Teen Counseling in Ridgeland, MS and Online Across Mississippi
The door closed, and you are not sure how to open it.
Stillwaters Counseling Group provides counseling for teens ages 10–17 in Ridgeland, Mississippi, and online for clients located anywhere in the state. We work with anxiety, school stress, friendship and social conflict, identity and faith questions, family change, and grief. Our clinicians use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, DBT skills, and EMDR when trauma is part of the picture, with parents involved in the way that helps.
You may be here because the usual conversations stopped working.
The door stays closed more than it used to. Grades slipped, or they are holding on so tightly you worry about what it is costing them. They are irritable, or quiet, or up at 2 a.m. on their phone, and every question you ask gets a shorter answer.
You have tried talking, giving space, setting rules, and loosening them. Some of it helped for a while. Mostly it feels like guessing.
That is not a parenting failure and it is not a character flaw in your teen. Adolescents are wired to pull away from parents and lean toward everyone else. Sometimes what they need is one more adult who is not you, in a room that is theirs.
Who this helps
Who this is for
Teens ages 10–17, and the parents and caregivers who are worried about them. Teens who asked to come, and teens who are coming because someone else decided they should.
Age minimums vary by therapist. For ages 10 to 12, our intake coordinator will help you decide whether play-based work or talk therapy is the better fit.
You do not need a diagnosis, a crisis, or a cooperative teen to call.
What we work on
What we work on
Anxiety and panic at school, at night, or seemingly out of nowhere.
School stress and perfectionism, and the burnout that shows up long before college.
Friendships and social conflict, including bullying, exclusion, and breakups.
Identity and faith questions about who they are, what they believe, and where they fit.
Phones, social media, and mood, when comparison and online life start affecting sleep and self-image.
Family change: divorce, blended families, foster and adoptive transitions.
Grief, including the death of a parent, grandparent, friend, or pet.
Self-harm, met with a calm, clear safety plan rather than panic.
Our approach
How Stillwaters approaches teen counseling
- 1
Trust first.
Early sessions are about meeting your teen on their terms, so the work that follows is real and not performed for the adults in the room.
- 2
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
helps teens catch the thoughts that feed anxiety and low mood, and practice responding differently.
- 3
Trauma-Focused CBT,
a structured approach for teens who have been through something hard, usually including caregivers.
- 4
DBT skills
help teens manage big emotions, conflict, and the urge to escape a feeling.
- 5
EMDR,
when trauma is part of the picture and your teen is ready. Your therapist will assess whether it fits.
- 6
Parents in the loop.
You will hear about goals and progress, and your therapist may suggest family sessions or coaching for what to try at home.
Not every therapist uses every approach. Tell our intake coordinator what is happening and we will match you with someone whose training fits your situation.
Availability varies by therapist. It depends on which clinician you are matched with and how flexible your availability is. If you need to be seen sooner, say so when you call and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
Why it matters who your teen sees
Teens can tell within minutes whether an adult is performing interest or actually listening. A therapist who works with adolescents regularly knows how to sit with silence, skip the lecture, and earn trust without pretending to be a peer.
It also takes skill to hold two relationships at once. Your teen needs privacy to say true things, and you need enough information to parent well. A good teen therapist is clear with both of you about where that line sits, and tells you when something needs your attention.
Meet your specialist
Therapists who do this work
What to expect
What to expect
- 1
The first call.
Tell our intake coordinator your teen's age, what you are seeing, and when it started. We match on age and concern, since not every therapist works with every age.
- 2
The first session.
Usually you and your teen together briefly, then your teen alone. Your therapist will explain how confidentiality works so everyone knows the ground rules.
- 3
The work.
Sessions are usually weekly at the start. Your teen will practice skills between sessions, and you will get periodic updates on goals and progress.
- 4
Length.
It depends on what your teen is working on. Trauma, grief, and family change usually take longer. Your therapist should give you a real estimate after intake.
Cost and availability
Cost, insurance, and getting in
We work with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare or UMR, and Fox Everett. Participation varies by clinician and by plan, so call us and we will confirm your benefits before your first session.
Availability varies by therapist. It depends on which clinician you are matched with and how flexible your availability is. If you need to be seen sooner, say so when you call and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
Where we meet
In Ridgeland, and online across Mississippi
Our office is at 197 Charmant Place, Suite 2 in Ridgeland, convenient to Madison, Jackson, Flowood, Brandon, and Clinton.
We are licensed to serve all 82 Mississippi counties, for clients physically located in Mississippi at the time of the session. Many teens do well with telehealth from home. Some do better in the office, away from siblings and screens. Your therapist will talk with you about which fits.
Common questions
Your teen's therapist will explain the ground rules to both of you in the first session. In general, parents hear about goals, attendance, and overall progress, and the details of what your teen says stay private. If there is a safety concern, such as risk of harm or abuse, the therapist will involve you.
You do not have to figure out how to reach them alone.
Tell us what you are seeing and we will match your teen with a therapist who works with their age.
Availability varies by therapist. It depends on which clinician you are matched with and how flexible your availability is. If you need to be seen sooner, say so when you call and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
Stillwaters is an outpatient counseling practice and is not an emergency service. If you are in immediate danger or unable to stay safe, call 911 or call or text 988.