Hi. I’m Julia.

Holistic therapy for adolescents and young adults

WELCOME

Your Village. Thoughtfully Curated. Deeply Aligned.

I’m Julia Friedman, a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker in California and New York, specializing in holistic therapy for adolescents and young adults.

Therapy doesn’t happen in isolation — especially not for young people facing the challenges of today’s complex world. My collaborative, concierge-style approach brings together the essential voices in your child’s life: educators, medical professionals, coaches, learning specialists, and even integrative health providers. With your consent and comfort as the foundation, I help build a unified support team tailored to your family’s needs, so your child feels fully seen, supported, and understood.

If your teen is navigating questions of identity, school stress, family dynamics, or the uncertainty of what’s next, this is a place for clarity, growth, and support.

EXPERTISE

Support That’s Smart. Grounded. Specialized.
I’m passionate about helping young people navigate life’s complexities to reach the next stepping stone with confidence. My practice is especially attuned to the needs of neurodivergent adolescents and young adults. If your kid is learning how to understand their emotions, feels misunderstood, isolated, or simply needs another trusted ear, I’m passionate about building connection, self-awareness, and momentum — always at their own pace.
  • Identity exploration and self-understanding
  • Navigating complex family or peer dynamics
  • Social-emotional fluency
  • Technology addiction and boundaries
  • School advocacy and educational planning
  • Executive functioning and autonomy
  • College and post-high school decision-making
  • Finding clarity in the midst of overwhelm

BACKGROUND


Trusted Expertise. Global Perspective. Real-World Insight.

I’m a Psychotherapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in both California and New York with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from NYU. My training includes Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level One, Schema Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Social Thinking, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and a certification in clinical supervision.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across the globe — from New York to Singapore, and in community clinics, schools, and justice-based programs. As Senior School Counselor at The Winstedt School in Singapore, I supported neurodiverse students through trauma-informed counseling, peer support programs, and collaborative care. As the clinical services lead at Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), a reentry nonprofit in Harlem, I supervised therapeutic teams and co-led yoga and mindfulness groups for justice-involved young men.

Having supported youth and families in New York City and Singapore, I’ve gained firsthand insight into cultural nuance, systemic barriers, and the many ways resilience shows up across communities.

I also bring lived experience: I was neurodivergent long before there was language or support for it. I know how isolating it can feel, and I’m dedicated to ensuring that no one has to navigate that journey alone.

My personal and professional journey, enriched by my role as a proud mom, fuels my deeply empathetic and proactive approach to helping people feel seen, understood, and empowered to grow into their fullest selves.

PRACTICE


Individualized Therapy That Honors Your Family

Sessions are active, adaptive, and relational. We might sit, stretch, play a game, or take a walk — whatever fosters connection and honest conversation. My approach is warm, collaborative, and engaging.

My office is welcoming, with snacks, movement breaks, and tactile fidget toys to keep kids calm and focused. My goal is to make therapy accessible and allow clients to move at their own pace.

For clients under 16, I work to define clear boundaries around confidentiality, ensuring trust and transparency. For those over 16, confidentiality becomes crucial, and therapy is most effective when they feel ownership of the process. I maintain communication with parents when appropriate and with consent.

If your child is resistant to therapy, I offer parent coaching to guide you through this challenging period and help build trust for when they’re ready to engage.

Across all work, my goal is to foster trust while empowering your child to take an active role in their own growth, respecting both your values and the future we’re building together.

FAQ

I specialize in working with adolescents and young adults, typically ages 11 to 25. Each stage comes with its glimmers, unique challenges, and growth opportunities — from middle school transitions to family disruptions to preparing for college and beyond. My holistic approach adapts to meet the evolving needs of each client.

Yes. Supporting neurodivergent adolescents and young adults is at the heart of my practice. I work with clients who have ADHD, autism, learning differences, selective mutism, sensory sensitivities, or twice-exceptional (2e) profiles. My approach is identity-affirming, collaborative, and deeply respectful of each person’s unique way of moving through the world.

For clients under 16, I work in close partnership with both the young person and their caregivers. We co-create a plan that defines confidentiality and ensures a healthy balance of privacy, safety, and inclusion. You’ll be informed and supported while we empower your child to take an active role in their growth.For clients under 16, I work in close partnership with both the young person and their caregivers. We co-create a plan that defines confidentiality and ensures a healthy balance of privacy, safety, and inclusion. You’ll be informed and supported while we empower your child to take an active role in their growth.

