Miguel Brown M.S.ED. LMFT
Adolescent Psychotherapy Specialist
I am not a general therapist who occasionally sees teenagers. Adolescent mental health is my entire practice, my only focus, and the work I have done every day for almost 15 years.
Since 2012, I have built a reputation in Miami for being both clinically effective and genuinely relatable to teens. That combination is rarer than it sounds. Many therapists are skilled at one or the other. I am known for both.
What that means for your family:
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Your teenager works with someone who understands adolescent development at a clinical depth that general therapists do not have.
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Sessions are informed by more 25 years of experience working exclusively with this age group as a psychotherapist, social worker, behavior technician, and more.
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Parents are active partners in the process, not bystanders.
I hold a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) from the University of Miami and a Certification in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from the Florida Psychoanalytic Institute and Society and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, Lic. #MT2915) in the state of Florida. I see clients in person at my private office in Coconut Grove and online via a HIPAA-compliant video platform.
Empower Your Parenting Journey
Book Release
I wrote "The No-Nonsense Handbook for Parenting Your Weed Smoking Teenager" based on more than 25 years of direct experience helping teenagers and their families deal with this increasingly common challenge. If you have a teenager that's been getting high and you want straightforward information and guidance I highly recommend you start here.
Who I Help
I serve two closely related groups:
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Teenagers (Ages 12 to 19)
Adolescence is one of the most psychologically demanding periods of a person's life. The combination of academic pressure, social complexity, identity formation, and family dynamics creates a unique set of challenges that require a specialist, not a generalist. I work with teenagers across Miami, including many from competitive private schools such as Ransom Everglades, Belen Jesuit, Columbus, Carrollton, and Gulliver Preparatory.
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Emerging Adults (Ages 18 to Mid 20s)
The transition from adolescence to adulthood is its own clinical territory. College, career decisions, relationship shifts, and increasing independence can surface or intensify mental health challenges that began in the teen years. I work with young adults who are navigating this transition and want continuity of care with a therapist who understands where they are coming from developmentally.
Specialized Psychotherapy Services
Every service at Miami Teen Counseling is designed specifically for the adolescent mind and the family system around it. This is not a general practice that adapted its adult services for teenagers. These are treatments built from the ground up for this population.
Persistent sadness, withdrawal, excessive worry, and panic are among the most common reasons families reach out. I work with teenagers experiencing depression and anxiety to identify the underlying patterns driving their symptoms and develop insights for healing them. Treatment is collaborative, evidence-informed, and adapted to the teenager's personality and pace.
ADHD in teenagers rarely looks the way parents expect. It shows up as procrastination, emotional reactivity, underperformance despite obvious intelligence, and chronic disorganization. I work with teenagers to understand how their ADHD operates specifically, build insights that allow practical work arounds, and address the secondary anxiety and low self-esteem that often develop alongside it.
Teenagers on the autism spectrum who are academically capable often go unrecognized and unsupported for years. Social difficulties, sensory sensitivities, and the exhaustion of masking in demanding school environments take a real toll. I work with high-functioning autistic teens and their families to improve communication, reduce stress, and build genuine self-understanding and acceptance.
Miami's competitive private schools produce high-achieving teenagers who are also, frequently, highly stressed ones. The pressure to perform academically, maintain social standing, and build an impressive college application creates a specific kind of anxiety that is different from clinical anxiety disorder. I work with high-achieving teens to distinguish healthy drive from harmful pressure and rebuild a sustainable relationship with performance.
Low resilience, fear of failure, perfectionism, and lack of motivation can hold teenagers back from their full potential. I partner with teens to cultivate mental strength, helping them develop a growth mindset and adapt to life's inevitable pressures. This proactive approach focuses on building self-awareness, emotional agility, and deep , lasting confidence.
Teenage marijuana use is one of the most mishandled issues in adolescent and family therapy. I wrote a book on it, literally. My clinical approach is direct, non-shaming, and grounded in more than 25 years of experience working with teenagers and cannabis. I help families have productive conversations and help teenagers understand the real impact of use on their brain and their goals.
Parents are not passive observers in their teenager's therapy. I offer dedicated parenting sessions to help families improve communication, set fair and consistent boundaries, and shift from an adversarial dynamic to an allied one. Many families find that changes in how parents respond to their teenager accelerate the teenager's progress in therapy significantly.
Explosive outbursts, frequent arguments, and lingering irritability can leave the whole family feeling overwhelmed. I work with teenagers struggling with anger to uncover the root causes of their frustration and help them digest their emotional intensity so they can think clearly. Therapy focuses on emotional regulation, improving communication, and developing understanding for expressing feelings usefully.
Isolation, peer conflict, social anxiety, and feelings of not fitting in can deeply impact a teenager's self-esteem. I guide adolescents navigating social challenges to build confidence, understand complex social dynamics, and establish healthy boundaries. Counseling provides a safe, supportive space to understand their attempts to make friendships and foster genuine connections with peers.
