Teen & Young Adult Counseling in Fort Wayne, IN | Ages 13–25
You don't need to be fixed. You need to be understood.
Specialized teen and young adult counseling in Fort Wayne for adolescents and young adults ages 13–25 experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, identity concerns, relationship challenges, emotional difficulties, and major life transitions.
At Unwilted Counseling LLC, I provide personalized, developmentally informed therapy for teens and young adults ages 13–25 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) working specifically with this age group, I offer a safe, supportive environment where clients can better understand themselves, develop healthy coping skills, strengthen relationships, and navigate challenges with greater confidence.
Whether you're a teenager struggling with anxiety or school stress, a young adult navigating college, work, relationships, or independence, or a parent searching for a teen therapist near Fort Wayne, therapy can provide support tailored to your individual needs.
COUNSELING FOR TEENS & YOUNG ADULTS
Counseling Designed for Every Stage From 13 to 25
The teen and young adult years involve significant developmental changes. Brain development, identity formation, changing relationships, increasing independence, academic expectations, and decisions about the future can all affect emotional well-being.
At Unwilted Counseling, therapy is designed specifically for adolescents and young adults ages 13–25, with treatment adapted to each person's developmental stage, concerns, strengths, and goals.
Why this age range? Ages 13–25 are a unique stage of brain development, identity formation, and life transitions. Specialized care means treatment designed for you, not adapted from adult therapy. Teens get support that balances privacy with appropriate parent involvement; young adults get full confidentiality and autonomy.
Adolescents Ages 13–17
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Anxiety, depression, and school stress
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Academic pressure and perfectionism
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Family conflict and communication challenges
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Peer relationships and social anxiety
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Trauma and difficult life experiences
Adolescent counseling provides teens with a supportive space to understand their emotions, develop coping skills, and work toward meaningful goals. When appropriate, parents or caregivers may participate while respecting the teen's privacy and therapeutic relationship.
Young Adults Ages 18–25
Young adult counseling in Fort Wayne and college student counseling for Indiana and Ohio students can support individuals navigating the transition into greater independence and adulthood. Whether you attend Purdue Fort Wayne, University of Saint Francis, Indiana Tech, Ivy Tech, or a school away from home, common concerns may include:
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Anxiety, depression, and academic stress
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Career and workplace challenges
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Self-esteem and identity
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Burnout and emotional overwhelm
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Trauma and life transitions
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Motivation and executive functioning
Young adult therapy provides a confidential space to understand challenges, clarify goals, and build skills for navigating adulthood.
Meet Your Therapist:
Destina Rekeweg, LMHC
Work With a Therapist Who Specializes in Teens & Young Adults
I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I've supported teens and young adults since 2019, first in community mental health and social service settings and now as the founder of Unwilted Counseling.
Many of the young people I work with appear capable on the outside but feel overwhelmed or emotionally exhausted inside. Because Unwilted Counseling is a solo practice, you work with me every session, which allows for consistent, one-on-one care and a trusting therapeutic relationship.
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Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Indiana
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Counseling Compact privilege for Ohio telehealth
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Trained in EMDR and IFS-informed therapy
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Focus: trauma & PTSD, anxiety, and life transitions
A DIFFERENT KIND OF THERAPY SPACE
Our Approach to Teen & Young Adult Therapy
You're Not a Problem to Solve
Therapy isn't about "fixing" you. Your anxiety, depression, or coping patterns often make sense based on what you've been through. You're not broken; you're carrying a lot. Real change starts with feeling understood, not judged or fixed.
Carry, Process, Grow
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Carry: Learning to hold what's heavy. Learn to hold what's heavy, like trauma, grief, or fear, without it overwhelming you. Build strength, balance, and ways to cope.
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Process: Making sense of what you've been through. Make sense of your experiences, release what's stuck, and understand your story at your own pace.
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Grow: Building a life beyond survival. Move beyond survival to build identity, relationships, and a life that feels meaningful and true to you. Learn about real growth.
How We Practice Therapy Differently
Therapy at Unwilted Counseling is trauma-informed and relational. Symptoms are understood as adaptations, not flaws. Safety comes first, trust is earned, and you're always in control.
