Teen Therapy in Oakville
Together, We Can Explore You Changing Emotions, Relationships, and Experiences
Something shifts in the teenage years that can be hard to name from the outside.
Your teen might be talking less, reacting more, spending more time alone, struggling at school, pulling away from friends, or seeming overwhelmed by things they used to manage. Sometimes the change is obvious. Other times, everything looks fine from the outside while they are carrying much more than anyone realizes.
And if you are the teen reading this, you might not know exactly how to explain what is happening either. Maybe you are anxious, angry, exhausted, overwhelmed, lonely, under pressure, or just not feeling like yourself. You might know you want something to be different without knowing what would actually help.
At Counselling & Co., teen therapy offers a place to begin making sense of what is happening. Together, we can explore emotions, relationships, experiences, and the patterns that may be getting in the way, while also finding practical ways to navigate what feels hard right now. And because the teenage years are also a time of growing independence and changing relationships, therapy can help teens and the people who care about them better understand one another and stay connected through those changes.
What Might Be Going On
Being a teenager can be a lot. School, friendships, family, relationships, social media, figuring out who you are, and thinking about what comes next can all feel like they are happening at once. You might recognize:
Overthinking everything or feeling like your brain will not shut off
Feeling sad, numb, angry, overwhelmed, or just not like yourself
Holding everything in and then blowing up, shutting down, or falling apart
Feeling burnt out, unmotivated, or like you cannot keep up
Friendship drama, feeling left out, bullying, or not knowing where you fit
Dating, breakups, crushes, and relationships that feel complicated
Pressure around school, grades, sports, appearance, or social media
ADHD, autism, neurodivergence, or feeling like people do not really understand you
Family conflict or feeling like everyone at home is on your case
Trying to manage hard feelings through things like substances, self-harm, or other behaviours that are starting to worry you
How We Work With Teens
Teen therapy starts with building a relationship. We want teens to have a place where they can show up as themselves, without feeling like there is a right thing to say or that every conversation needs to lead to a solution. Sometimes they know exactly what they want to talk about. Sometimes we figure that out together.
Therapy can look different depending on the teen. It might include talking, art, games, movement, music, writing, or other creative ways of exploring what is going on. We can also work on practical things, like managing stress, navigating relationships, keeping up with school, communicating what you need, or figuring out what helps when emotions feel like too much.
All of our therapists are trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy and work from an attachment lens, helping us understand what may be happening underneath the patterns we see and within the relationships around a teen. We also recognize that the teenage years come with a growing need for independence and privacy, while connection still matters. Parents and caregivers can be an important part of the process, and we will figure out together what involvement makes sense while respecting the teen’s privacy, consent, and growing autonomy.
Areas of Care
Our teen therapists support young people with a wide range of emotional, relational, and everyday challenges, including:
Dating & Relationships
Identity, Sexuality & LGBTQIA2S+ Experiences
Family Conflict & Parent-Teen Relationships
Separation, Divorce & Blended Families
Grief & Loss
Trauma & Difficult Experiences
Self-Harm & Suicidal Thoughts
Substance Use & Addiction
Anxiety & Worry
Depression & Low Mood
Anger & Big Emotions
ADHD, Autism & Neurodivergence
School Stress & Academic Pressure
Perfectionism
Self-Esteem & Confidence
Body Image
Friendships, Bullying & Cyberbullying
Find Your Therapist
Finding the right therapist matters, especially for teens. Each of our teen therapists brings their own personality, lived experience, areas of interest, and additional training to the work.
You can explore our team together and choose someone who stands out, or connect with Angela, our Client Care Coordinator, if you would like help narrowing it down. You can also check us out on Instagram, where you can get a little more of a feel for our therapists, their personalities, and the people behind Counselling & Co.
Teen Therapy in Oakville and Across Ontario
Teen therapy is available in person at our village hub, Therapeutic Collective Oakville, and virtually across Ontario. Our Oakville space gives teens somewhere away from home and school that can feel like their own, while virtual therapy can make it easier to meet from a familiar space and fit sessions around school, activities, work, and everything else going on.
A hybrid approach is also available, so teens can move between in-person and virtual sessions depending on what works best for them.
Our teen therapists generally work with young people ages 13 and up, although age ranges vary by therapist. If you are unsure where to start, our Client Care team can help you find someone who works with your teen’s age and what they are looking for support with.
Our Teen Counselling Therapists
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Melissa Clement
Intern Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
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Drew Watson
Registered Psychotherapist
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Catarina Martins
Registered Psychotherapy (Qualifying)
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Stephanie Chimienti
Registered Psychotherapist
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Karrie Carlos
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
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Annie Chen
Inter Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
When You Are Ready, We Are Here
Sometimes it is obvious that extra support would help. Other times, you might just know that something has changed, things have been feeling harder lately, or what you have been trying is not helping in the way you hoped. That is enough of a place to start.
Our complimentary 15-minute Meet & Greet is a chance to meet one of our teen therapists, ask questions, and get a feel for whether they might be the right fit. Teens are welcome to be part of that conversation too. It takes a village to heal, and we would love to be a part of yours.
Questions About Teen Counselling
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Have you lost touch with yourself or loved ones?
Counselling & Co. is committed to providing therapeutic services that enrich your healing journey and quality of life. We provide a compassionate place to help you:
Feel seen and heard
Strengthen your emotional well-being
Repair your relationships