Emotional Regulation Therapy for Teens & Young Adults in Fort Wayne, IN
When emotions feel out of control, there is hope
Does your teen seem overwhelmed by emotions? Maybe they shut down after a tough day, become anxious over small situations, or react with anger that seems out of proportion. As a parent, it can be heartbreaking to watch and even harder to know how to help. And if you're a young adult who feels like your emotions run the show, you're not alone either.
At Unwilted Counseling, we help teens and young adults (ages 13–25) understand their emotions, build healthy coping skills, and learn how to respond to life's challenges with confidence. Through compassionate, evidence-based therapy, including DBT skills, clients develop the emotional regulation skills they need to thrive at home, at school or work, and in relationships.
Schedule a Free Consultation and take the first step toward helping your teen feel calmer, more confident, and in control.
In-person in Fort Wayne • Virtual across Indiana & Ohio
Understanding Emotional Regulation in Teens and Young Adults
The teen and young adult years are a time of rapid brain and emotional development. While emotions are strong, the part of the brain responsible for managing those emotions is still developing well into the mid-twenties.
That means teens and young adults may:
-
Feel emotions more intensely than older adults
-
Struggle to calm down after stressful situations
-
React before thinking
-
Feel overwhelmed by school, work, friendships, or family conflicts
This doesn't mean anyone is "dramatic" or "difficult." They may simply need support in learning healthy emotional regulation skills, and that's exactly what therapy can provide.
For Young Adults (18–25)
Moving out, college, first jobs, and relationships bring new pressures, often without the structure of home. Many young adults notice that big reactions, shutting down, or swinging between moods start to affect friendships, grades, work, or dating. Emotional regulation therapy helps you understand your patterns and build skills that make you feel more like yourself, with full confidentiality and autonomy.
How Emotion Regulation Counseling Can Help
If you or your teen is experiencing any of the following, professional support can help:
-
Frequent emotional outbursts or meltdowns
-
Anxiety, panic attacks, or constant worry
-
Anger that feels difficult to control
-
Mood swings or emotional shutdown
-
Difficulty handling stress or disappointment
-
Trouble sleeping or relaxing
-
School avoidance or declining grades
-
Social withdrawal or friendship struggles
-
Low self-esteem or perfectionism
-
Feeling overwhelmed by everyday life
You don't have to wait until things become a crisis. Early support can make a lasting difference.
If intense emotions have led to self-harm, Self-Harm Counseling offers safety planning alongside these skills. If you're in immediate danger, call or text 988 or call 911.
How Emotion Regulation Therapy Helps
The goal isn't to stop feeling emotions; it's to understand and manage them in healthy ways.
During therapy, clients learn how to:
-
Recognize emotional triggers before they become overwhelming
-
Manage anxiety, stress, and frustration more effectively
-
Build confidence and resilience
-
Improve communication with parents, partners, and peers
-
Develop healthy coping strategies
-
Respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively
-
Navigate school, work, social, and family challenges with greater confidence
These are lifelong skills that support emotional well-being well into adulthood.
Our Approach: DBT Skills & Emotional Regulation Therapy
Every teen and young adult has unique experiences, strengths, and challenges. That's why every treatment plan is personalized to fit individual needs and goals.
DBT Skills for Teens and Young Adults
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills are some of the most practical, research-supported tools for managing intense emotions. Therapy at Unwilted Counseling draws on four DBT skill areas:
-
Mindfulness: noticing thoughts, feelings, and urges without being swept away by them.
-
Emotion regulation: naming emotions, understanding what drives them, and lowering emotional intensity before it peaks.
-
Distress tolerance: getting through hard moments without making them worse.
-
Interpersonal effectiveness: asking for what you need, setting boundaries, and handling conflict while keeping relationships intact.
Other Approaches We Use
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): helps recognize unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with healthier ways of thinking and responding.
-
EMDR Therapy: supports processing traumatic or distressing experiences that may be fueling emotional reactions. Learn about EMDR.
-
Mindfulness & Nervous System Regulation: helps calm the mind and body, reduce stress, and build emotional awareness.
-
Parent Collaboration: when appropriate, we work alongside parents to strengthen communication and create a supportive home environment.
When strong emotions are tied to past experiences, trauma therapy may be part of the work; when focus and impulsivity are a factor, see ADHD Counseling.
The goal is to help clients feel understood, empowered, and equipped with the skills they need to thrive.
What Parents Can Expect
You're Not in This Alone
When your teen is struggling, it affects the whole family. That's why lasting progress happens when parents feel supported too.
Healing Starts with the Whole Family
You don't have to figure this out on your own. As your teen learns new emotional skills, we'll help you understand what they're experiencing and how you can best support their growth.
Together, we'll work to:
-
Build healthier communication
-
Reduce daily conflict and misunderstandings
-
Strengthen trust and connection
-
Create a calmer home environment
-
Support your teen's progress every step of the way
Your teen keeps a private space in sessions, while you receive general updates and, when helpful, join some sessions to practice skills together. If conflict at home is a big part of the picture, Parent-Teen Relationship Counseling can help.
The strongest outcomes happen when teens feel supported not only in therapy, but at home as well. You and your teen are on the same team, and we're here to support both of you.
Meet Your Therapist:
Destina Rekeweg, LMHC
Destina is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and more than three years of experience working exclusively with teens and young adults.
She is trained in EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) and uses DBT-informed skills to help clients manage intense emotions. As a solo practice, Unwilted Counseling means you work with the same therapist every session.
