Child & Teen Counselling
child & teen counselling
Support for children and teens as they grow, feel, and heal.
Children and teens are all unique, in that they have their own personalities, attachment styles, emotional needs, and growth journeys from child to adulthood. At certain points in life, it’s normal for a child or teenager to be faced with difficult challenges; how they react to these challenges may impact their ability to communicate their needs.
Let’s make room for children and teens where they can feel safe to talk or communicate their emotional needs. At Expressions Counselling, we offer compassionate and personalized child and teen counselling to promote healing for the entire family.
When Should a Child or Teen Receive Counselling?
Counselling for teens and children can be applied not only after an impactful event has occurred or certain behaviours need to be managed, but also as a preventive solution for development such as learning emotional regulation and flexibility. Overall, it may be worth considering seeking therapy for your child/teen if any one or more of the following situations apply:
- Your child/teen has difficulty coping with a major life transition, such as a move to a new neighbourhood or school, the loss of a loved one or pet, and the introduction of a new element in the home such as a new sibling
- A traumatic event has taken place and your child/teen is unable to communicate their feelings about it
- Both mental and physical symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression are being noticed, such as overthinking, stomachaches, headaches, etc.
- Your child/teen is having trouble with both regulating their emotions and managing their emotional reactions
- Your child/teen is having issues communicating their emotions and thoughts or they are reluctant to be open with you as their parent/guardian about certain thoughts
- Issues with task management, time management, and concentration are noticed both at school and at home
- Black-and-white patterns are being vocalized by your child/teen, e.g. “I’ll never be good at this,” “No one likes me in class,” etc.
- Troubles with socializing or maintaining friendships at school or in their community
These and more are all indicative of underlying issues that counselling can gently help to address.
What are the Benefits of Counselling for Children and Teens?
Regardless of the underlying reasons why a parent/guardian may seek support for their child, there are many benefits to consider seeking counselling for children and teens:
- Providing them with a space where they can safely express their feelings, thoughts, and memories that may be interfering with their well-being
- Proactively preventing post-traumatic stress or providing gentle and compassionate treatment as a result of a traumatic event or memory in their childhood
- Reducing the psychological impact of panic attacks, general anxiety, stress, and childhood/teenage depression
- A welcoming space to navigate bigger feelings they don’t know how to express yet
- Finding new ways to communicate and express their emotions through creative arts, crafts, sand, puppets, and toys
- Becoming equipped with coping tools and developing skills for emotional regulation and resilience, navigating life transitions, and cultivating awareness in self-identity
Why Choose Expressions Counselling?
Our team is dedicated to counselling and supporting children, teens, and their families from all walks of life.
- Your Choice of Therapist for Your Child or Teen. Our team consists of Registered Clinical Counsellors with diverse backgrounds, personalities, and therapeutic approaches. You can choose the therapist whose style, experience, and approach best align with your child’s or teen’s preferences and mental health needs. You can learn more about our child counsellors here and our teen counsellors here.
- Therapist Specialties. Every therapist has specialized training and areas of expertise for children and teens, from play therapy to expressive arts. This allows us to thoughtfully match your child or teen with a therapist who has the knowledge and experience to best support their unique needs.
- Research-Based Personalized Care. Your child or teen’s therapy plan is tailored to their individual needs, goals, and progress using evidence-based recommendations. Together with their therapist, you will determine the frequency, duration, and focus of their sessions. Our goal is to provide the right amount of support at the right time—we never want our younger clients to continue therapy unless it is providing meaningful and lasting benefit.
- Flexible Scheduling. We offer daytime, evening, in-person, and secure virtual appointments, making it easier to access counselling around your child’s school (if applicable), your work, and your family commitments.
- Continuity of Care. As your child or teen’s needs evolve, care can evolve too. If another therapist on our team is better suited to support your child and family’s changing goals, we can seamlessly coordinate the transition so your child continues receiving the care that best meets their needs.
- Multiple Languages. We understand that children and teens expressing themselves in a preferred language can make therapy feel more comfortable and effective. If English is not your family’s first language, you may choose to work with one of our counsellors who is fluent in your preferred language.
A Trusted Community Practice. Since 2018, we have had the privilege of supporting more than 10,000 clients on their mental health journeys. We are proud to be a trusted counselling practice known for providing compassionate, evidence-based, and client-centred care.
Our team takes great care in assessing your child’s current situation, creating personalized therapy plans, and providing them with the coping tools they need to grow into healthy adults in a compassionate, non-judgmental, and honest manner. With time, effort, focus, and collaboration, you and your family will be able to reach your mental health goals.
Would You Like To Book Your Appointment?
To schedule your appointment with Expressions Counselling, you may:
Call (778) 229-0029
Email info@expressionscounselling.com