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Salish Sea
Pediatric Counselling Book on Jane
In person in Vancouver  •  Virtual across B.C.

Preteen counselling in Vancouver.

Counselling for preteens ages 9 to 12 working through anxiety, OCD, major life changes, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and the challenges that can come with autism or ADHD, with a Registered Clinical Counsellor in Vancouver or online across B.C.

Your preteen is not alone, and neither are you.

The years between childhood and the teens bring a lot at once: bigger school demands, friendships that shift, changing bodies and feelings that are harder to name. Some preteens carry worries or urges they hide, and many parents sense that something is wrong before their child says it.

I match the work to where your preteen is: play and art for those who still connect that way, talk and skills for those who are ready, and games for those who open up while doing something together. Parents are involved in a way that suits your preteen’s age.

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Worry spirals
A mind that will not switch off.
Steadiness
Worry that feels more manageable.
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Unwanted thoughts
Rituals and urges that feel impossible to resist.
Control
Taking back control from OCD.
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Hurting to cope
Self-harm as a way to handle pain.
Safer coping
Other ways to handle strong feelings.
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Not wanting to be here
Thoughts that feel too heavy to say.
Safety
A plan and people to turn to.
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Change at home
Separation, divorce or a new school.
Security
Feeling steady through change.
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Feeling different
Finding it hard to fit in.
Belonging
Feeling understood as they are.
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Hard to say
Not knowing how to put it into words.
Expression
Ways to show it that fit your preteen.
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Worn-out parents
Not knowing how to help.
Support
Tools and a team for your family.

My approach

Support that meets your preteen where they are.

Preteens do best when therapy feels like a partnership. I explain what we are doing and why, agree on goals together, and choose approaches that fit your preteen’s age and interests. Sessions can be in person in Vancouver or online anywhere in B.C.

Parents are involved in a way that fits, from short check-ins to family sessions, while your preteen keeps a space of their own.

30+Over three decades of
listening to children’s voices.
ERP

Exposure and response prevention (ERP)

ERP is a recommended first-line therapy for OCD in children and youth. Your preteen faces feared thoughts and situations in planned, manageable steps without doing the ritual, with you coached to support them at home.

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CBT

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

CBT helps preteens notice the thoughts and habits that keep anxiety going, and practise skills for changing them, using games and drawings as well as talk.

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Safety

Harm reduction and safety planning

A written, step-by-step safety plan your preteen helps build, with warning signs, coping steps, people to contact and ways to make the environment safer. I am not a crisis service.

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Play and art

Play and art therapy

Play, drawing and making help preteens who still communicate best through doing. No artistic skill is needed.

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Games

Video game therapy

Many preteens find it easier to talk while doing something together. Games such as Minecraft can be an easier way in.

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Family

Family and filial therapy

Parents join sessions to strengthen connection and communication at home. In-session coaching shows you how to follow your preteen’s lead and respond to big feelings with steadiness.

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Geller, D. A., & March, J. (2012). Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(1), 98–113. link

Pediatric OCD Treatment Study (POTS) Team (2004). Cognitive-behavior therapy, sertraline, and their combination for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder. JAMA, 292(16), 1969–1976. link

Lebowitz, E. R., et al. (2013). Family accommodation in pediatric anxiety disorders. Depression and Anxiety, 30(1), 47–54. link

James, A. C., Reardon, T., Soler, A., James, G., & Creswell, C. (2020). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11), CD013162. link

Stanley, B., & Brown, G. K. (2012). Safety Planning Intervention: A brief intervention to mitigate suicide risk. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19(2), 256–264.