Our principles:
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You choose what and when to share
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Your experiences and feelings are valid
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We understand your story in context
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Healing happens at your pace
EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT OUTCOMES
Mental Health Concerns We Address
Every client comes to therapy with a different combination of experiences and concerns. Counseling may focus on one primary issue or several areas that are connected.
Anxiety, Depression & Stress
Anxiety and depression can affect school, work, relationships, sleep, motivation, confidence, and everyday functioning. As an anxiety therapist for teens and young adults, I help clients understand the patterns contributing to emotional distress, develop healthier coping strategies, and work toward improved emotional well-being.
For additional support related to these concerns, explore Anxiety Counseling, Panic Attack Counseling, and Depression & Mood Disorder Counseling.
Trauma & Difficult Experiences
Difficult or traumatic experiences can influence emotions, relationships, self-esteem, and the way someone responds to situations in the present.
Trauma-informed therapy, including EMDR when clinically appropriate, provides a supportive environment for processing difficult experiences while developing healthier coping and emotional-regulation skills. Learn more about Trauma Counseling and Complex Trauma Therapy.
Identity & Self-Esteem
The adolescent and young adult years often involve important questions about identity, values, belonging, confidence, and authenticity.
Counseling can provide space to explore identity development and self-esteem, understand internal and external pressures, and build greater confidence in who you are and what matters to you. Explore Self-Esteem & Identity Counseling.
Relationships & Family Challenges
Relationships with parents, siblings, friends, partners, and peers can change significantly during adolescence and young adulthood. Therapy can address communication difficulties, family conflict, boundaries, social challenges, relationship patterns, and emotional connection.
When relationship concerns are a primary focus, Relationship Counseling or Parent-Teen Relationship Counseling may provide additional support.
Emotional Regulation
Strong or overwhelming emotions can make it difficult to communicate, make decisions, manage conflict, or respond in ways that reflect your values. Counseling can help teens and young adults recognize emotional triggers, understand patterns, tolerate difficult emotions, and develop practical emotional regulation skills. Learn more about Emotion Regulation Counseling.
Executive Function, Motivation & Academic Stress
School, college, work, and everyday responsibilities can become difficult when organization, time management, task initiation, motivation, or follow-through are challenging.
Therapy can address both practical executive-function skills and the emotional factors that may contribute to procrastination, avoidance, perfectionism, or feeling stuck. Explore Executive Function & Motivation Therapy for Teens and ADHD Counseling for more information.
Life Transitions
Transitions such as starting high school, graduating, entering college, beginning a career, moving away from home, changing relationships, or becoming more independent can create uncertainty and stress.
Life transition counseling can help teens and young adults process change, clarify goals, manage uncertainty, and develop confidence as they move into a new stage of life. Learn more about Life Transition Counseling.
Grief, Body Image & Other Personal Experiences
Loss, body image struggles, substance use, and self-harm can be hard to talk about and even harder to carry alone. Therapy offers a nonjudgmental space to understand these experiences as meaningful, not as problems to fix, and to find healthier ways forward. Unwilted Counseling is also LGBTQ+ affirming and supports exploring identity beyond others' expectations.
SPECIALIZED COUNSELING METHODOLOGY
How Teen & Young Adult Counseling Can Help
Therapy is not simply about addressing symptoms. It can also help teens and young adults develop a stronger understanding of themselves and build skills they can use throughout life.
Depending on your individual goals, counseling may help you:
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Better understand thoughts, emotions, and behavioral patterns
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Manage anxiety, stress, and emotional overwhelm
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Develop healthier coping strategies
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Improve emotional regulation
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Strengthen communication skills
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Develop healthier boundaries
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Improve relationships with family, friends, and partners
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Build self-esteem and confidence
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Explore identity, values, and personal goals
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Process difficult or traumatic experiences
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Improve motivation and follow-through
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Navigate school, college, work, and career changes
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Build resilience and greater independence
Treatment goals are individualized, and progress looks different for every client.
