You noticed something is off with your teenager. Maybe they told you directly. More likely, you picked it up the way parents do: a shift in mood, a withdrawal, a response that was one beat too sharp.
You started looking for a therapist. Then you discovered that most practices see teens as an add-on. A generalist who also works with adolescents, squeezed in between adult clients.
That is not what your teenager needs. And you already know that.
Virginia Counseling Services has one adolescent specialist: Cleo Chalk, LPC. Teens are not a side offering here. They are his focus.
Why A Specialist Matters for Teens
Adolescence is its own clinical territory.
The way a teenager relates to an adult, especially one they are supposed to open up to, is completely different from how an adult does. The trust has to be built differently. The approach has to be different. What works in an adult session will often backfire with a sixteen-year-old.
A clinician who works primarily with adults and occasionally sees teens does not always know that territory well enough to navigate it. Cleo does.
What Cleo Works With
Cleo works with teenagers navigating:
- Anxiety and depression
- Substance use and experimentation
- Academic pressure and stress
- Social struggles and peer relationships
- Family conflict
- Identity and self-esteem
- General adolescent mental health
If your teenager is struggling and you are not sure exactly what to call it, that is fine. A first conversation does not require a diagnosis.
A Note for Parents
You are part of this too.
Cleo works with teens, but he understands that a teenager in crisis does not exist in a vacuum. Parents are part of the picture and the solution. He can help you understand what your teenager is navigating and how to support them without making things worse, which is harder than it sounds.
If your teenager is resistant to the idea of therapy, that is also something worth talking through. Resistance is normal. It does not mean therapy will not work.
Meet Cleo Chalk
Cleo is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in teen and adolescent mental health and substance use. He is licensed in Virginia and sees clients in person at the Burke, VA office and virtually throughout Virginia.
Practice Information
In-person sessions: Burke, VA office (5240 Lyngate Ct)
Virtual sessions: Available throughout Virginia
Phone: (202) 630-1765
Insurance: Cleo accepts Anthem.
If you are looking for a teen counselor in Northern Virginia who actually specializes in adolescents, call Paris at (202) 630-1765. She will get you and your teenager connected with Cleo and answer any questions you have before the first appointment.