Youth Psychotherapy & Counselling (Ages 12-17)

There is no pressure to dive into deep topics right away. The first session is just a chance for us to get to know each other. We wil talk about what has been going on, what you want to get out of therapy, and how we can work together. You share only what you feel comfortable sharing.

This is completely normal! Starting therapy can feel awkward at first. You do not have to have everything figured out or have a perfect script. We just talk about your week, your favorite hobbies, or school. And sometimes silence happens too, and that is okay. We go entirely at your pace. 

While everything you the youth share in your psychotherapy and counselling sessions are strictly confidential except when provincial and federal laws require the therapist to break confidentiality without your consent under the following narrow circumstances.

1- imminent risk of harm (duty to protect). If there are reasonable grounds to believe you are at imminent and clear risk of serious phsyical or pscyhological harm to yourself, or you are at significant risk of serious bodily harm to someone that is identifiable. 

2- Child neglect or abuse. If there is reason to suspet that a child under 16 years of age (or up to 18 if under a child protection order) is experiencing or is at risk of experiencing abuse, neglect or harm. 

3- Abuse by a Healthcare Professional. If you disclose information giving the therapist reasonable information to believe another regulated health professional in Ontario has sexually abused a client, and in unregulated provinces this is an ethical guideline under the Canadian Counsellor Psychotherapist Association (CCPA). 

4- Subpoenas & Court Orders: If a law court subpoenas your clinical records or orders the therapist to testify in legal proceeding.

5- Long-Term Care or Elder Abuse: If you reside in a jurisdiction with mandatory reporting laws (such as Ontario's Fixing Long-Term Care Act, Manitoba's Protection for Persons in Care Act, and Newfoundland & Labrador's Adult Protection Act) and there is reasonable belief that a resident living in a long-term care facility or retirement home is experiencing neglect or abuse.Note on Out-of-Province Care: if you reside in a province where institutional adult abuse reporting is not explicitly mandated by local statute (such as Saskatchewan), I still reserve the ethical right to intervene or notify appropriate local emergency authorities under the Imminent Risk of Harm protocal if a vulnerable individual's life or safety is in immediate jeopardy.

6- Incapacitation / Medical Emergency. If you become critically ill, injured or otherwise incapacitated during a counselling/psychotherapy session, basic emergency contact information may be shared with emergency personnel or a substitute decision maker. 

7- As a registered psychotherapist (qualifying), all the clincial records, regardless of where you live in Canada (Ontario or an unregulated province) may be randonly and confidentially reviewed by CRPO representative only for quality assurance purposes.   

There are many challenges facing you as a youth today that we can discuss including:

1- digital and social pressures. Yes, the digital world can feel lonely, overwhelming and exhausting. We can together work to unpack the pressure to look perfect online, manage cyberbullying or online social exclusion and work toward a healthy reslationship with screen time that does not drain your self-esteem

2- I feel totally burnt out by school, and expectations. There are many challenges that can be overwhelming including school burnout, academic perfectionsims, 'paralysis' facing major life transitions such as applying to post secondary education institutions or graduating. 

3- Who am I and where do I fit in. Transitioning into adulthood is a huge undertaking and is unique to you, a composite of many factors including culture, community and supports. This is a safe place to explore and imagine what your goals and dreams are. 

4- Mood swings or sudden anger. Emotions can be amplified in these years of being a teenager. Together we can explore this areas and define your goals. 

There are other issues that can be addressed as well. The above are a sample of the type of issues we can discuss.

Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying) is regulated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). This designation ensures adherence to the strict professional accountability, provincial standards and the legal authorization to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy in Ontario. 

Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) is a national certification granted by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). This designation identifies practitioners who meet the rigorous national graduate level of education, clinical supervisions standards and ethical standards.

RP, RP (Qualifying) under supervision and CCC registered practitioners can both provide professional talk therapy to work with you to journey in helping your mental health, change life patterns, and manage difficult emotions. 

RP, RP (Qualifying) under supervision and CCC registered practitioners CAN NOT GIVE A FORMAL DIAGNOSIS. DIAGNOSIS is restricted to physicans, psychologists, and psychiatrists. 

RP, RP (Qualifying) under supervision and CCC registered practitioners CAN NOT PRESCRIBE MEDICATION. Only a psychiatrist, physican or a nurse practitioner can prescribe mental health medication. 

RP, RP (Qualifying) under supervision and CCC registered practitioners CAN NOT PERFORM STANDARDIZED PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING. Only a psychiatrist or psychologist can perform standardized psychological testing. 

Absolutely! 

If you want to view healing and growth that encompasses the mind, body and spirit, it is our pleasure.

For clients who desire it, we can seamlessly weave faith, prayer, Scripture and Christian principles into our sessions. 

We specialize in Christian faith, including Catholicism.

We welcome, respect, and support individuals from all walks of life, faiths and backgrounds. 

Your unique journey and comfort level will always guide our focus.