Teen Mental Health Therapy & Wellness

Finding a good Therapist to help your teen can be a daunting task.  One of the most essentials things in finding a good Therapist is: 

1. The Therapist demonstrates experience and knowledge in teenage development and mental health; 
2. The Therapist has extensive experience working with teenagers, and understands how to connect with them on 'their level'.  Often teens will want to connect with a Therapist who is relatable, warm, open, and who is authentic (teens—especially teen girls — are very intuitive to authenticity in people); 
3. You feel comfortable and informed on the approach and treatment plan the Therapist  has outlined for your teen;
4. If the teen is living at home, the Therapist offers support and consultations for you as parents when and where needed; 
5. And finally (and most importantly!), your teen should connect with the Therapist.  Your teen should be allowed to have a say in who she connects with.  I describe that first appointment like trying to find the right pair of shoes— the Therapist may be a perfect fit for some, but just not the right one for your teen.  

*If your teen meets with a Therapist, and it is not a good fit, the Therapist should have other Mental Health Professionals she can refer you to with a similar expertise .

My approach: 

Over the years, I have developed a holistic-integrative approach to working with teens and their families.  I blend the following evidence-based approaches into my practice with teens:

• Psycho-Edcuation, including education on Neuroscience, Development, and Teen Attachment Relationships & Styles; 
• Emotion-Focused Therapy; 
• Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy, including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; 
• Cognitive & Dialectical Behavioural Therapy; 
• Skill-building including: Self-Regulation, Healthy Mindset Training, Solution-Focused Goal Setting; 
• Attachment-Based & Relational Therapy, Family Therapy, and Parent Consultations to help you as parents successful  navigate  through the teenage years. 

What to expect: 

After your initial parent consultation,  we will book 1 individual session for your teen to meet me and decide if we are a good fit for one another.  After this initial session, your teen and I will book 3 more weekly sessions together.  After these 3 sessions, a few things may happen: we may have a parent consultation or family session, we may book some more weekly sessions, we may move to bi-weekly or monthly sessions (maintenance sessions).  

F.A.Q.s 

My teen doesn't want to come to Therapy, what should I do? It is so important that your teen feels that they have some autonomy in this process.  I always suggest parents book a 30-minute complimentary phone consultation with me, so we can individualize the approach on how to get your teen into meet me.  But as a general approach, I ask that parents of teens living in the home give their teen the choice between 2-3 Therapists to choose from. From there, you can say "it is mandatory you choose a Therapist to have 1 session with."  Once your teen comes to see me for their initial session, it is my job to align and connect with your teen which often involves meeting them where they are at in their own process; and is her choice whether she wants to move forward with therapy.  In my practice with teens, 98% of the time a teen will commit to therapy after this initial session.  

My teen doesn't think she has a problem, how can I tell her she needs help? It can be so difficult when you are seeing your child struggle with their mental health; especially when she is engaging in reckless or harmful behaviour.  The most important thing is to connect with your teen, and tell them you are worried for them.  The conversation should be calm (it is okay to take breaks, and come back to the conversation when things get heated), and solution-focused.  In this blog I share a few pointers on how to guide this conversation.  

How many sessions should we commit to? The journey toward mental wellness will look different for every teen.  However, in my practice with teens, I have families commit to 3-weekly initial session, and then we go from there.  Depending on what is going for your teen, and where they are in the process, we may continue to meet weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or as-needed.  I will be working closely with your teen and family to determine what is best therapeutically for your teen.  

Are you covered under my insurance plan? I am a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Psychotherapists. As a Registered Psychotherapist, most insurance providers with extend coverage for my support.  However, please connect directly with your insurance provider to inquire if they provide coverage for Registered Psychotherapists. 

Can I book and pay online?  I offer convenient and secure online options for both payment and booking.  Once we schedule your teen's initial session, you and your teen will be invited into your own secure client portal.  Here you can schedule and reschedule appointments, as well as pay for your sessions via any major credit card.  Because often teens come in alone for therapy, you may conveniently leave your credit card details on file via your client portal, and your card will be billed following each session.  Parents of teens love this option as it allows their teen to attend their sessions relatively independently.