Albaum, C., et al. (2025). Safety planning interventions for suicide prevention in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 179(8), 886–895. link

Witt, K. G., et al. (2021). Interventions for self-harm in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3), CD013667. link

Davies, J., Pitman, A., Bamber, V., Billings, J., & Rowe, S. (2022). Young peoples’ perspectives on the role of harm reduction techniques in the management of their self-harm: A qualitative study. Archives of Suicide Research, 26(2), 692–706. link

Bratton, S. C., Ray, D., Rhine, T., & Jones, L. (2005). The efficacy of play therapy with children: A meta-analytic review of treatment outcomes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36(4), 376–390. link

Moula, Z. (2020). A systematic review of the effectiveness of art therapy delivered in school-based settings to children aged 5–12 years. International Journal of Art Therapy, 25(2), 88–99. link

Zayeni, D., Raynaud, J.-P., & Revet, A. (2020). Therapeutic and preventive use of video games in child and adolescent psychiatry: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. link

Allen, B. (2020). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy for externalizing problems: A meta-analysis and methodological critique. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 5(4), 426–436. link

Amato, P. R. (2010). Research on divorce: Continuing trends and new developments. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(3), 650–666. link

van Steensel, F. J. A., Bögels, S. M., & Perrin, S. (2011). Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 14(3), 302–317. link

Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre (BC Children’s Hospital): Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). link

Read the research

What preteens come to therapy for

Every preteen is different. These are the concerns families most often bring to me for ages 9 to 12, with parents involved as appropriate.

Anxiety and worry

Constant worry, social anxiety, panic or avoiding things that feel scary. Therapy builds skills for facing fears at a pace that feels safe.

OCD

Unwanted thoughts and rituals that bring only brief relief. Exposure and response prevention helps your preteen face the urge and learn it passes.

Self-harm and suicidal thoughts

Nonjudgmental support and safety planning for preteens, with parents involved. Not a crisis service.

Big life changes

Separation or divorce, a move, a new school or a loss. Support gives preteens room to feel it and find their footing.

Autism and ADHD support

For preteens who are autistic or have ADHD, or are being assessed. Support for big feelings, transitions, friendships and anxiety.

Pamela Wallberg

Let’s connect

Taking the first step is often the hardest. I’m here to answer your questions and help you decide whether this is the right path for your preteen.

Let’s chat

Free 15-min consultation

Learn more about me

Common questions

Do you offer counselling for preteens in Vancouver?+

Yes. I offer counselling for preteens ages 9 to 12 in person in Vancouver and online across B.C. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with a Master of Arts in Education and play therapy training.

How do I get my preteen to agree to counselling?+

Many preteens are unsure at first. It helps to explain that it is a space of their own, to offer choices such as in person or online, and to let them know they will not be pushed to talk about anything they are not ready for. We can talk through how to introduce it in the free 15-minute consultation. Some preteens find play, art or video game therapy an easier way in.

What does exposure and response prevention involve for OCD?+

ERP is a way of working on OCD where your child faces a feared thought or situation in planned, manageable steps, without doing the ritual, and learns the discomfort passes. I teach it step by step, including through play, and coach you in how to respond at home. You can read more on the ERP page.

Will you tell me what my preteen says in sessions?+

At the start we talk with you and your preteen about how privacy works, and I will tell you if there is a serious safety concern. In many cases we agree together on what is shared with parents and what stays private.

What if my preteen is having thoughts of suicide or self-harm?+

Please take it seriously and reach out for help. If your preteen is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. You can call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline) at any hour, and Kids Help Phone is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting 686868. I am not a crisis service, but I can work on safety planning with your preteen and family, and you can read more on the self-harm and suicidal thoughts page.

Trusted resources

More help for families in B.C.

Free, evidence-informed information from Kelty Mental Health at BC Children’s Hospital. These links open in a new tab.

OCD in children and youth Kelty Mental Health: what OCD is and how it is treated.Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) Kelty's overview of CBT for children and youth.

Information on this page is provided by Pamela Wallberg, MA, RCC, Registered Clinical Counsellor. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information and is not a substitute for individual care.

Related: OCD therapy · Anxiety · Self-harm and suicidal thoughts