Teen Talk

Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to Adolescent Counseling Services empowers youth in our community to find their way through social-emotional support and by building safe, accepting communities, launched the “Teen Talk” blog in December 2008.  This blog was created to provide a resource and education piece for parents and community members about teen mental health.

In 2014, the blog was transitioned to our new website. Please read all current blog posts here: http://www.acs-teens.org/blog/ 

Other education resources available from ACS include the booklet, “99 Tips for Talking With Your Teenager.”  First published in 2006, 99 Tips is a guide for improving communication and building positive relationships with adolescents. You can request a complimentary copy of the booklet or download an electronic copy in English or Spanish.

Since 1975, ACS has helped over 35,000 teenagers and families in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, offering a range of services that include counseling, substance abuse treatment and preventive education in the community.

ACS provides the following programs to the greater Silicon Valley community:

PROGRAMS

The On-Campus Counseling Program provides counseling at no cost to individuals and their families at all five secondary schools in the Palo Alto Unified School District, as well as at Menlo-Atherton High School, Redwood Continuation High School, and La Entrada Middle School in San Mateo County.

Led by a group of dedicated and highly trained staff, the On-Campus Counseling Program provides treatment for a variety of issues including academic stress, parent-child communication, self-esteem, peer conflict, grief and loss, suicidal thoughts, and depression and anxiety. With compassionate therapists available on school campuses, teens have accessible professional help in their time of need.

The Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program is a State Certified outpatient drug and alcohol treatment program offering assessment and outpatient treatment services for teens struggling with substance abuse and addiction. Family participation is central to the program’s success and includes organized counseling sessions for adolescents and their families in parent, teen and family group settings. The Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program also offers community education through presentations that cover a wide range of topics related to drugs and alcohol.

The After-School Counseling Program provides affordable out-patient assessment, treatment and education for teens and their families in need of counseling services in our community. These services are provided in the evenings at the ACS corporate offices in Palo Alto.

The Outlet Program empowers Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQQ) youth and builds safe and accepting communities through support, education, and advocacy.

ACS also provides Community Education for parents and teenagers at local companies, schools and education forums covering a wide range of topics such as the transition to middle school, substance abuse signs and prevention, depression in teens, and adolescent development.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Adolescent Counseling Services
1717 Embarcadero Road, Suite 4000
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: (650) 424-0852
Fax: (650) 424-9583
http://www.acs-teens.org

LEARN MORE ABOUT ACS