Professional counselors and therapists that serve teens and young adults in Soldotna and Homer, AK.
Being an adolescent these days is more challenging than ever. The pressures coming at our teenagers are many, and as a result, it is all too common for adolescents to deal with difficult symptoms that negatively impact their ability to function. These challenges and pressures paired with hormones, the natural process of pushing against primary relationships and the fierce pressures that result from living in a technology driven society, are just a few of the dynamics that fuel distress in today’s adolescent.
Our KPMH teen counselors are adept at navigating these challenging circumstance alongside you and your adolescent. We are skilled at coming along side, building rapport, and creating a safe place for your teen to process and explore the various challenges they are facing. Additionally, our counselors utilize brain based information to inform the work they do with teens, and are well versed on the changing and developing adolescent brain.
Our therapeutic process focus on strengthening sense of self, exploring values, identifying goals, building skills, providing education, tapping into strengths, and addressing the underlying causes of distress. Various interventions will be utilized to support your adolescent in this process, as our counselors utilize a wholistic and comprehensive approach that supports the creation of positive and healthy habits for life.
From diet and sleep, to mindfulness and movement, our providers will work to address the many variables that are likely contributing to your teens struggles. The family will be called upon to support the implementation and supervision of various interventions that will work collectively in supporting your teen towards overall heath and wellness.
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Daniela Kopec - LPC-S
Daniela has over 15 years of experience working as a counselor in the mental health field. Though she has experience working with clients across the life span, she has found that she is most passionate about walking alongside those that have experienced trauma, addressing the symptoms of anxiety and depression that are often co-ocurring. Daniela believes in utilizing an integrative approach to health and wellness that looks at mind, body and spirt, and is motivated to give people the tools to develop their inner strength and confidence to make the changes they desire. Native to the Soldotna community, Daniela has called Alaska home for many years.
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Mary Kuepper - LPC-S
Mary has over a decade of experience working in community based mental health. Though she has worked with people across the lifespan, she specializes in work with kids, teens and families, as well as in maternal mental health. Mary is passionate about giving people the tools they need to not only function well, but to thrive in their everyday life. Though not native to Alaska, she has fallen in love with the abundant resources of this beautiful place. When not working with clients, Mary can be found adventuring, hiking and exploring. She loves to fly fish our local creeks, dig in the dirt of her backyard garden, and get in quality time with her friends, and beautiful family.
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Autumn Collings - LMFT, LPC
Autumn is passionate about showing up with others in a way that allows them to feel deeply seen and truly known. She believes authenticity and connection are at the heart of meaningful therapeutic work, and is committed to showing up honestly and inviting her clients to do the same. She loves bringing creativity to her sessions and often offers hands-on learning opportunities for her clients, something that comes naturally to her given her history of coaching softball and being a collegiate athlete. Autumn loves to be outdoors, and enjoys fishing, hiking, and hunting.
What you expect from teen counseling?
The structure of adolescent therapy sessions can vary greatly, depending on the circumstances that bring a family in for counseling. An initial session will vary depending on your wishes, and may include just the teen, the parent and the teen, or the parent and the provider.
Our Kenai Peninsula Mental Health counselors serving Soldotna, and the surrounding areas, believe that as the parent, your involvement is essential in helping your adolescent make positive changes. While respecting confidentiality and being mindful of your teens privacy, our providers make a habit of facilitating open communication between you and your teen. There will always be the opportunity to do a “check in” either prior to or following session, to ensure everyone on the treatment team is “on the same page.” During this time, your adolescent will be encouraged to share their experience of session, what they learned, what they’re taking away, or what their “homework” is.
Generally, therapy sessions with teens and adolescents occur one time weekly for 50-60 minutes. However, depending on the circumstances that bring your teen into therapy and the interventions being used, it is at times helpful to flex this schedule according to your specific needs. It is not uncommon for adolescent sessions to occur two times weekly, or to occur in 90 minute increments rather than the traditional 60 minute session. These details will be discussed with you and your teen throughout the process.
Could your teen benefit from counseling?
There are numerous emotional difficulties that your teen may be facing. From low self esteem, depression, anxiety and eating disorders, to engaging in risky decision making, such as substance abuse, these behaviors need to be addressed, not ignored. Common issues that bring teens and adolescents in for counseling include, but are not limited to:
Depression
Anxiety
Poor sense of self
Anger Issues
Disordered eating patterns
Organizational and academic difficulties
Difficulty with focus, attention concentration
Difficulty with motivation, apathy, follow through
Bullying
Sleep problems
Behavior problems
History of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional)
History of trauma
Social skill issues
Coping with grief, loss
Coping with parents separation, divorce, transitions
Coping skills problems
Our providers serving Soldotna, and the surrounding areas, are experienced at exploring the underlying factors that may be contributing to your teen’s difficulties, and identifying the root cause of their behavior.
How long does professional teen counseling typically last?
The length of time an individual is in counseling is situation specific and can vary. However, we at Kenai Peninsula Mental Health are passionate about giving our clients the tools and skills they need to thrive and function well. We will cast a wide net at the onset, looking for all the variables that may be contributing to your teens distress. We will build skills for managing symptoms and explore underlying root causes. We will take as little or as much time as they need, but we will do our very best to help your teen get back on track.
How do I get started with counseling services?
Ready to get started? Call or email us today. Our contact info is at the bottom of this page.
Once you reach out, our KPMH Intake Coordinator will contact you to gather information regarding your specific situation. We will explore with you what provider will likely best meet your needs, and support you in getting set up in our electronic health record.
KPMH uses Simple Practice, a medical record and portal system that will allow for confidential and HIPAA compliant messaging that ensures your privacy. You will be sent a portal link that directs you to online documentation to be completed prior to your initial session.
Where you go for support is your choice, and we want you to feel empowered to assess whether or not we are the right fit for you! Here at KPMH, our providers believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential in the process of creating change. These initial conversations are important in assessing fit, as therapy is not “one size fits all.”
KPMH’s Soldotna office is conveniently located near the intersection of the Sterling and Kenai Spur Highways. Our Homer location is centrally located as well. Feel free to arrive a few minutes prior to your scheduled session to grab a cup of tea and relax before meeting with your provider. We look forward to meeting you, and are honored you have chosen us to do this work alongside you.