Increasing well-being and happiness through behavioral activation to alleviate depression and reduce avoidance.

Therapy for Teen Mood, Irritability, and Emotion Regulation

Improving child and teen well being. Reducing social avoidance and increasing happiness through therapies that target social skills and reduce social anxiety.

Adolescent depression frequently presents as irritability rather than sadness, which is why it's often missed at home. Cognitive behavioral therapy for teen mood difficulties focuses on rebuilding engagement in valued activities, developing skills to manage intense emotion, and addressing the thinking patterns that sustain low mood. EBPC provides CBT for teens in Calabasas and via telehealth across California.

What to watch for:

  • Irritability or a short fuse that's noticeably new

  • Withdrawal from friends or activities they used to care about

  • Sleep changes — too much, too little, or a badly shifted schedule

  • Declining grades or effort

  • Harsh self-criticism

  • Emotional reactions that seem outsized and are hard to recover from

  • Any mention of self-harm or of not wanting to be here

If your teen is talking about self-harm

Take it seriously and don't wait for a routine appointment. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or go to your nearest emergency room. If there is immediate danger, call 911.

If your teen has expressed these thoughts and is currently safe, tell us when you reach out so we can prioritize scheduling appropriately.

Two women having a conversation in a cozy living room, one younger and one older, sitting on couches near a window and decorated with plants and artwork.

At EBPC, Inc. we support teens using
evidence based treatments including

Behavioral activation

Rebuilding engagement in activities, which reliably precedes mood improvement rather than following it.

Emotion regulation skills

Recognizing escalation early, tolerating distress, and using strategies to reduce suffering and improve quality of life

Cognitive work

Identifying and testing the thinking patterns that maintain low mood and self-criticism.

FAQs

  • Common, and not usually a reason to wait. First sessions focus on what your teen wants to be different, which is more engaging than being told what to fix.

  • Ordinary adolescent moodiness fluctuates. Clinical concern rises when low mood or irritability persists for weeks, and when functioning — school, friendships, activities — is affected.

  • Yes. We assess safety directly and address the function the behavior is serving. If a higher level of care is needed, we'll say so and help you find it.

Take the First Step Toward Better Well-being

Don't wait for school or behavioral struggles to compound. Reach out to our Calabasas clinical team today to discuss whether individual therapy or parent training is the right fit for your family.

Book a consultation