You might be here because…
None of these mean something is wrong with your teen. They mean your teen is carrying something heavy — and could use a steady place to set it down.
- School mornings have become a fight — or stopped happening.
- Grades slipping, and "I don't know" is the only answer you get.
- A loss in the family, and they've gone quiet instead of sad.
- Friend drama or bullying that follows them home on their phone.
- "I'm fine" — but the door stays closed and the light stays on.
- They asked to talk to someone. (That took courage. Start here.)
Real skills. A private place. Parents in the loop where it counts.
For your teen
A space that's actually theirs. We work on anxiety, school stress, grief, friendships, and self-worth — with practical tools they can use in the hallway, not just in session. Online, so it fits between practice and homework.
For you
Clear agreements from day one about what stays private and what always comes to you. Anything safety-related reaches you — every time. You'll never be in the dark about safety.
With the school
Six years as a school counselor and 504 coordinator means I speak the language — 504s, IEPs, CST meetings. With your consent, I can help you navigate the school side too.
A loss in the family? Grief work is a named lane of this practice — read about grief & loss.
I've sat on every side of the table teens sit at.
From 2020–2026 I was a school counselor and 504 coordinator in the West Windsor–Plainsboro schools — running grief groups, leading crisis response, and walking hundreds of students and families through the hardest seasons of growing up. I'm a Certified Youth Mental Health Specialist with training in adolescent treatment and co-occurring concerns.
Teens don't need another adult talking at them. They need one who gets it, holds the line, and keeps their trust. That's the job. More about Chandni →
When school becomes the storm, you need someone who knows the building.
You're not overreacting. When school stops working, the whole house feels it — and most parents are handed jargon instead of help. I ran the meetings parents dread, wrote the plans, and saw exactly where families get lost in the process. Therapy for your teen. A translator for you.
- The school suggested a 504 — and handed you a packet, not a plan.
- Homework takes three hours and ends in tears. Theirs or yours.
- Emails from teachers keep piling up, and each one stings.
- Your teen was fine last year. This year something's different.
- You've become the messenger between school and child — and it's breaking you.
Therapy for your student
School avoidance, test panic, perfectionism, the Sunday-night dread. We treat the stress underneath the grades — with practical skills that work in a classroom, not just on a couch.
A translator for the system
504 vs. IEP, CST referrals, accommodations worth asking for, what schools can and can't do — I coordinated this from the inside for six years. With your consent, I help you walk into meetings prepared.
Steadiness for you
Parenting a struggling student is its own kind of exhausting. You get honest guidance on what to push, what to let go, and how to stop being the homework police and start being the parent again.
What happens when you reach out.
You send one email
A sentence is enough. "I'm worried about my daughter" counts. You'll hear back within one business day.
We talk for 15 minutes
A free call — usually parent first, then a low-pressure hello with your teen. If we're not the right fit, you'll leave with a good referral.
Your teen picks the pace
Weekly or every other week, online, at times that work around school. Private, consistent, and theirs.
The questions that keep you up.
Will you tell me what my teen says in session?
We set this up clearly at intake: session content stays private so therapy works; anything safety-related always comes to you — every time. You'll never be in the dark about safety.
My teen doesn't want therapy. Now what?
Common, and workable. We start with a low-pressure 15-minute hello — no forms, no commitment. Most reluctant teens soften once they realize this is their space, not another lecture. If they're still a no, I'll help you find the right next step.
Can you help with my teen's school — 504s, IEPs?
Yes. I spent six years as a school counselor and 504 coordinator, so I know the meetings, the paperwork, and the people. With your consent, I can help you prepare for and navigate the school side.
What's the difference between a 504 and an IEP — and which should we ask for?
A 504 plan provides accommodations (extra time, breaks, seating) for a student who can access the curriculum; an IEP provides specialized instruction and services through special education. Which fits depends on your child's needs and evaluations. I coordinated 504s for six years — I'll help you understand the process, prepare for meetings, and ask for what's actually useful.
My kid refuses to go to school. Where do we start?
Gently, and soon — school avoidance gets stronger the longer it runs. We start with a parent call to map what's driving it (anxiety, social pain, learning struggles, something at school). Then a plan: therapy for your teen, a step-wise return approach, and coordination with the school so everyone pulls in the same direction.
Do you talk to the school directly?
Only with your written consent — and when it helps. Sometimes that's a call with the counselor, input for a 504 meeting, or helping you write the email that gets a real response. You stay in control of what's shared.
The door in — for both of you.
732-334-8416 · chandni@brightroomtherapy.com · Telehealth across New Jersey