You're ready for your teen to feel like themselves again.
Teen & Young Adult Therapy in Branford, CT (and Telehealth Across CT & NY)
DBT-informed counseling for teens and young adults ready to feel like themselves again with a therapist who actually gets it.
Mallory Grimste, LCSW · Licensed in Connecticut & New York · over a decade supporting teens and young adults · 7,000+ subscribers on YouTube
Whether you're a parent looking for your teen, or you're 18 or older and ready to figure this out for yourself…
You're in the right place, and you don’t have to figure this out alone. 💛
I'm Mallory Grimste, LCSW is a DBT-informed therapist with an office in Branford, CT supporting tweens, teens, and twenty-somethings (about 9–26) through difficulties like: anxiety & panic, depression, test anxiety & school pressure, body image, urges or thoughts to self-harm, and the identity stuff that comes along with growing up and feeling comfortable with who you are 🌈.
Available to meet in person in Branford, telehealth across CT & NY, or a combination of both based on your needs.
What we can work on together in therapy:
😮💨 Teen anxiety & panic attacks: quieting the racing what-ifs so they can breathe and actually be in the moment.
🩶 Teen depression: finding the way back to the people and things that used to feel good, and the motivation to keep going.
🙄 Teen angst & irritability: discovering what your anger is trying to do for you and exploring its benefits can actually ease your tension at home.
🫶 Self-harm support: a shame-free place to talk about the urges and build gentler ways to cope and heal while learning to really love yourself— and not in some “toxic positivity” way.
🆘 Suicidal thoughts: a safe place to say the scariest stuff out loud and not have to hold it alone, and discovering your reason for staying.
✨ Identity & self-esteem: figuring out who you are, owning it, and actually feeling confident in being that person.
🧡 Body image & confidence: making peace with their relationship with their body, and with food when that's part of it.
🎒 School stress, friendships & conflicts: the pressure, comparison, drama, and the hard conversations… handled without crashing out.
📝 Test anxiety & performance pressure: that blank-brain-during-the-exam thing, the night-before spiral, the "I studied and still froze" thing…. we’ve got strategies for that.
🧰 DBT-informed skills: real, helpful strategies that actually work for big emotions, so everyone can stop walking on eggshells.
Here’s the TRUTH: you’re not crazy and you are not alone.
Therapy can help you with all of this… and more!
PS: Are you new to DBT? You’re in for a treat! Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a research-backed model built for people who feel their emotions BIG. I love this approach with teens because in my opinion it’s the perfect blend of structure (aka easy to remember) and adaptable so you can personalize it to your unique experiences.
"DBT-informed" means I weave these skills into our work together — but this is not a start-to-finish comprehensive DBT program. (I'll always be clear about the difference.) 💛
Allow me to introduce myself…
Hi I’m Mallory! My pronouns are she/hers- what are yours?
Here's the thing: I'm not your average cardigan-wearing, bobble-head-nodding therapist. I'm DBT-informed, which means we don't just sit and talk about your feelings — we build real strategies for what to actually do with them.
I've been in private practice since 2014, and the part I love most? Getting fired. Because it means therapy worked! Like when clients who were convinced they wouldn't make it to 18 end up texting me about their college plans.
That's the whole goal: you (or your teen) walking away with the strategies and the confidence to not need me anymore.
So whether you're a teen, a twenty-something, or a parent who found me at 2am — you're in the right place. Right here in Branford, CT, and across CT & NY. 💛
Want Me to Be Your Therapist?
I'd love that. Let's find out if we're the right fit. 💛
What changes when therapy actually starts working?
→ STOP constantly thinking of all the things that could go wrong so you could get excited about all the things that could go right
→ FIND your people now instead of having to wait until college
→ LIVE your life unapologetically so you could stop caring so much about what other people think
→ GET people to take you seriously and respect your boundaries
→ BREAK THROUGH those dark thoughts and urges that seem to creep in at the worst times
Feeling a little weirded out about talking with someone you don’t know about personal things you’re feeling?
With a YouTube video library of 400+ mental health videos featuring some very common therapy topics, you can get to know me + my therapy style.
BONUS: You’ll also pick up a few awesome strategies to jumpstart your healing journey.
“Thank you so much! I’ve been having the urge to self harm and this helped”
““Hi! Thank you for teaching about body image!”
“Man, your a really good person/therapist. You really help me a lot, thanks! And I love the bag in the background!”
“Thank you so much Mallory. You gave great information.”
“Thank you sooo much I’ve recently been struggling and this helped a lot!”
“This video was very helpful!! I self harm and I plan on telling my parents soon because I’m scared of it getting out of hand, and my grades are starting to slip. I’ve also been in a huge downward spiral lately so I think it’s a good time to seek help.”
Getting to the Branford Office:
✨ Where the Therapy Magic Happens ✨
Inside you’ll find a quiet, private space that was built to feel comfortable rather than clinical, plus a separate waiting area so parents have somewhere to be during their teen's session.
The office is at 250 W Main Street, Suite 203, Branford, CT 06405— right off of 95 and easy to reach from across New Haven County and the CT Shoreline, including Guilford, East Haven, North Branford, New Haven, Orange, Madison, Woodbridge, North Haven and Hamden.
