The San Francisco Institute for Adolescence was founded in 1995 to address the true nature and spirit of teenagers. We believe that in order for teenagers to thrive, we should change how we perceive, think and interact with them.

Power, dignity and respect are what teenagers want, need and deserve. By interacting positively with them, we encourage a fully expressive and expansive adolescent experience, and thereby better prepare them for the next stage of development, young adulthood.

Our programs integrate the whole mind, body and spirit of teenagers in our unique and innovative group, individual
and family counseling, wilderness challenge, nutrition counseling, high school and college placement consultations, and parent conferences.

We are a member of the American Psychological Association and the California Psychological Association through our founder and director, Stephen D. Karr, Ph.D., ABPP, who was also past president of the San Francisco Psychological Association. The Institute is also an active member of the Association for Experiential Education for our Wilderness Challenge program and the Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society for our Group Counseling program.