


Group Therapy for Teens in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley
For teen girls and nonbinary youth who want to build compassion and care
You deserve to feel seen and understood without having to hide parts of yourself just to fit in. This group is your space to build real connections, talk about what’s actually going on, and grow into who you are, without fear of being judged, dismissed, shut down or bullied.
Thrive Together Teen Group is for you if…
You’re a parent watching your teen struggle emotionally in high school. You keep hoping high school will get better for her but it’s still hard.
You’ve lost friends, gone through breakups or dealt with bullies or stalkers at school and need a safe place to talk about it.
You’re navigating your identity, family, college app demands, friends and just feel overwhelmed with it all.
You are coming down from a higher level of care like PHP, IOP or hospitalization and want to avoid setbacks and get back on track.
You’re shy, lonely or wanting to learn how to make more quality friendships and build social skills.
What if you could stop…
Feeling anxious to talk to anyone at school about your problems, worried that it will turn into gossip and make things even worse
Wondering if maybe everyone else has it figured out and you’re just behind
Wishing you didn’t have to think about college or adulthood and feeling anxious about the future
Trying to hold it all in, only to end up crying in your room or zoning out for hours
Here’s the truth: you are not alone! I have worked with so many high school girls and nonbinary youth over the years who have felt isolated in their struggles.
Thrive Together has been a place where they’ve made many deep connections with others who are holding the same pain. The high school social space can be really stressful and demanding but group therapy is a special place where everyone is allowed to be themselves, feel safe and respected.


What is the Thrive Together teen group?
❋ Established in 2020, this therapeutic group for high school girls and nonbinary youth has carried on the tradition of being a thriving and lively support space to this day.
❈ This is a weekly, in person 60 minute therapy group that accepts teens between 9th and 12th grade and caps at six members. We run year-round and accept new members on a rolling basis.
❉ Thrive Together is built upon the principles of fostering self-compassion, community, empathy, resilience and developing peer support. We celebrate and honor our relationships with each other, steps toward growth and the healthy navigation of high school.
What’s included?
Activities
Check ins with each group member is the priority of each meeting. Each group member has the floor to share about their week in any capacity that serves their therapeutic goals. Group members then have the opportunity to respond and offer the member support.
Social-emotional education
Based on themes that come up in group discussion such as: communication skills, setting boundaries, coping skills, navigating difficult relationships and more.
Seasonal celebrations to honor each new season of the year
We recognize the arrival of spring, summer, fall and winter in seasonal parties.
Sporadic snack club
Each group member brings their favorite snack of the moment to share with others. We respect food allergies and dietary restrictions.
Games and fun activities
To support cohesion, friendship and stress management.
Therapeutic arts and crafts
Sometimes the best way to express a feeling or an idea is through art! Especially as the seasons change, there are opportunities to explore creativity throughout the year.
Getting started

01
Let’s book a consultation to see if you or your young person are a good fit for this group:
Contact me to set up a free 20 minute consultation to discuss your daughter/teen. I can share more about the group and we can decide if it’s a good fit.
02
We’ll have an in person meeting:
I will set up an in person 60 minute intake meeting with you and your teen where I cover all the basics of our group, develop goals for the group and set a start date. Each member is working on personal and social emotional goals that are private to me, the parent and the youth.
03
Get ready to thrive in community:
Your teen will receive a group start date as early as the following week.
Group Days, times and location
❋ Thrive Together Wednesdays at 5:30pm
❈ Now recruiting for a brand new Thrive Together group on
Thursdays at 4:30pm! Now accepting new group signups!
✿ The group meets in my office at 16 S Oakland Ave in Pasadena
Hi, I’m Cristina Lugo, LCSW - Therapist for teens and non-binary youth
I’ve spent 15 years specializing in teen girls struggling with anxiety, depression, emotional challenges impacting education, relational challenges with friends and family and basically most issues that could impact a young person. I’ve been in your shoes before, seeking therapy as an adolescent. It’s now my mission to provide the type of therapy young people deserve.



