Teen & Adolescent Counselling

There are so many messages about who men and women should be, it’s pretty common to feel mixed up. I listen first, and work collaboratively, to help you figure out what fits. Adolescence is also characterized by change – and that’s exactly what counselling is all about. I help adolescents identify the core problem, unpack destructive messages, and help you take the reigns on improving what life looks like.

I realize that parents often have an important part to play in enabling growth. When family relationships are implicated, I help adolescents and parents ease the transition their relationship is undergoing: into a trusting and mutual, grown-up relationship.

FAQ – What type of counselling is best for my teenager?

Parents with this question are usually asking about whether to join their youth or let them attend counselling independently; as well as about whether art therapy, talk therapy, behaviour therapy, etc. is most suited.

I typically suggest beginning the first session with both the adolescent and their parent(s) together. Parents often have concerns they’d want the therapist to know, and I try to honour the position parents have of supporting their teen. There are times when the adolescent has requested counselling independently, however, in which cases meeting solely with the teen first is most respectful. Even in these cases, there may be relevance to including parents for support down the line.

As for the therapy approach, I use activities and occasionally art to facilitate talk therapy, which has proven especially useful for adolescents who are reluctant to open up. It is common for teens to take 2-4 sessions to open up in therapy, and I find activities can help relax the conversation.