When your child or teen is struggling, it can be hard to know what they need—or how best to help.
Child and youth counselling in Calgary offers a supportive space for children and teens navigating big emotions, anxiety, relationships, life changes, ADHD, autism, and other challenges. Sessions are tailored to your child’s age, needs, and way of connecting, with an emphasis on emotional regulation, self-understanding, and connection.
How Child and Youth Counselling Can Help
Children and teens don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling or why things have become difficult. Sometimes emotions show up through behaviour, withdrawal, worry, frustration, changes in relationships, or feeling overwhelmed.
Counselling provides a supportive, developmentally appropriate space where children and teens can explore what’s happening for them in ways that feel natural and accessible. Depending on your child’s age and needs, sessions may incorporate conversation, play, creativity, movement, and other experiential approaches.
Support for a Range of Concerns
Big Emotions & Regulation
Support with overwhelming emotions, frustration, emotional regulation, and developing greater awareness of what’s happening internally.
ADHD, Autism & Neurodivergence
Neurodiversity-affirming support that respects each child or teen’s individual ways of processing, communicating, connecting, and experiencing the world.
Anxiety, Worry & Stress
A supportive space for children and teens experiencing worry, fears, stress, overwhelm, or difficulty coping with uncertainty.
Relationships, Identity & Life Changes
Support with friendships, family relationships, self-understanding, identity, transitions, grief, and other changes that may feel difficult to navigate.
What Counselling Can Look Like
Counselling with children and teens doesn’t always look like sitting and talking. Sessions are adapted to your child’s age, needs, interests, and ways of communicating and connecting.
Depending on what feels comfortable and engaging, sessions may include conversation, play, art and creativity, movement, storytelling, and other experiential activities. These approaches can give children and teens different ways to explore emotions, build self-understanding, and develop skills for regulation and connection.
How I Support Children & Teens
Relationship & Safety
Creating a supportive relationship where children and teens can feel comfortable being themselves and exploring what’s going on for them.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Support
Honouring each child or teen’s individual ways of communicating, processing, connecting, and experiencing the world.
Regulation & Coping
Building awareness of emotions and developing practical, age-appropriate ways to manage overwhelm and navigate difficult moments.
Developmentally Appropriate Care
Adapting counselling to your child’s age, needs, interests, and communication style, including play and creative approaches when appropriate.
Working With Parents & Caregivers
Parents and caregivers are an important part of the counselling process, particularly with younger children. How you’re involved will depend on your child’s age, needs, and the goals for counselling.
At times, this may include parent check-ins, sharing observations, discussing strategies to support your child at home, or helping you better understand what your child may be communicating through their emotions or behaviour. As children get older, the balance between parent involvement and their need for privacy may shift.
What to Expect When Getting Started
1
Book a Free Consultation
We’ll start with a brief consultation to talk about what’s bringing you to counselling, what you’re looking for, and whether I may be a good fit for your child or teen.
2
Parent/Caregiver Intake
For younger clients, we may begin with a parent or caregiver conversation so I can learn more about your child, your concerns, their strengths, and what you’re hoping counselling can support.
3
Your Child’s First Session
Early sessions focus on helping your child or teen become comfortable with me and the counselling space. There’s no expectation that they need to open up or talk about difficult things right away.
4
Ongoing Support
From there, sessions are adapted to your child’s needs and goals, with parent or caregiver involvement incorporated when appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child & Youth Counselling
Children and teens may benefit from counselling when emotions, stress, behaviour, relationships, or life changes are becoming difficult to navigate. You don’t need to know exactly what is going on before reaching out. A free consultation gives us a chance to talk about what you’ve been noticing and whether counselling may be a good fit for your child or teen.
Sessions are adapted to your child or teen’s age, needs, communication style, and comfort level. Depending on the individual, counselling may include conversation, creative or play-based activities, emotional awareness, practical strategies, and opportunities to explore experiences at a pace that feels manageable.
I begin with a parent or caregiver intake so I can learn more about your child, your concerns, their strengths, and what you’re hoping counselling can support. As counselling continues, parent involvement may include check-ins, observations, or strategies for home. The level of involvement can shift depending on your child’s age, needs, and privacy.
Child and youth counselling is available in Calgary, with virtual counselling available when appropriate. Whether in-person or online sessions are a good fit can depend on your child or teen’s age, needs, preferences, and the type of support they are looking for.
Looking for a different type of support? View all counselling services.
Wondering If Counselling Might Be a Good Fit?
If you’re considering counselling for your child or teen, you’re welcome to book a free consultation. We can talk about what’s been happening, what you’re looking for, and whether I may be a good fit for your family.