Services

Anxiety OCD Depression Parents and families Self-harm and suicidal ideation Stress management Difficult life transitions

Approaches

Play therapy and art therapy Video game therapy Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)Exposure and response prevention Mindfulness-based therapies Family and filial therapy Collaborative problem solving Safety planning and harm reduction Book on Jane

Book on Jane

In person in Vancouver • Virtual across B.C.

Teen therapy and youth counselling in Vancouver.

Counselling for teens and young people working through anxiety, low mood, stress, friendships and big changes, with a Registered Clinical Counsellor in Vancouver or online across B.C.

Your teen is not alone, and neither are you.

The teen years bring a lot at once: school pressure, friendships, identity, changing relationships at home and feelings that are hard to name. Many teens find it easier to talk with someone outside the family, and many parents are not sure how much to step in.

Therapy gives your teen a space of their own, and I involve parents in the ways that suit your teen’s age and comfort, so support carries over into everyday life.

Overwhelm
Everything piling up at once.

Calm
Tools to slow things down.

Constant worry
A mind that will not switch off.

Steadiness
Worry that feels more manageable.

Low mood
Everything feels flat or heavy.

Hope
Small things start to matter again.

Social anxiety
Dreading being judged.

Confidence
Feeling more at ease with people.

Feeling left out
Friendships that feel hard or unsafe.

Connection
Finding your people.

School pressure
Feeling behind or never good enough.

Balance
Standards that feel doable.

Conflict at home
Arguments that go nowhere.

Understanding
Being heard on both sides.

Feeling stuck
Not knowing who to talk to.

Support
A place to be heard.

My approach

Support that treats your teen as a partner.

Teens do best when therapy feels like a collaboration, not a lecture. I match the approach to your teen’s age, interests and goals, and we agree together on what we are working on. 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 teen keeps a space of their own.

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

CBT

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

CBT helps teens notice the thoughts and habits that keep anxiety, low mood and stress going, and practise skills for changing them. It is one of the best-studied therapies for teen anxiety and depression.

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Mindfulness

Mindfulness-based therapy

Practices that settle the body and help teens notice stress and strong feelings without being swamped, useful before exams, in social situations and on sleepless nights.

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Games

Video game therapy

Many teens find it easier to talk while doing something together. Video game therapy, with games such as Minecraft or The Sims, can be an easier way in for teens who feel unsure about therapy.

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Art

Art therapy

Drawing, painting and making give teens a way to express feelings that are hard to say out loud. No artistic skill is needed.

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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 be a steady, attuned presence for your teen, including through conflict.

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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

Zhou, X., et al. (2020). Comparative efficacy and acceptability of antidepressants, psychotherapies, and their combination for acute treatment of children and adolescents with depressive disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(7), 581–601. link

TADS Team (2004). Fluoxetine, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and their combination for adolescents with depression. JAMA, 292(7), 807–820. link

Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre (BC Children’s Hospital): Depression. link

Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre (BC Children’s Hospital): Anxiety. link

Read the research

What teens come to therapy for

Every teen is different. These are the concerns families most often bring to me, and support is open to teens, 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.

Low mood and depression

Feeling flat, irritable, hopeless or withdrawn. Support helps teens understand what is happening and take small steps back toward things that matter to them.

Stress and school pressure

Exams, expectations, perfectionism and burnout. We build practical ways to settle stress and set limits that feel doable.

Friendships and belonging

Feeling left out, conflict with friends or difficulty meeting people. Sessions practise confidence, boundaries and connection.

Family conflict and communication

Arguments that go in circles, or a teen and parent who have stopped talking. Family sessions help both sides feel heard.

Big changes and loss

Moves, separation, a new school, a death in the family or other changes that feel like too much. Support gives teens room to feel it and find their footing.

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 teen.

Let’s chat

Free 15-min consultation

Common questions

Do you offer teen therapy in Vancouver?+

Yes. I offer therapy and counselling for teens and young people in person in Vancouver and online across B.C. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with a Master of Arts and play therapy training.

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

Many teens are unsure at first. It helps to give them choices, such as in person or online, to let them know it is their own space, and that 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 teens find video game therapy an easier way in.

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

Privacy matters to teens, and it affects whether they open up. At the start we talk with you and your teen about how consent and privacy work, 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 do teens work on in sessions?+

It depends on your teen. Common goals are managing anxiety, lifting low mood, handling stress and school pressure, building friendships and improving communication at home. We use talk-based approaches such as CBT, along with games, art or mindfulness when they help.

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

Please take it seriously and reach out for help. If your teen is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. 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 teen and family, and you can read more on the self-harm and suicidal thoughts page.

Teen therapy and youth counselling in Vancouver.

Your teen is not alone, and neither are you.

Support that treats your teen as a partner.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Mindfulness-based therapy

Video game therapy

Art therapy

Family and Filial therapy

What teens come to therapy for

Anxiety and worry

Low mood and depression

Stress and school pressure

Friendships and belonging

Family conflict and communication

Big changes and loss

Let’s connect

Common questions

More help for families in B.C.