Ages 13 – 17
A space where you don't have to perform.
Being a teen right now is a lot. You don't have to come in with the "right" words, the "right" reason, or a tidy version of what's wrong. You don't need to have it figured out before we start.
What I Help With
The stuff that actually comes up in teen life
Anxiety & Panic
Social anxiety, school anxiety, perfectionism, racing thoughts and the feeling of being "too much."
ADHD, Autism & Neurodivergence
Affirming support for brains that work differently. Real tools, not shame.
School & Academic Stress
Burnout, pressure, executive function, the weight of grades and expectations.
Identity & Belonging
Who you are, who you're becoming. Explicitly LGBTQ+ affirming. You don't need to explain yourself here.
Friendships & Relationships
Conflict, drama, the loneliness of not fitting in, first relationships and boundaries.
Self-Esteem & Body Image
The inner critic, comparison, body stuff, social media and the voice that never lets up.
Sports Performance
Managing anxiety and emotions during training and competition, as well as cooperating with teammates and coaches.
How Sessions Work
What to expect in a teen session
Sessions are 50 minutes, in person in Ajax or fully virtual, and shaped around what you want to talk about that day. Some sessions go deep, some are venting, some are us working through one specific thing. All of it counts.
What happens in session stays in session, with the legal exceptions I'll walk you through on day one. That part is important, you need to know what I can and can't keep private before we go any further.
Parents can be looped in as much or as little as makes sense for you. We'll talk about what feels right.
Common Questions
What teens and parents usually ask
Mostly yes. Confidentiality is not age-limited, so anyone coming to therapy will be informed of their rights to confidentiality and consent to service.
For teens, session content is confidential. I share general progress updates with parents, not verbatim accounts, so your teen can trust the space enough to actually use it.
There are legal limits to that confidentiality, which I walk both you and your teen through at intake:
- Risk of harm to self or others
- Suspected abuse of a minor
- Court subpoena
Anything outside those limits stays in the room.
In Ontario, a young person can consent to their own mental health treatment if they're capable of understanding the nature and consequences of that treatment. There's no fixed age.
In practice, for teens under 16 I generally still involve parents/caregivers in scheduling, payment and major updates, with the teen's consent. Teens 16+ can reach out and book therapy directly with their consent.
Yes. Research consistently shows virtual therapy is comparably effective to in-person for most concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief and emotion regulation. Now that I offer both, you can choose what works best: in-person sessions in Ajax, or virtual sessions for the flexibility of no commute and joining from a familiar space.
Get Started
Thinking about trying therapy?
Book a free 15-minute consultation. We'll talk about what's going on and see if working together feels right for you.
Book Free Consultation →