In-Person & Virtual Counseling
Counseling That Fits Your Family's Needs
Every family is different, which is why Unwilted Counseling offers both in-person counseling in Fort Wayne and secure virtual therapy throughout Indiana and Ohio.
In-Person Counseling
Meet in a welcoming, private office at 3514 Stellhorn Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46815, where teens and young adults can feel safe, supported, and comfortable sharing their thoughts and emotions.
Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Fri 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Sat 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Sun: Closed
Best for teens who:
-
Prefer face-to-face interaction
-
Benefit from a structured office environment
-
Live in Fort Wayne or surrounding communities like New Haven, Huntertown, and Leo-Cedarville
-
Feel more comfortable connecting in person
Virtual Counseling
Busy schedule? Live outside Fort Wayne? Virtual counseling provides the same compassionate, professional care from the comfort and privacy of home.
Virtual therapy is ideal for:
-
Families across Indiana, and clients in Ohio through the Counseling Compact
-
Busy school, work, and extracurricular schedules
-
College students away from home
-
Transportation or travel limitations
-
Clients who feel more comfortable in familiar surroundings
No matter which option you choose, you receive the same personalized care, evidence-based treatment, and supportive therapeutic relationship.
Fees and Payment
Unwilted Counseling is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly. Clients may use out-of-network benefits for possible reimbursement, and documentation can be provided for that purpose.
Service | Duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|
Initial intake assessment | 50 min | $160 |
Ongoing session | 50 min | $135 |
Intensive session | 75 min | $202.50 |
Intensive session | 100 min | $270 |
Intensive session | 150 min | $405 |
Good Faith Estimate: Clients paying privately have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining expected costs of care. You may request this prior to scheduling. See our full fees and policies page.
Why Families Choose Unwilted Counseling
At Unwilted Counseling, we provide a welcoming, judgment-free space where teens and young adults feel heard, not criticized.
Families choose us because we offer:
-
Specialized counseling for teens and young adults (ages 13–25)
-
DBT-informed, trauma-informed, evidence-based care
-
Personalized treatment plans
-
Support for both teens and parents
-
One consistent therapist from start to finish
-
In-person counseling in Fort Wayne
-
Virtual therapy throughout Indiana and Ohio
We believe every young person has the ability to grow, heal, and build healthier ways of managing life's challenges.
BEGINNING TRAUMA THERAPY
Professional Trauma Treatment in Fort Wayne, IN
-
Step 1: Complimentary Consultation (20 min) A brief, confidential call to discuss your needs and see if trauma therapy is right for you.
-
Step 2: Comprehensive Assessment (90 min) Trauma history, symptom evaluation, safety planning, and skill-building. Personalized treatment plan created.
-
Step 3: Ongoing Therapy Weekly sessions for stabilization, skill-building, and trauma processing at your pace.
Practice Details
-
Location: Unwilted Counseling LLC, Fort Wayne, IN
-
Scheduling: Afternoons, evenings, Saturdays, and virtual sessions statewide
-
Insurance & Payment: In-network coverage verified before treatment; private-pay options available
-
Confidentiality: Full privacy for adults; trauma-sensitive parental communication for adolescents
Service Area: Fort Wayne, Allen County, New Haven, Huntertown, Leo-Cedarville, and virtual therapy across Indiana
.webp)
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY FOR DIFFERENT AGES
Age-Appropriate Individual Counseling
Adolescents (13-17): Therapy respects growing autonomy and matches teen development. Sessions support identity exploration, school and peer challenges, and local teen experiences. Parents are involved through initial consultation, occasional updates, and optional sessions balanced with confidentiality.
Young Adults (18-25): Therapy is fully autonomous and confidential. Focus is on identity, career, relationships, independence, and life purpose. Flexible scheduling and virtual options accommodate college and work commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Emotional Regulation Therapy
Mood changes are a normal part of adolescence. However, if emotions are interfering with school, friendships, family relationships, or daily life, therapy can help identify the underlying causes and provide practical solutions.
Yes. Emotional regulation is a set of skills that can be learned and practiced. With approaches like DBT skills and CBT, many teens become better at noticing triggers, calming down, and responding instead of reacting. Progress builds over time with practice at home and school.
DBT skills are practical tools from Dialectical Behavior Therapy, grouped into four areas: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. They give teens and young adults specific steps to use in hard moments, rather than just being told to "calm down."
Yes, when appropriate. Parents are part of getting started, receive general updates, and may join some sessions to learn how to support new skills at home. Your teen still has a private space to talk, and parents are always informed about safety concerns.
It varies. Many families notice meaningful change within a few months of consistent weekly sessions, as skills are learned and practiced. Some teens benefit from longer support, especially when anxiety, trauma, or other concerns are involved.
Yes. Unwilted Counseling works with ages 13–25. For clients 18 and older, therapy is fully confidential and focuses on the pressures of college, work, relationships, and independence.
Anger management focuses specifically on anger. Emotional regulation therapy is broader, covering the full range of intense emotions, including anxiety, sadness, shame, and shutdown, as well as anger. If anger is the main concern, see Anger Management Counseling.
Please reach out. Self-Harm Counseling combines safety planning with these same skills. If your teen is in immediate danger, call or text 988 or call 911.
Good Faith Estimate: Clients paying privately have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining expected costs of care. You may request this prior to scheduling.
Take the First Step Toward Feeling More in Control!
You don't have to face overwhelming emotions alone, and neither does your teen. Teens and young adults can learn to manage their emotions, build confidence, and strengthen relationships. Call or text (260) 255-6432 or request a free 15-minute consultation.
