Therapy for Teens & Older Kids in Austin & Across Texas
School pressure. Big emotions. Feeling misunderstood.
For thoughtful, sensitive, or high-achieving teens, life can feel like too much — especially when they’re trying to keep it all together.
I work with teens and older kids (10–17) across Texas using a relational, psychodynamic approach that helps them understand themselves, express emotions safely, and build confidence that lasts. Sessions are collaborative, honest, and designed to meet your teen where they are — no lectures, no judgment.
You Might Be Noticing…
School stress, perfectionism, and burnout
Anxiety in social or academic situations
Struggles with identity or self-worth
Trouble expressing emotions or asking for help
Tension in family relationships
Feeling “different” or misunderstood
Virtual Teen Therapy in Texas
I’m not the “sit and lecture” kind of therapist. With teens, I:
Listen more than I talk (and ask questions that make them think)
Collaborate so they feel ownership in the process
Respect their privacy while keeping parents in the loop on what matters for safety and progress
Meet Tyler
I’m Tyler Ricks (she/her) — a Black, psychodynamic therapist serving teens and older kids in Austin and online across Texas. I understand what it’s like to feel pressure from all sides, and I create a space where they can take off the mask, even if it’s just for an hour.
I use a psychodynamic, relational approach — which means I’m paying attention to the patterns shaping your teen’s emotions, relationships, and sense of self. We’re not just managing symptoms; we’re helping them understand themselves better and feel more confident in who they are.
For Parents
We’ll start with a family video consult so you and your child can share concerns, history, and goals together. Between sessions, I may reach out with updates or suggestions to help you support your teen at home, you’ll always know what’s important, while your teen still has space to share openly in therapy.
For parents who want deeper guidance, I also offer add-on parent coaching sessions at $175 per hour. These one-on-one sessions focus on understanding your teen’s emotional world, strengthening communication, and supporting growth at home.
Therapy can be transformative for kids and teens, it was for me. Know that you’re investing in your child’s emotional future, building skills and self-understanding that can last a lifetime.
What is Depth Therapy?
At Therapy with Tyler, working with kids and teens means creating a space where they feel truly seen and safe—not just talking at them or about them, but entering into their experience together. Using trauma-informed, attachment-focused methods like AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) and NARM (Neuro-Affective Relational Model), I help young people connect with their feelings in the moment so healing happens deep inside, not just on the surface.
What does that look like? It means tuning into how your child shows up emotionally and relationally—even the ways they protect themselves by shutting down, putting on a brave face, or trying too hard to please. In therapy, we slow down and sit with those parts, honoring their struggle and guiding them toward safety and growth.
If you’ve seen other therapy that felt too “polite” or quick to “fix” behaviors, this approach is different. It’s relational and real, focused on helping your child build trust in themselves, understand who they really are beneath the masks, and create lasting change from the inside out. Because healing isn’t about rushing—it’s about feeling deeply, together.
Schedule a Free Consult
If your teen is feeling stuck, anxious, or burned out, therapy can help them find their footing.
This is a 10-15 minute video call where we’ll talk about what you’re looking for, what I offer, and whether it feels aligned to move forward. No pressure, no commitment — just a space to connect.
Be sure to mention parent-child consultation in your request!