Why Choose Private Psychotherapy?
Miami Teen Counseling does not accept health insurance. This is a deliberate clinical and ethical decision, not a limitation.
When insurance pays for therapy, insurance companies make clinical decisions. They require a formal psychiatric diagnosis before a single session is covered. That diagnosis becomes part of your teenager's permanent medical record and can affect future insurance eligibility, security clearances, and certain career paths. Insurance companies also dictate how many sessions are allowed, which treatment methods are approved, and when therapy must end.
Private pay removes all of that. Every decision about your teenager's care is made by and your family and I, with no outside interference.
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What private-pay therapy at Miami Teen Counseling includes:
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Superior Privacy and Confidentiality
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Personalized Treatment Management
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Enhanced Flexibility in Treatment
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No Diagnosis Requirement
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Focus on Long-Term Growth
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Predictable Costs
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Visit the Private Pay Benefits page and the Fees and Policies page for more detailed information.
In-Person Quality with Online Convenience and Consistency
I understand that the schedules of modern teenagers and their parents can be packed. Although nothing beats the superior quality of in-person psychotherapy, online psychotherapy is unmatched in terms of convenience. Not having to make it to all sessions in-person enhances the experience by facilitating consistency in treatment—a necessary requirement for a good outcome. It also reduces driving and time management stress for parents. Visit the My Approach to Counseling page to learn more about how I got into online psychotherapy. ​​​
I highly recommend Miguel if you’re looking for professional psychological support to help navigate the challenging years of adolescence as a parent. He provides parents with valuable tools and knowledge to make conscious choices that can positively impact their child’s development and strengthen the family environment in so many ways.
He continues to help our family work through our differences in a way that feels healthy and positive for everyone. Most importantly, he helps kids better understand themselves, build self-awareness, and learn to make better choices on their own.
Thank you, Miguel, for all your help and for creating a safe space where families can come together, communicate, and grow.
M. San Roman
Request an Initial Consultation
1 hr
250 US dollars
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during the intial consultation? The initial consultation is a one-hour meet-and-greet designed for Miguel to understand your teenager’s unique situation. He meets with the parents first (or together, depending on the family’s preference), followed by time with the teenager. By the end, you’ll receive personalized treatment recommendations, a clear understanding of what therapy would look like, and an honest assessment of whether Miguel is the right fit for your family.
Why doesn't Miguel accept insurance? Private pay psychotherapy is a deliberate choice that protects your family. Insurance companies require a formal mental health diagnosis — which becomes part of your teen’s permanent medical record and can affect future insurance eligibility, security clearances, and certain career paths. Insurance also dictates session frequency, treatment duration, and even the types of therapy allowed. Private pay ensures that every clinical decision is made exclusively between Miguel and your family — with no outside interference and the highest level of confidentiality.
What ages does Miguel work with? Miguel specializes exclusively in adolescents and their families. He typically works with teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19, though he also works with young adults in their early 20s who are navigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood. His entire practice — training, clinical approach, and experience — is focused solely on this critical developmental stage.
How often are sessions and how long does therapy take? Sessions are typically once per week, though some families choose twice-weekly during particularly challenging periods or for faster, more in-depth work. The duration of therapy varies entirely by the teenager’s needs and goals — there’s no one-size-fits-all timeline. Some teens benefit from several months of focused work; others develop a longer-term therapeutic relationship that supports them through high school and beyond. Because Miguel doesn’t accept insurance, there are no arbitrary session limits — therapy continues as long as it’s beneficial.
Does Miguel offer virtual sessions? Yes. While in-person sessions at the Coconut Grove office are the gold standard, Miguel offers secure online video sessions for flexibility. Many families use a hybrid model — in-person when possible, online when schedules, travel, or Miami traffic make it more practical. Online sessions are conducted through a HIPAA-compliant platform to ensure the same level of privacy and confidentiality.
Will I know what my teenager discusses in therapy? Confidentiality between the teenager and the therapist is essential for therapy to work. Miguel will not share session details with parents. However, he maintains regular communication with parents about overall progress, themes, and strategies — without breaking the teen’s trust. If there is ever a safety concern, Miguel will always involve the parents immediately. This balance of privacy and parental involvement is something Miguel navigates with great care and experience.
Does my teenager have to want therapy for it to work? Not necessarily. It’s completely normal for teenagers to be resistant or skeptical at first — most are. Miguel is exceptionally skilled at building rapport with reluctant teens. His warm, authentic, and non-judgmental approach quickly puts teenagers at ease. Many parents report that after just one or two sessions, their teen actually begins looking forward to therapy. The initial consultation is the best way to see how Miguel connects with your teenager.