Teen Counseling in St. Petersburg, FL: Therapy for Older Teens (Ages 16+)

Support for Teens (16+) Navigating Emotions, Identity, and Relationships
You don’t have to parent through this alone—and your teen doesn’t have to figure it all out without support.

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Therapy for Older Teens in St. Petersburg, FL

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The teenage years aren't easy — and the years just before college are some of the hardest of all. Identity questions, academic pressure, social anxiety, ADHD, perfectionism, college decisions, family tensions — it can all hit at once.

If you're a parent watching your older teen struggle, or a 16+ teenager looking for someone you can actually talk to, we'd love to help.

At Sunshine City Counseling, we currently offer therapy for ages 16 and up with Cara Cancio, LCSW — a clinician who specializes in working with anxious, perfectionist, college-bound, and identity-questioning teens.

We're expanding our teen services in 2026 to include younger ages. In the meantime, our 16+ teen practice is open and accepting new clients.

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A Note for Parents…

Most teens don't walk in saying "I'd like therapy."

What you're more likely to hear

"I'm fine."
"I don't need to talk to someone.
"It's not that bad.”
(Or just slammed doors and shorter answers.)
That's normal — and it's not a sign therapy won't work. It's a sign your teen is doing what teenagers do: protecting themselves from feeling exposed.
Here's what we've found helps:
1. Frame therapy as a resource, not a punishment. ("This is for you, not because something's wrong with you.")
2. Give them choice in the process. Let them meet the therapist, ask questions, and decide if it feels right.
3. Don't ask what they talked about. The privacy of therapy is part of why it works. (We'll loop you in on safety concerns or progress markers; we won't share the day-to-day.)
4. Be patient with the start. It often takes 3-4 sessions before a teen settles in.

How Teen Counseling Can Help

Therapy is more than just “talking.” It’s about building trust, offering tools, and helping your teen feel more in control of their thoughts, emotions, and choices.

Who We Work With

Cara works especially well with older teens navigating:
- Anxiety — generalized worry, social anxiety, performance anxiety, panic
- ADHD — focus, executive function, school overwhelm, late-diagnosed teens, the emotional fallout of feeling "behind"
- Perfectionism — the high-achieving teen who looks fine on the outside and is unraveling underneath
- Identity questions — who am I, what do I want, who am I outside of my parents' expectations
- College prep stress — application pressure, decision paralysis, fear of failure, comparing yourself to peers
- Life transitions — leaving home, breakups, friendship shifts, the disorientation of growing up
If your teen is in a different category — depression, family conflict, sexuality and identity questions, neurodivergence — those often show up alongside the above and we work with them too.

How Cara Works With Teens

Cara's approach is direct, warm, and grounded — not the kind of therapy that asks teens to perform vulnerability. She meets them where they are, including with humor, real conversation, and a low tolerance for therapy clichés.

Her sessions blend:

CBT and ACT for the practical skills side (anxiety, perfectionism, executive function)
Identity-focused exploration for the bigger questions of "who am I becoming"
ADHD-informed work that doesn't pathologize neurodivergence — it works with it
Real talk about college prep, family, friendships, and what comes next

Teens leave her sessions feeling met, not managed.

Evidence-Based Tools that Actually Help Teens Feel Better:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills: Teach emotional regulation, mindfulness, and how to handle distress without shutting down or lashing out
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT): Help teens clarify what matters to them and take steps toward living a values-driven life
Narrative Therapy: Empower teens to rewrite the internal stories that have kept them stuck or small
Mindfulness & Somatic Techniques: Support teens in calming their nervous systems and reconnecting with their bodies
Creative Expression: Use art, writing, or metaphor when words feel hard or emotions feel too big

What Therapy Costs (and What's Covered)

We are out-of-network with insurance. Sessions are private-pay, with documentation provided for you to submit to your insurance for partial reimbursement (depending on your plan's out-of-network benefits). Cara’s regular session rate is $150/session.

Your first 15-minute consultation is free — a chance for you and your teen to meet Cara, ask questions, and see if it's a fit before committing.

Start Teen Therapy in St. Petersburg, Fl

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Schedule Your Free Consultation

Finding the right fit matters — especially for older teens. That's why we offer a free, no-pressure 15-minute consultation. You'll share a bit about what's been going on, and we'll help you decide if Cara is the right match for your teen. Just choose a time that works, and we'll take it from there.

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After you schedule, you (or your teen) will meet with Cara Cancio, LCSW for a free 15-minute phone or video consultation. This is a chance to talk through what's been going on, ask questions, and see if it feels like a good fit before committing to anything.

Connect With Your Teen Counselor

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Start The Therapy Journey

Whether your teen is navigating anxiety, ADHD, perfectionism, identity questions, or college prep stress, Cara meets them where they are. Together, you'll build an approach that feels supportive — not overwhelming. In-person or online, therapy can become a place where your teen feels more grounded, capable, and themselves.

Pricing & Insurance

Sessions range from $120 to $165 with our team, depending on clinician. We are out-of-network with insurance — superbills provided for partial reimbursement. Your first 15-minute consultation is free.

See full pricing details →

Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Therapy

Great question! We are a private pay practice and considered “out of network.” We’re happy to give you a superbill so you can get reimbursed, which all depends on your "out of network benefits." All of our therapists are specializes in their own unique areas and range from $120-165 a session.
Most teens say this. Push gently and frame it as an experiment, not a verdict. Many of the teens we see come in resistant and become genuinely invested by session 4-5. If your teen is actively in distress (self-harm, severe depression, eating disorder), the urgency is higher and we can help you think through next steps.
Yes — with limits we're transparent about. Anything related to safety (self-harm, harm to others, abuse) we'll loop parents in on. The day-to-day content of sessions is private, which is part of why teens actually use it.
Cara works primarily individually with teens, occasionally with parent involvement. If family dynamics are the central issue, we can refer you to a family therapist who specializes in that work.
Yes — ADHD is one of her core specialties. Her work isn't about "fixing" the ADHD; it's about helping your teen understand how their brain works, build executive function tools, and stop feeling broken.
Not at this time. We're expanding our teen services later in 2026 to include younger ages. If you'd like to be notified when our younger-teen services open, reach out via our contact form and we'll let you know.
Both. In-person sessions are at our St. Petersburg office; online sessions are available across Florida.