Expressive Arts Therapy for Teens
Empowering your teen to navigate life’s complexities
with creativity and confidence.
The teenage years bring a unique set of challenges as young people navigate the complexities of identity, social pressures, academic demands, and emotional changes. During this critical time, teens may experience intense feelings that can be overwhelming and difficult to express.
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In my therapy sessions, I use a combination of expressive arts, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques to help teens explore their emotions, develop self-awareness, and build emotional resilience. Art, movement, and other creative methods offer powerful ways for teens to process feelings and express their inner worlds. I offer specialized support to increase frustration tolerance and impulse control, equipping them with practical tools to manage their thoughts and behaviors effectively. This approach is effective in addressing a range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, school stress, peer conflicts, and self-esteem issues.
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My approach goes beyond traditional talk therapy by meeting teens where they are, using Expressive Arts to facilitate self-expression and growth. Additionally, I integrate parent coaching and nutritional insights to support your teen’s overall well-being, recognizing the interconnectedness of emotional, cognitive, and physical health.
Some signs that your teen might benefit from therapy include:
~ Struggles with anxiety, stress, or feeling overwhelmed
~ Changes in mood, such as irritability or sadness
~ Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities
~ Difficulties with focus, motivation, or academic performance
~ Challenges in managing social dynamics and peer relationships
~ Heightened concerns about body image or self-esteem
~ Behavioral changes, including risk-taking or defiance
~ Difficulties navigating transitions or life changes
​​Through a relational, dynamic approach, I guide your teen in understanding and managing their emotions, fostering self-confidence, and building positive coping strategies. Together, we uncover their strengths and explore new ways to navigate life’s challenges, empowering them to express their unique voice.
I meet weekly with your teen, offering a supportive space for them to explore, create, and grow. As needed, I collaborate with parents to ensure a holistic approach to your teen’s journey toward well-being.
Therapy for Young Adults
Finding your way, trusting yourself,
and creating a life that feels like your own.
Young adulthood can be an exciting time of possibility, and also one of uncertainty, pressure, and profound change. You may be navigating college, beginning a career, leaving home, building new relationships, or trying to figure out what comes next. The structures that once shaped your life may no longer be there, while the expectation to know who you are and what you want can feel overwhelming.
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You may find yourself wondering: What do I actually want? Am I making the right choices? Why does everyone else seem to have it figured out? Who am I becoming?
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In our work together, I offer a supportive space where you can slow down, listen inwardly, and begin finding your own answers. I integrate Expressive Arts Therapy, mindfulness, body-based approaches, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you understand your emotions, work with anxiety and self-doubt, and develop greater trust in yourself.
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Therapy can be particularly powerful during this stage of life because you don’t always have to have the words or know exactly what is wrong. Through creativity, movement, imagery, writing, and other forms of expression, we can explore what is happening beneath the surface and discover perspectives and possibilities that may be difficult to access through talking alone.
You might benefit from therapy if you are:
~ Feeling lost, stuck, or uncertain about what direction to take
~ Experiencing anxiety, depression, overwhelm, or lack of motivation
~ Struggling with the transition to greater independence and responsibility
~ Questioning your identity, purpose, values, or what you want from life
~ Adjusting to college, work, moving away from home, or other major transitions
~ Navigating changing friendships, dating, intimacy, or romantic relationships
~ Struggling with family expectations or changing family dynamics
~ Comparing yourself to others or feeling as though you are falling behind
~ Having difficulty trusting yourself or making decisions
~ Wanting to feel more connected, confident, and engaged with your life
~ Struggling with self-esteem, body image, or feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin
Through a relational and creative approach, I support you in developing a stronger relationship with yourself, understanding your emotions, recognizing your strengths, and learning to trust your own inner guidance. Together, we can explore what matters to you, what may be getting in your way, and how you want to move forward.
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Therapy isn’t about having someone else tell you what to do with your life. It can be a space to discover your own voice, strengthen your confidence, and create a life that feels increasingly authentic and meaningful to you.
Parent Coaching
nurturing confident parents for confident kids
In our sessions, my goal is to help you understand and positively transform your intense child's behavior. We collaborate as a team to better manage your parenting challenges. This approach involves offering alternative perspectives on family situations, uncovering strategies to shift behavior and family dynamics, and supporting you in achieving your parenting goals.
