Teen Therapy (ages 13 to 18)

No. Teens are entitled to privacy and confidentiality in their counselling, and we do not provide parents or caregivers with updates about what is discussed in sessions.

Outside of the limits of confidentiality, teens do have a say in what is shared with parents or caregivers. A teen may choose to invite someone into a session or give their therapist permission to share certain information during a parent or caregiver session. 

There are limits to confidentiality, including circumstances where disclosure is required by law or professional obligations. These limits are explained at the beginning of therapy and in the parent session, so everyone understands how confidentiality works.

In Ontario, consent to therapy is based on a person's ability to understand the treatment being offered and the possible consequences of accepting or declining it, rather than simply reaching a particular age.

We also believe that having some choice and ownership in the process matters. Whenever possible, teens should understand what therapy is, why they are coming, and have a voice in choosing the therapist they will be working with.

This will look different for every family. It can depend on the teen, their age and capacity to consent, what is bringing them to therapy, their relationships, and what would be most helpful clinically.

Sometimes the work is primarily individual. Other times, a therapist may suggest parent check-ins, caregiver sessions, or bringing family members into a session. We want teens to have something that feels like their own while also recognizing that relationships at home can be an important part of what helps things change.

It is not unusual for a teen to be unsure about therapy, skeptical that it will help, or simply not thrilled about coming. They do not need to be excited about therapy to get something meaningful from it. Finding the right therapist and having time to build trust can make a big difference.

That is different from not consenting to therapy. Teens need to be consenting participants in their counselling. We will not force a teen to participate in therapy if they do not consent to the service.

A complimentary Meet & Greet can be a good place to start. It gives a teen a chance to meet the therapist, ask questions, understand what therapy might look like, and have some choice in deciding whether they would like to move forward.

There is no one option that is better for every teen. Some teens find it easier to connect when they are in the room with their therapist, while others feel more comfortable talking from a familiar space at home.

It can also depend on personality, attention, privacy at home, school and activity schedules, and simply where a teen feels most comfortable being themselves. Sometimes it takes trying one to figure out what works best.

Teen therapy is available in person at our Oakville location and virtually across Ontario. A hybrid approach is also an option, so teens can move between in-person and virtual sessions when it makes sense.

Please let us know if there are concerns about self-harm, suicidal thoughts, substance use, or other behaviours that may put a teen at risk. These are important things for us to understand and talk about openly.

Counselling & Co. is not a crisis service. If there is an immediate concern that a teen may seriously harm themselves or someone else, or they cannot be kept safe, please seek immediate emergency or crisis support rather than waiting for a therapy appointment.

We do not want cost to be the reason a teen who wants support cannot access it. Our Affordable Therapy Program offers lower-cost counselling with our intern therapists, with no limit on the number of sessions.

If therapy feels financially out of reach, reach out to our Client Care team. We can talk with you about what is affordable and whether one of our Affordable Therapy Program therapists might be a good fit.

Learn More About Affordable Therapy