Clarity
Understand what your child may need and whether outpatient therapy is the right fit.
Clinical Psychologist · DBT · Adolescents & Young Adults
Compassionate, evidence-based care for adolescents and young adults navigating intense emotions.
Dr. Kristen L. Batejan provides thoughtful, evidence-based therapy for teens and young adults struggling with emotional dysregulation, self-harm, suicidality, and related challenges — with care that is collaborative, structured, and grounded in DBT.
For parents: If you are worried about your teen or young adult and unsure where to begin, this is a steady place to start.
For Parents
When your child is struggling, it can be hard to know what kind of help is needed.
Reaching out for therapy can feel especially difficult when your teen or young adult is experiencing intense emotions, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, relationship conflict, or repeated crises. Dr. Batejan works with adolescents, young adults, and families to better understand what is happening, identify the right level of support, and build skills for navigating distress more safely and effectively.
Treatment is collaborative and evidence-based. Depending on the needs of the young person, care may include individual therapy, DBT-informed skills work, parent consultation, safety planning, and coordination with other providers when appropriate.
Skills
Build practical tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, communication, and safety.
Support
Help parents and young people move forward with more structure, understanding, and steadiness.
About
A steady, thoughtful place to begin.
Kristen L. Batejan, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized experience treating adolescents and young adults struggling with emotional dysregulation, self-harm, suicidality, and related concerns.
Her clinical work is grounded in evidence-based treatment, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and compassionate, individualized care. She brings a calm and collaborative style to helping young people and families understand patterns, reduce risk, and build more effective ways of coping.
Dr. Batejan is affiliated with McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
This private practice is separate from Dr. Batejan’s roles at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Approach
Structured care, tailored to the young person in front of us.
Therapy combines evidence-based strategies with a calm, collaborative relationship. The goal is not just to talk about distress, but to build practical skills for managing it.
01
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
DBT helps young people build skills for managing intense emotions, reducing self-destructive behaviors, navigating conflict, and tolerating distress more safely.
02
Adolescents & Young Adults
Care is tailored to the developmental needs of teens and young adults, including identity, independence, school or college stress, relationships, family dynamics, and transitions.
03
Parent & Family Support
When appropriate, parents may be included to support communication, safety, consistency, and skill use outside of sessions.
04
Mindfulness & Emotion Regulation
Mindfulness-based and emotion regulation strategies can help young people notice what is happening internally and respond with more choice, steadiness, and self-compassion.
Fit
Is this the right kind of support?
Dr. Batejan may be a good fit for adolescents, young adults, and families seeking evidence-based outpatient therapy for concerns such as:
- Intense or rapidly shifting emotions
- Self-harm or urges to self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts or recent safety concerns
- Borderline Personality Disorder traits or diagnosis
- Depression, anxiety, or shame-driven avoidance
- Relationship conflict or family stress
- Difficulty coping with school, college, or transitions
- Trouble using skills outside of crisis moments
Important
Outpatient therapy may not be the right level of care for every situation. If there are immediate safety concerns, recent suicide attempts, inability to stay safe, or a need for more intensive monitoring, a higher level of care may be recommended. An initial consultation can help determine appropriate next steps.
Getting Started
A clear first step.
- 01
Send a brief inquiry
Share the young person's age, primary concerns, location, and what kind of support you are seeking.
- 02
Schedule an initial consultation
Discuss fit, availability, treatment needs, safety considerations, and whether outpatient therapy is appropriate.
- 03
Begin care or receive guidance
If it is a good fit, you can discuss next steps for intake and treatment. If another type or level of care would be more appropriate, Dr. Batejan can help clarify what to look for.
Email is appropriate for non-urgent inquiries only.
Credentials & Affiliations
Specialized training in evidence-based care.
Dr. Batejan’s clinical training and professional affiliations reflect specialized experience in adolescent and young adult mental health, DBT, self-harm, suicidality, and evidence-based treatment.
For many families, specialized training matters most when symptoms feel complex, high-risk, or difficult to understand.
Education
- PhD in Clinical Psychology — Suffolk University (2015)
- MA in Clinical Psychology — Suffolk University (2010)
- BA in Psychology — Johns Hopkins University (2005)
Postdoctoral Fellowship & Internship
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship, 3East — McLean Hospital (2015–2016)
- Pre-Doctoral Internship — University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (2014–2015)
Licensure
- Licensed Psychologist — Board of Registration of Psychologists, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2016)
Hospital & Academic Affiliations
- McLean Hospital — Staff Psychologist, 3East Partial Hospital Program
- Harvard Medical School — Instructor in Psychology, Department of Psychiatry
Fit & Logistics
Questions families often have before reaching out.
Contact
A short note is often the first step.
For non-urgent inquiries about availability, fit, or consultation, please reach out by email or phone. Include a brief description of what you are looking for, the young person’s age, and any relevant safety concerns.
Location
[Confirm practice location, address, and whether to display publicly.]
Please do not include highly sensitive clinical details by email. Email is not monitored for emergencies.
If this is an emergency
Call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or call/text 988 in the United States.
If this is an emergency
This website and email are not monitored for emergencies. If you or your child may be in immediate danger, call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or call/text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 if you are in the United States.