And if the drive doesn't work, or your kid would rather do this from their home or dorm room, telehealth is available as long as you’re physically located in Connecticut or New York* at the time of your session.
*I don’t make the licensing laws, but I still gotta follow them!
Here’s How To Get Started:
STEP 1: Apply
Head to my contact page, read through the FAQs and fill out the application form.
After Dominique, our lovely administrative assistant, reviews it she’ll reach out to set up your 15-minute phone screening.
STEP 2: Phone Screening
Dominique will give you a call at the time you select to review your application and walk through the logistics of how we work.
We want to be sure everyone's on the same page about what to expect when starting therapy.
STEP 3: Client Assessment
At your first meeting with Mallory, you'll get to know each other.
You’ll also decide together whether counseling (or another step) is the right fit for you and/or your teen’s needs.
💛
Under 18? A parent handles the application and phone screening, then joins the Client Assessment together with their teen. 18+? You can take each step yourself.
Is Your Teen Nervous About Going to Therapy?
Talking with a therapist can be really scary, but it doesn't have to be.
You are in control!
I created this video about what to do when you’re feeling too anxious to show up.
Here’s a brief breakdown of what you can expect from the counseling services Mallory Grimste, LCSW provides for her clients:
The investment for this program is $330 per 45min session and includes:
Weekly Individual Therapy Sessions with Mallory Grimste, LCSW catered to your unique treatment needs to meet your goals for your healing journey.
Quarterly Collaborative Treatment Planning to keep us on track and focus on what’s important to you in your own words.
In-Office or Virtual Telehealth Appointments the choice is yours so things like transportation, unexpected illness, New England weather, or things like pandemic stay-at-home orders don’t disrupt your treatment progress.
Complimentary Support Calls as needed between appointments if your coping skills aren’t doing their job and you need a quick boost.
*Parents of clients who are under 18 years old are invited to provide their feedback & suggestions for treatment focus as well, though ultimately it is the teen’s decision how they choose to use their therapy sessions.
Have a preferred day or time? Let us know and we'll do our best to make it work. We just can't hold a specific spot until after your Client Assessment as open times can change. 💛
Questions You're Probably Wondering About Starting Therapy With Mallory…
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes — anxiety and panic are a big part of what we work on, both in person at the Branford office and by telehealth across Connecticut and New York.
The approach I use is DBT-informed, which in practice means the focus is on strategies you can actually use in the moment your chest gets tight — not only on talking about it afterward.
Sessions last 45 minutes, Tuesday through Thursday. -
Yes. Teen and young adult depression is one of the most common reasons people find their way here — the flat, heavy, can't-get-out-of-bed, nothing-sounds-good version.
Sessions can be in-person in Branford, CT, or telehealth as long as you’ll be anywhere in Connecticut or New York at the time of session. -
Yes. Test anxiety, presentation panic, the pressure that shows up around applications and finals — it's all fair game. Especially common with teens who are doing well on paper and quietly falling apart about it on the inside or at home.
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Tweens, teens, college students, and young adults, around ages 9 to 26.
My work is talk-based, so the best fit is someone ready to talk things through. (If a little one would do better with play therapy, I'm glad to point you toward the right match.)
Anyone 18+ can apply for themselves; for anyone younger, a parent gets things started. -
Yes, I work with tweens, teens, college students, and young adults, roughly ages 9 to 26. Anyone 18 or older can apply to work with me for themselves.
If you're a college student home for a break, or studying somewhere in Connecticut or New York, telehealth usually makes the schedule work. -
Both! I see clients in my Branford, CT office, and online by secure video as long as you're physically in Connecticut or New York when we meet. *Licensing laws are made by each state— I don't make 'em, but I follow 'em.
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Probably, yes. The Branford office is easy to reach from most of New Haven County and the Connecticut Shoreline.
And if the drive is too much, telehealth works anywhere you're physically located in Connecticut or New York at the time of your session — that's the only requirement. -
I support body image and disordered eating as part of a collaborative care team.
Because these concerns span several areas of care, I'll often coordinate with your dietitian (RDN), doctor, or other specialists, so you're fully supported and not getting mixed messages.
If you don't have those team members in place yet, building that team is part of the process.
We'll talk it through at your Client Assessment and figure out together whether I'm the right fit. 💛 -
I'm a DBT-informed therapist which means I bring DBT skills and strategies into our work together, but it's not a comprehensive, start-to-finish DBT program.
This is an important distinction, and I'm always happy to talk through what that means for you (or your teen). -
I'm an out-of-network (OON) provider, so I don't bill insurance directly, but a lot of families still get reimbursed.
I'll send you a monthly superbill to submit to your insurance, and my free OON Benefits Guide walks you through exactly what to ask them.
Current rates are on my sessions & rates page.
Ready to start when you are.
It all begins with a quick application…
Not ready to apply yet? Totally fine.
If the out-of-network piece is the part you're stuck on, start with this instead.
This free guide walks you through exactly what to ask your insurance company so you know what you'd actually get back before you commit to anything.