TREATMENT EXPECTATIONS
A Developmentally Informed Approach to Therapy
At Unwilted Counseling, I believe therapy should be personalized to the person, not based on a one-size-fits-all approach. As an LMHC serving teens and young adults in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I consider each client's developmental stage, experiences, strengths, concerns, relationships, and goals when developing a treatment approach. Depending on your needs, therapy may incorporate evidence-based approaches such as:
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): EMDR may be incorporated when trauma-focused treatment is clinically appropriate. Learn more about trauma-informed, integrative therapy.
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IFS-Informed Work (Internal Family Systems): IFS-informed therapy helps clients understand different parts of themselves, such as the inner critic or the part that shuts down, with curiosity instead of judgment.
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Emotion-Focused & Relational Therapy: The therapy relationship itself becomes a safe place to feel understood and practice healthier connection. Learn more about emotionally focused & relational therapy.
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Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores how past experiences and relationships shape present patterns.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT can help identify and change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, stress, or other concerns.
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills: DBT-informed skills can support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT can help clients identify personal values, develop psychological flexibility, and make choices that align with what matters to them.
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Family Systems Approaches: Family systems work can help explore communication patterns and relationships when family dynamics are relevant to treatment.
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Mindfulness-Based Strategies: Mindfulness techniques can support present-moment awareness, emotional regulation, and healthier responses to stress.
The specific approaches used in therapy depend on the client's needs, goals, and clinical circumstances.
Inclusive & Affirming Care
You shouldn't have to explain or defend who you are in therapy. Unwilted Counseling is LGBTQ+ affirming, culturally responsive, neurodiversity-affirming, and trauma-informed. Chosen names and pronouns are always respected, and privacy is carefully protected for teens who are not out to family. Learn more about LGBTQ+ affirming therapy.
VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON COUNSELING OPTIONS
In-Person Teen & Young Adult Counseling in Fort Wayne
Unwilted Counseling provides in-person counseling for teens and young adults in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In-person therapy offers a dedicated environment away from school, work, and home distractions where clients can focus on their mental health and personal growth.
The Office is Located At:
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3514 Stellhorn Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46815
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Call: 260-255-6432
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Mon-Thu 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Fri 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Sat 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Sun: Closed
Private office, comfortable space, and free parking. The practice serves clients throughout Fort Wayne and surrounding communities in Allen County, including New Haven, Huntertown, Leo-Cedarville, and nearby areas searching for a teen therapist near me.
Virtual Therapy for Teens & Young Adults in Indiana and Ohio
For clients who prefer online appointments, virtual therapy for teens and young adults is available across Indiana and, through the Counseling Compact, in Ohio when clinically appropriate. It's a convenient option for families searching for an online therapist for teens in Indiana.
Virtual counseling can provide greater flexibility for clients balancing school, college, work, transportation, or other responsibilities. It can also help college students keep the same therapist through breaks and moves. Sessions use secure, HIPAA-compliant video and are not recorded. Learn more about Virtual Therapy.
Both in-person and virtual counseling provide individualized therapeutic support. The best format depends on your needs, preferences, circumstances, and clinical appropriateness.
Hybrid option: many Fort Wayne clients mix in-person and virtual sessions based on their week. Learn about flexible care. A consistent weekly time is recommended to build the therapeutic relationship and maintain momentum.
What to Expect from Teen & Young Adult Counseling
Starting therapy can feel uncertain, especially if you have never worked with a counselor before. The process is designed to give you space to understand your concerns and determine what type of support may be most helpful.
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Schedule a Consultation: Begin with a free 15-minute consultation to discuss what you are looking for, ask questions, and determine whether Unwilted Counseling may be a good fit.
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Initial Assessment (50 min): The first full session is a conversation, not an interrogation. You can discuss your concerns, experiences, goals, strengths, and what you would like to change, at your pace, and leave with clarity, initial tools, and a sense of whether this feels like the right fit. No pressure to commit. For teens under 18, a parent or guardian is part of getting started.
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Personalized Treatment Planning: Together, we identify priorities and determine which therapeutic approaches may best support your goals.
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Ongoing Counseling (50 min, usually weekly): Sessions may include emotional processing, coping skills, relationship work, identity exploration, trauma-focused treatment, or practical strategies for school, work, and everyday life.