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Incorporating a nutritional perspective, we will also explore how diet and nutrition can impact your child's emotional and behavioral health, providing guidance for making healthier choices that support overall well-being.
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I can assist you in creating a better relationship with your children by addressing common issues such as power struggles, meltdowns, separation anxiety, anger, and discipline. These sessions are designed not just to address immediate concerns but also to foster deeper understanding, empathy, and connection between you and your child.
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Parent coaching sessions can be conducted while I meet weekly with your child or as a standalone service. Together we aim to create a harmonious and nurturing family environment conducive to the growth and well-being of both you and your children.
Inner Child Reparenting
healing past wounds to cultivate joy in the present
We all have been, in our own unique way, a curious, carefree, creative, and joyful child. However, struggles, challenges, and traumas may have dimmed that inner sparkle.
No matter your age, I am here to support you in reconnecting with and becoming lovingly responsible for your inner child, to rekindle the sparkle of enthusiasm and joy within you. As George Bernard Shaw insightfully said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
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In our sessions, we work together to heal your inner child wounds and learn how to reparent your inner self. This is a journey of increasing self-love and finding more joy in everyday life, integrating the principles of Authentic Movement Soul Freedom. We focus on both emotional nurturing—embracing your true self, understanding and caring for your emotional needs—and physical nurturing, including the crucial role of nutrition in overall well-being.
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My approach is ideal for adults seeking to increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and lighten the burden of responsibilities. By embracing a holistic methodology that incorporates play therapy, emotional and physical nurturing, and Authentic Movement, we aim to expand your life with more ease, self-compassion, and joy.
My Philosophy
I am a passionate advocate for emotional well-being and for our inherent capacity to live with greater authenticity, creativity, and connection. I am captivated by the curious, authentic, and uninhibited nature of children—those who live out in the world and those residing within our hearts.
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I trust in our inherent capacity for creativity and believe in the power of play, expressive arts, and Authentic Movement to help our children and ourselves thrive. These practices are also vital in healing our inner child wounds, allowing us to rediscover the sparkle of enthusiasm in our lives.
I am honored to support children, teens, young adults, and adults through life’s different transitions, helping them navigate challenges with greater ease, reconnect with their strengths, and cultivate emotional well-being.
Whether supporting a young person in finding their own voice or an adult reconnecting with parts of themselves that may have been lost along the way, I believe in each person’s capacity for growth and transformation.
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My intention is to nurture your journey toward greater self-understanding, confidence, and connection, whether you are navigating young adulthood, relationships, parenthood, or a period of personal change. I embrace a holistic approach to therapy, recognizing the interconnectedness of our emotional, mental, and physical well-being.​​
Originally from Greece, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Fluent in English, Greek, and Spanish, I hold an MA in Expressive Arts Therapy from CIIS. With over 15 years of experience working with children, teens and adults as a teaching artist, psycho-educator, and therapist, I bring a unique blend of skills to my practice. This includes the creation of 'MarlaGran', a bilingual interactive creative kit designed to foster children's social-emotional growth, enhancing their ability to express, understand, and manage emotions effectively.
Maria Lentzou, LMFT, NTP
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #125237
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
Founder of Authentic Movement Soul Freedom
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Affiliate with the Child Therapy Institute, a nonprofit organization providing affordable psychotherapy and school based services to children and adults throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Member of CAMFT ; the California Association of Marriage and Family therapists.
Resources
igniting imagination & awakening creativity to flourish
MarlaGran's Bilingual Adventure
A Creative Kit for Children's
Social-Emotional Growth
Explore 'MarlaGran,' a uniquely crafted creative kit for kids featuring a 64-page illustrated book and interactive tools available in both English and Spanish. Designed as an ideal resource, it fosters children's social-emotional growth, echoing my emphasis on holistic child development and nurturing parenting approaches. 'MarlaGran' is more than just a kit; it's a bridge to deeper understanding and connection, supporting children in expressing their emotions, enhancing creativity, and developing empathy – key aspects of their emotional and social development.
Contact me
Please contact me with any questions or schedule a free
20-min phone consultation.
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I currently offer online therapy sessions via telehealth, allowing us to work together from wherever you are.
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I only work with private pay
and I can provide superbill
for out-of-network benefits.
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I look forward to meeting you!
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Maria Lentzou, LMFT, NTP
Online Telehealth Services
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+30 - 6932783811
