Earned Trust
Therapy For Disconnected Teens At Our Venice Office
A dedicated space in Venice for teens to be heard, rebuild trust, and start honest conversations that shift family dynamics
A dedicated space in Venice for teens to be heard, rebuild trust, and start honest conversations that shift family dynamics
A safe space for teens to be heard and rebuild trust with their families
Consistent, neutral office space offers privacy and routine for teens
Giving teens a chance to be understood and seen
The office is located at 325 Venice Way in Venice, California.
It is situated just off Abbot Kinney Boulevard, with straightforward access from Lincoln Boulevard and the Marina Freeway (CA-90). The location serves families from Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Mar Vista, and adjacent West Los Angeles neighborhoods within a four-mile radius.
The area is accessible by local bus routes and is within reach of public transit options connecting the Westside communities.
What families notice as trust and communication rebuild
A teen who currently refuses to talk at home may begin expressing needs or frustrations in words rather than through behavior.
Parents may notice fewer explosive arguments or a reduction in the intensity of conflict when it does occur.
A teen who has been lying or hiding significant parts of their life may begin disclosing more honestly — first in session, then gradually at home.
School avoidance or truancy patterns may begin to shift as the teen develops language for what is making attendance feel unbearable.
A teen using substances to cope may begin identifying what they are actually trying to manage or escape.
The family system may experience less walking-on-eggshells tension as communication patterns begin to change.
A teen who has felt written off or labeled may begin to see themselves as someone capable of making different choices.
Parents may feel less alone in their worry and more equipped to respond to difficult behavior without escalating.
I’m a therapist for teens ages 12–17, especially the kids who look defiant, shut down, or like they don’t care—while they’re actually hurting and feeling misunderstood.
I got into this work through my own teenage experience of being misread, and it’s why I take teens seriously before trying to change anything. I’m an LMFT and CCTP, trained in DBT and Motivational Interviewing, and I work from my office in Venice, California with a calm, non-judgmental pace that earns trust.
Options designed to meet families where they are and support comfort with each step forward
A short call specifically for parents to describe their teen's situation, understand the therapist's approach, and learn what the intake process looks like.
Book Your Free CallWe gather history, understand the teen's situation, and begin building rapport (typically 60–75 minutes)
Book Your Initial Intake SessionA longer-term support package for teens dealing with trauma, shame, anger, or shutdown, with care organized around pacing, safety, and continuity. (priced per session)
Start The JourneyPayment is due at the time of your session. If something unexpected comes up, reach out and we’ll work out a plan.
I don’t bill insurance directly, but I can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
If you need to cancel, please let me know as soon as you can. Late cancellations may be charged, but I try to be flexible when there’s a genuine emergency.
If you’re running late, just send a quick message. We’ll use the remaining time as best we can, and I’ll do my best to accommodate when my schedule allows.
If you miss an appointment without notice, you’ll be charged the full session fee. If something unexpected happened, let me know and we’ll talk it through.
Please request to reschedule at least 24 hours in advance to avoid a fee. Reschedules within 24 hours are treated like late cancellations.
If you were charged by mistake, I’ll fix it promptly. Otherwise, session fees are usually non-refundable once your appointment time has been reserved.
I understand life happens, especially with teens and families. In a true emergency, I may consider a one-time exception, but these policies are generally applied consistently to keep scheduling fair. If cancellations become a pattern, we’ll agree on a plan and may need to adjust your scheduling arrangement.
“Before Matt, our son had completely shut us out. Any attempt to talk turned into an argument or a closed door. Matt never pushed him or made him feel like a problem to be fixed. He took the time to earn his trust, and gradually we began seeing changes at home—fewer blowups, more honesty, and small conversations that would not have happened before. We finally feel like we are reconnecting with our son, and we do not feel so alone in figuring out how to support him.”
The first session is an intake — a chance for me to understand what is going on and for your teen to get a sense of whether this feels like a space they can be honest in. I do not push. Early sessions focus on building rapport and establishing trust. Your teen will not be interrogated or lectured. I will also connect with you as the parent to understand your perspective, but the therapeutic relationship with your teen is the priority.
Yes. Most of the teens I work with arrive skeptical, guarded, or openly resistant. That is not a barrier — it is the starting point. I do not require teens to perform openness they do not feel. I earn trust over time by being consistent, honest, and non-judgmental. Many teens who initially refuse to engage become the most invested clients once they realize this space is genuinely theirs.
I generally recommend weekly sessions, especially at the beginning, because consistency is what builds trust with adolescents. The duration depends on what your teen is working through. Some teens benefit from a focused period of several months; others need longer support. We will check in regularly about how things are going and adjust together.
The Teen Support Program is a structured package priced at $125 per session, designed for ongoing work with clear goals. The Initial Intake Session is $150 and serves as the formal starting point. I also offer a free Parent Orientation Call so you can ask questions and understand my approach before committing to anything. Payment is due at the time of session, and I provide superbills for out-of-network insurance reimbursement.
Progress with teenagers often looks different than parents expect. It may start with your teen being slightly less hostile after sessions, or mentioning something they discussed without being prompted. Over time, you may notice fewer blowups, more honest communication, or a willingness to try things they previously refused. I check in with both teens and parents periodically to discuss what is shifting and what still needs attention — without violating your teen's confidentiality.
Yes, references are available upon request. I am happy to connect you with individuals who can speak to their experience working with me. Just ask during your Parent Orientation Call or reach out directly, and I will arrange it.
My office is located at 325 Venice Way in Venice, California. If your teen is running late, just send a quick message and we will use the remaining time as best we can. For reschedules, I ask for at least 24 hours notice to avoid a fee. I understand that life with teenagers is unpredictable — if a genuine emergency comes up, reach out and we will figure it out together.
Schedule a Free Parent Call or Book an Intake Session to Begin at Your Own Pace
This page was created to share information about Matt Walerstein's services. It is powered by Sage & Savvy.
This page does not include any forms that collect personal information directly. The hosting platform automatically records standard technical information for every visit — such as IP address, browser type, and the time of the visit — to keep the page running and secure. This information is not used to identify visitors personally.
This page uses Google Analytics to understand general visitor patterns across the platform — for example, which pages are most viewed and where visitors come from. This is done using cookies. The information is collected by Sage & Savvy, the platform that hosts this page, and is used to improve the platform overall.
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking at any time using the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on, or by adjusting your browser's cookie settings. Google may process this data in accordance with Google's privacy policy.
This page links to external booking and scheduling platforms operated by other companies. Any information you provide on those platforms is governed entirely by their own privacy policies — please review them before submitting your details. Matt Walerstein does not control and is not responsible for the data practices of any third-party service.
This page may include links to websites operated by third parties. Matt Walerstein is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of any external website linked from this page.
Reasonable measures are in place to protect this page and the services it connects to. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and absolute security cannot be guaranteed.
Depending on where you live — for example, California or the European Union — you may have rights to access, correct, or delete personal information held about you. Because this page itself does not collect personal information through forms, those rights would apply only to information you have shared directly with Matt Walerstein through other channels. To make a request, contact Matt Walerstein at the email below.
This page is hosted on cared4.me, a platform operated by Sage & Savvy. Sage & Savvy and Matt Walerstein are separate, independent businesses — neither is responsible for the services, content, or actions of the other.
This policy may be updated from time to time. The "Last updated" date below indicates when the current version took effect.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only. Any services described are subject to the separate terms agreed between Matt Walerstein and each individual client.
For questions about this page's data practices, contact Matt Walerstein at partytrainingbaby@gmail.com. · Last updated: July 2026.