Janet Edgette, PsyD

Have a teenager who needs help but doesn’t want therapy? That’s my jam. I work well with kids who've had bad experiences in therapy or simply aren't interested in it and resist going. I practice differently than most therapists - my sessions are more animated, casual, and conversational. No questions like “How does that make you feel?” (ugh). No “homework” (seriously?). Just stuff that works because it’s tailored to each person, practical, nuanced, and relevant to the problem(s) at hand.

I’ve been practicing for 35 years, helping adolescents and the parents who are raising them. I keep parents in the loop, work as effectively with boys as with girls, and can help you decide whether the problems you're noticing are a part of "typical" teen behavior or a sign of something more serious. If you like to read, I’ve written seven books that can offer help on parenting challenging teens or, if you're a therapist, on doing therapy with this population.

Let’s face it – many children and teenagers don’t like therapy or counseling.

It’s boring. It’s uncomfortable. They’re not sure how it’s supposed to work. They are asked questions about feelings they don’t recognize having, and asked about their progress on goals they never signed on for. No wonder they don’t feel listened to.

I approach kids differently. I don’t bombard them with a lot of questions and I don’t try to “get” them to talk with me—an undertaking I find as insulting to us both as it is unproductive. Instead, I introduce a variety of topics and see which ones evolve into conversations that can heal, animate, encourage, stimulate, or inspire. I’m happy to answer questions, offer opinions, and say what I think is going on without ever trying to muscle any points across. I work quickly, but never rush.

I have spent my career thinking about how to provide services to kids and teenagers and young adults that they actually value and respect, and therefore want to participate in. This eliminates the miserable and undignified tug-of-war and other power struggles that a lot of therapists endure when working with this population. It really doesn’t have to be that way.

Therapists often ask me, "How do I get this kid to talk with me?" and I think it's the wrong question to ask. I think a better question is "How can I become relevant and compelling enough so that this kid in front of me actually wants to talk with me?" Now we're having a conversation that matters.

On a more personal note, I am Bronx, NY born and bred and therefore a resolute Yankees fan. Moved to Philadelphia forty years ago to attend graduate school and stayed. Mother of three adults son, with whom I remain very close. What else matters to me? Acts of generosity and kindness, show jumping (see my other website for equestrian sport psychology, www.sportpsychforriders.com) and dogs, especially pit bulls like my girl, Harper, who comes to work with me every day. She's the best co-therapist and I swear she's the reason people keep coming back....


My books include:

for parents -
Stop Negotiating With Your Teen: Strategies for Parenting Your Angry, Manipulative, Moody or Depressed Adolescent
The Last Boys Picked: Helping Boys Who Don't Play Sports Survive Bullies and Boyhood

for therapists -
Therapeutic Conversations With Adolescents: Helping Teens in Therapy Thrive in an Ultra-Competitive, Screen-Saturated World
Adolescent Therapy That Works: Helping Kids Who Never Asked for Help in the First Place

for equestrians -
The Rider's Edge: Overcoming the Psychological Challenges of Riding
Heads Up: Practical Sport Psychology for Riders, Their Families, and Their Trainers