Between sessions: therapy continues in daily life through reflection, practice, and awareness. You can use the client portal, journal, and bring insights back to session.
Progress: growth isn't linear. Setbacks are part of the process too, and we adjust as we go. Your feedback guides the work.
The length of therapy varies from person to person. Some clients may benefit from short-term counseling focused on a specific concern, while others may benefit from longer-term support.
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Fees and Payment
Unwilted Counseling is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance. You may be able to use out-of-network benefits for possible reimbursement.
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.
BEGINNING TRAUMA THERAPY
Professional Trauma Treatment in Fort Wayne, IN
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Step 1: Complimentary Consultation (20 min) A brief, confidential call to discuss your needs and see if trauma therapy is right for you.
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Step 2: Comprehensive Assessment (90 min) Trauma history, symptom evaluation, safety planning, and skill-building. Personalized treatment plan created.
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Step 3: Ongoing Therapy Weekly sessions for stabilization, skill-building, and trauma processing at your pace.
Practice Details
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Location: Unwilted Counseling LLC, Fort Wayne, IN
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Scheduling: Afternoons, evenings, Saturdays, and virtual sessions statewide
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Insurance & Payment: In-network coverage verified before treatment; private-pay options available
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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
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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
Frequently Asked Questions
About Teen & Young Adult Counseling
Teen counseling is professional mental health support designed around the developmental needs and experiences of adolescents. Therapy may address anxiety, depression, trauma, family conflict, school stress, identity, relationships, emotional regulation, and other concerns.
Unwilted Counseling works with teens and young adults ages 13–25. Adolescent counseling serves ages 13–17, and young adult counseling serves ages 18–25.
Yes. Unwilted Counseling offers in-person teen therapy at 3514 Stellhorn Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46815, serving Fort Wayne, Allen County, New Haven, Huntertown, and Leo-Cedarville.
Yes, when appropriate. Parents or guardians are part of getting started and may join sessions or receive general updates. Most sessions are one-on-one so teens can speak openly. At the start, we talk through privacy boundaries together: teens deserve privacy, and parents need appropriate information. Parents are always informed if there is a safety concern.
Yes. Clients 18 and older have full confidentiality. You decide whether, when, and how much to share with family.
Yes. Therapy can address practical executive-function skills like organization and task initiation, along with the emotional factors behind procrastination, such as anxiety, perfectionism, or fear of failure.
Yes. Secure virtual therapy is available for teens and young adults across Indiana and, through the Counseling Compact, in Ohio when clinically appropriate.
No. Many teens start therapy because of stress, a difficult transition, relationship struggles, or simply feeling stuck. A diagnosis is not required to begin.
Consider reaching out if changes in mood, sleep, grades, friendships, or behavior last several weeks or affect daily life. Withdrawal, irritability, constant worry, or harsh self-criticism are common signs. A free consultation can help you decide.
Unwilted Counseling is private pay. The initial intake (50 min) is $160 and ongoing 50-minute sessions are $135. Insurance is not accepted, but you may be able to use out-of-network benefits for reimbursement.
Teen counseling (13–17) involves parents or guardians at the start and focuses on school, family, peers, and identity. Young adult counseling (18–25) is fully confidential and often focuses on college, career, independence, and relationships.
That's common. Invite your teen to join the free consultation so they can ask questions and get a feel for the process. Feeling heard from the start often makes the biggest difference.
Availability changes, so call or text (260) 255-6432 or request a free consultation online. Most clients can schedule a consultation quickly and move to an intake once fit is confirmed.
I'll help. That's part of my job. You don't need to prepare or have everything figured out. Just show up.
That doesn't mean you can't be helped. It may mean that approach or that therapist wasn't the right fit. Therapy here is relational and paced to you, and your feedback guides the work.
If you're struggling, you deserve support. There's no threshold of suffering required to start.
It varies. Some people benefit from short-term work of about 3–6 months; others need longer support. We'll figure out what's right for you and revisit it as you go.
Unwilted Counseling works exclusively with ages 13–25 and doesn't see you as a problem to fix. You're a person to understand, and that shift changes everything.
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.
