals

• Activists
• Artists
• Gender Fluid or Gender Non-Conforming Individuals
• LGBTQIAA+ persons
• Men
• Persons Experiencing Grief and Loss
• Persons with Disabilities
• Women

• Expressive Arts Therapy
• Gestalt Therapy
• Humanistic Therapy
• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
• Relational Psychotherapy

Currently offering both virtual and in-person sessions in San Francisco. Please reach out via email to inquire further about specific availability and to book your free consultation call.

• Cash
• Check
• Credit Card

$200 per 50-minute session

$100-$200

Yes

Email hidden; Javascript is required.

therapywithjoannalay.com

2155 Union St SF, CA 94123- in person

Telehealth

• Monday Morning
• Monday Afternoon
• Tuesday Morning
• Tuesday Afternoon
• Wednesday Morning
• Wednesday Afternoon
• Thursday Morning
• Thursday Afternoon

If you’re interested in working together, please email me to set up a free consultation call. During the call, we’ll explore what’s bringing you to seek therapy for your child and discuss in more detail the goals for therapy. I’ll explain how I work, answer any questions you may have, and together we can decide if we would be a good fit to work together. I’m looking forward to connecting with you!

Rulik Perla, LMFT 43965

12/21/23