We help teens ages 13–17 build emotional regulation, self-understanding, and coping skills through creative arts therapy programs, so they can gain confidence and reduce overwhelm.
This stage of life can feel like everything is shifting at once — identity, friendships, family, school, the future. Most teens aren't going to sit across from a stranger and talk about their feelings on demand. And honestly, that's okay.
Art therapy for teens integrates all kinds of creative modalities like visual art, music, movement, writing, and drama into the therapeutic process. Rather than relying purely on conversation, it gives teens another language to work with. One that tends to feel less pressured, less clinical, and more like them. Most teens who come in expecting to hate it find something genuinely different here.
We work with adolescents ages 13–17 at our Salem and Beverly studios, with telehealth available for teens who need it.
We primarily help teens explore:
Teenagers carry more than most people realize, and they're often carrying it quietly. Here's what our teen therapists commonly help adolescents work through:
For neurodivergent teens, including those recently diagnosed or just beginning to understand themselves differently, our work isn't about keeping up or fitting in. It's about understanding how they're wired and building real support around that.
Treatment options we have available for teens include individual therapy, group therapy programs, and family sessions where appropriate.
For adolescent clients, we balance confidentiality with brief parent check-ins as clinically appropriate, so caregivers feel supported without compromising the therapeutic, confidential relationship.
Founded in 2016 by Natalie and Madelene, The Artful Life is the North Shore's only Expressive Arts Therapy group practice of its kind. What started as a single studio has expanded into two locations in Beverly and Salem, MA, with a full team of masters-level licensed therapists serving clients of all ages.
Our studios are a welcoming, fully inclusive environment for all.
Every teen is welcomed exactly as they are. Their identity and lived experience aren't checked at the door — they're central to the work.
Our work is guided by four core beliefs:
The creative element of our therapy takes the pressure off having to sit and talk, which is usually what teens are dreading most. Once they're in a session and feel comfortable, most find it's nothing like what they expected.
Generally, teen sessions are individual — the therapeutic relationship with your teen is the priority. Family sessions may be incorporated when clinically appropriate, and brief parent check-ins keep caregivers informed without compromising the work happening in sessions.
It's worth trying again. Adolescents are particularly sensitive to fit and format. Many of our teen clients come to us after experiences that didn't land elsewhere and find something genuinely different here.
A parent or guardian submits a New Client Inquiry for Children and Teens. Our Client Care team matches your teen with the therapist best suited to their personality, needs, and goals. First sessions are low-pressure introductions with no expectations and no demands — just a chance to get comfortable.
Yes, we accept insurance from a range of providers including Aetna, WellSense, Carelon, Point32 Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare/Optum. See our full, up-to-date coverage list here.
We have two full-service locations, plus a boutique studio on the North Shore of Massachusetts.
Your teen doesn't have to have it all figured out. That's what we're here to help with.