With the right support, we can all thrive.
Let’s do it together. Let’s talk to see if our group could be a good fit for you.
Testimonials
I found Cristina after a few unsuccessful attempts at traditional talk therapy. I was looking to try EMDR to tackle some recurring challenges in romantic relationships. From our first session, Cristina fostered a warm and nonjudgemental environment where I feel safe diving into some of the most tender parts of my past. Now, with Cristina’s help, I am able to see my past as a tool to understand how to successfully reach my goals and not something to be ashamed of. I finally feel like I am on the right path to achieving my goals and living a life where I can welcome authentic love and feel compassion for myself.
Cristina is a committed, conscientious, and inventive therapist. She and I co-facilitated a middle school therapy group for nearly five years. During our time as co-facilitators, I deeply valued her ability to utilize a trauma- informed, culturally sensitive framework to understand each individual group member. Her approach supported the development of a safe and trustworthy group space, which allowed members to engage authentically and form meaningful connections with one another. She coined the term “culture of caring” to describe the space that we (facilitators and group members) co-created. This term became a way to describe one of the core values of the group when welcoming new members. The term also describes the way in which Cristina practices therapy and engages with the world.
Dr. Angela Youngs
I found Cristina after a few unsuccessful attempts at traditional talk therapy. I was looking to try EMDR to tackle some recurring challenges in romantic relationships. From our first session, Cristina fostered a warm and nonjudgemental environment where I feel safe diving into some of the most tender parts of my past. Now, with Cristina’s help, I am able to see my past as a tool to understand how to successfully reach my goals and not something to be ashamed of. I finally feel like I am on the right path to achieving my goals and living a life where I can welcome authentic love and feel compassion for myself.
Cristina is a committed, conscientious, and inventive therapist. She and I co-facilitated a middle school therapy group for nearly five years. During our time as co-facilitators, I deeply valued her ability to utilize a trauma- informed, culturally sensitive framework to understand each individual group member. Her approach supported the development of a safe and trustworthy group space, which allowed members to engage authentically and form meaningful connections with one another. She coined the term “culture of caring” to describe the space that we (facilitators and group members) co-created. This term became a way to describe one of the core values of the group when welcoming new members. The term also describes the way in which Cristina practices therapy and engages with the world.
Dr. Angela Youngs
Payment details
Group fees are $90 per 60 minute group session.
The 60 minute intake fee is $265. Superbills are available for PPO insurance reimbursement. Sliding scale is available for those who qualify.


Frequently asked questions
What is group therapy for teens, and how does it work?
Group therapy for teens creates a safe, therapist-led space where young people connect with others who are going through similar struggles.
In my Pasadena-based teen groups, participants explore topics like anxiety, identity, friendships, family stress, and emotional overwhelm all in a setting where they don’t have to explain or hide who they are. Sessions include open discussion, skill-building, and sometimes creative or mindfulness-based tools to help teens express what they’re feeling.
How is group therapy different from individual therapy?
In individual therapy, teens work one-on-one with a therapist, which offers a private space for focused support.
In group therapy, teens hear from peers who "get it," which helps reduce shame, build confidence, and strengthen social-emotional skills. Many clients find that group therapy adds a sense of belonging and helps them realize they’re not alone in what they’re feeling.
How long does group therapy for teens usually last?
Group therapy doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all timeline. Some teens attend for a few months, while others stay throughout all four years of high school depending on their needs and desire to continue. It’s common for teens to pause or transition out of group as life changes like starting college or shifting priorities and that’s okay. The goal is to support growth while they’re here, not to add more pressure.
How do you maintain the privacy of the space?
I take group confidentiality very seriously and each group member has participated in a 60 minute intake meeting with me where I explain confidentiality and why it’s extremely important. Every group member has agreed to this and other group agreements that I cover in the meeting.
I go to ___ school and don’t want to run into someone from school in group therapy. How do you handle this?
All of our group members go to different schools in the Pasadena area. If you go to the same school as one of our existing group members, I will check with both of you on if there is anyone from the school you would be uncomfortable being in group with. If there is not a match with names then we can proceed. I have had members from the same school before and it has always been a positive experience. I am happy to talk more if this is a concern for you.
How do I know if the group is working to help me?
Twice per year I have private 30 minute meetings with you and a parent called seasonal consultations. This meeting is our chance to discuss progress on your goals in a private setting and also hear from you, your parent and to give and receive feedback.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate,
visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.