For clients 16 and older, confidentiality is essential to building trust and promoting emotional autonomy. While our sessions are private, I welcome opportunities to loop in parents when helpful and always with your child’s consent. For clients 16 and older, confidentiality is essential to building trust and promoting emotional autonomy. While our sessions are private, I welcome opportunities to loop in parents when helpful and always with your child’s consent.

I support adolescents and young adults navigating a range of challenges, including:

Identity exploration and self-understanding
Navigating complex family or peer dynamics
Social-emotional fluency
Technology addiction and boundaries
School advocacy and educational planning
Executive functioning and autonomy
College and post-high school decision-making
Finding clarity in the midst of overwhelm

Whether your child is learning how to communicate their emotions, feeling misunderstood, overwhelmed, or simply needs another trusted ear, we’ll find clarity, direction, and momentum.

Yes. I take a village-based approach to therapy, coordinating care with teachers, learning specialists, medical professionals, coaches, and integrative providers — always with your consent. This ensures your child is surrounded by a cohesive, high-functioning support team.

Active, warm, and collaborative. I don’t just sit back, nod, and take notes — I engage, ask questions, role-play, challenge patterns, and sometimes even walk and talk. Therapy with me is flexible and designed to meet your child where they are, emotionally and developmentally.

Generally, we’ll meet at my sundrenched Oakland office, 5835 College Ave., Suite C1.

As young people need lots of movement, we may take a walk nearby if appropriate. I can also travel to schools or extracurricular activities for observation, IEP meetings, and so forth.

Enriching experiences are awesome — whether it’s camp, travel, or simply trying something new. Just let me know, and I’ll hold your child’s weekly spot so they return to a familiar, steady rhythm. I’m also happy to support families in choosing a summer camp that aligns with your child’s strengths and needs.

The short answer is: not usually. I believe in-person sessions foster deeper connection — and better outcomes. After years of remote learning and increased screen time, many adolescents are still rebuilding their social and emotional muscles. Real, in-person presence can be especially grounding and healing.

That said, life happens. For occasional needs like travel, illness, or Bay Area traffic, I offer secure telehealth sessions via HIPAA-compliant Zoom.

I also offer telehealth for parent sessions or for families navigating distance, divorce, long-distance co-parenting, or other transitional moments who are seeking periodic consultation or support.

My fees will be discussed in our initial 15-minute phone call.  Our 45-minute individual session will include a complimentary 10-minute check-in with parents when helpful.

Expert Village Work — coordination with schools, medical providers, or tutors — is billed separately at an hourly rate.

Please note: 24 hours’ notice is required to avoid a cancellation fee.

A few reduced-fee spots are available for families experiencing financial need. If my rate or availability doesn’t fit your circumstances, I’m happy to connect you with a trusted colleague.

I currently only take private payment. Although I do not accept insurance, I’m happy to provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, depending on your mental health coverage.

I kindly request 24 hours’ notice to cancel appointments so that I can accommodate others in my schedule.

Start with a Conversation

Therapy works best when it’s a good fit. I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation to connect, ask questions, and ensure alignment.

Give me a shout. Looking forward to hearing about where you’ve been and where you’re headed next.

Choosing Julia as your therapist is choosing yourself. She holds space with rare compassion, deep wisdom, and unwavering care. With Julia, healing isn’t just possible—it’s powerful. Her presence changes lives. I know, because she changed mine.
Cindee R., yoga teacher, meditation coach, proud mama
Thanks to role models like Julia, I’ve built healthy routines, developed strong coping mechanisms, and cultivated a supportive ADHD community. At 27, I still turn to her as a trusted confidant. If you’re struggling with mental health or just looking for more warmth and understanding in your life, I can’t recommend Julia highly enough.
Zoe K., former client
What sets Julia apart is her ability to connect across generations. She earned my teenage son’s trust, no easy task! Her collaborative model gave us access to a web of support we didn’t even know we needed. From school accommodations to social anxiety, Julia helped us navigate it all with confidence and compassion.
David R., tech executive and father of two
Julia helped my daughter find her voice at a time when everything felt uncertain. She doesn’t just listen—she partners, she advocates, she sees the whole picture. With Julia, we didn’t have to choose between evidence-based care and holistic support. We got both. The difference in our family dynamic has been profound.
Caroline M., parent of a high school junior