Considering Kids & Youth Counselling Calgary?
It is likely that you are here because you are worried about your child and are wondering if it is time to explore counselling for and/or with them. Or maybe you are already on the support path and are looking for a change or more specialized care for your young one. In either case, we would be happy to help you and your family.
Who can benefit from Kids & Youth Counselling in Calgary?
Could This Be Right for Your Family?
If you are here, it sounds like you are considering (and are possibly ready) to step into kids and youth counselling. To help clarify or reiterate the decision you have already made, we have put together this informal self-check to see where your child and family are at.
While this self-check is not a substitute for professional assessment and/or treatment, if you found yourself answering affirmatively to quite a few of the questions, than it is likely you are correct in feeling like professional counselling may be beneficial for your child and family.
It is estimated that around 1.2 million children in Canada are affected by mental health challenges, yet less than 20% are receiving adequate treatment and support. What a fantastic gift and opportunity you are providing to your family by offering early intervention and the chance to set a healthy course into their future.
What is Kids & Youth Counselling Calgary?
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health and Emotional Well-being
Are you worried about your child? Wondering if it’s time to explore kids and youth counselling in Calgary? Or maybe you’re already on the path to support but are looking for something more specialized? Either way, we’re here to help.
Kids and youth counselling in Calgary is available for children aged 5 and up at Sana Psychological. Our team of therapists, each passionate about supporting children and teens, is dedicated to offering the best tools and support available for your family.
Did you know that therapy is all about connection? That’s why we offer free consultations so you can meet with your prospective therapist and decide if they’re the right fit for your child.
Want a deeper dive into the process? Your child’s first appointment includes a full session, giving you both time to get to know the therapist and feel comfortable before moving forward.
It’s important that your child feels safe and understood in therapy, and we’re committed to making that happen. So, how does therapy for kids and youth actually work? Well, kids and youth counselling is all about giving them a safe space to process their emotions, learn about emotional regulation, and build tools to improve their lives.
Meet Your SanaPsyc Kids And Youth Counselling Experts
Frequently Asked Questions
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We work with teens around emotional regulation, anxiety, mood, behavioural changes/concerns, self-harm, addictive behaviours, school performance/changes, ADHD, trauma, and general life coping. We also support teens navigating challenges in their relationships with peers and/or family. This can be done individually or, if it makes sense, we offer family counselling to help improve the quality of life of the whole family unit.
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For any minors participating in teen counselling, we require the permission and consent from all parents/guardians with decision-making authority before the teen can have their first session. Technically these parents/guardians have the right of access to any information, including notes, from teen counselling sessions. In order to increase the safety, privacy, and utility of teen counselling sessions, we work with parents and teens to find a balance that fits your family. We find that having some confidentiality in the counselling process increases its effectiveness. Our teen counselling Calgary therapists will of course notify parents/guardians if there are immediate safety or wellness concerns.
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Having discussions with your teen about how they’re feeling, how life is going, and the problems they’re encountering will hopefully allow you both to communicate openly about if or when to access teen counselling. Presenting teen counselling as an option rather than a ‘have to’ can also be helpful as it is important that your teen feels empowered and like an active participant in the process. You may also want to take our self-check quiz, ‘Does my child need counselling?’ to help you decide. Another time to consider teen counselling Calgary is if you feel at your wit’s end and that you have tried everything you can think of to support your teen. You might also want to consider individual support for yourself, especially if your teen is resistant to counselling and you feel stuck.
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This is a great question. Our Calgary teen counselling therapists find that it can sometimes take some time for teens to warm up to the therapist and counselling process, especially when it was their parents or guardians who ‘encouraged’ counselling in the first place. That being said, if your teen is showing willingness to attend counselling sessions, is getting more comfortable, and/or you are seeing changes in them in your day-to-day life, these are all good signs.
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It’s easy-appointments can be booked online anytime with our teen therapists. Go through the options with your teen, watch their videos and read their bios so that your teen can get a sense of who they feel drawn to. Comfort with the therapist is an important ingredient of the effectiveness of teen counselling. Once they have selected somebody, feel free to schedule an appointment. If you still have questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
What does Kids & Youth Counselling in Calgary look like for you?
A Fun, Engaging Approach to Therapy
You can expect the kids and youth counselling process to be gentle, comfortable, and safe. Your therapist has a natural knack for working with kids and youth and will use their innate personality combined with professional training to create an easy connection that facilitates growth and change.
The first few sessions will involve an exploration of who your child is, the challenges they and the family are here to address, past counselling experiences (if any), and identification of goals. Your therapist will bring in their own personality and style to each session, which can include different therapeutic techniques and tools (including toys, fidgets, games, and movement), grounding exercises, structure vs. flexibility, and humour as appropriate. What we can ensure is that your therapist has your child’s best interests in mind, that their safety and health is their #1 priority, and that they will do anything they can to offer tools, strategies, and support to promote change in their life.
You will collaborate with your therapist on what makes sense for your family in terms of when you will participate in the sessions and/or if parent-child counselling is recommended. While there may be visible challenges or issues with your child, research has found that active parent participation in therapy, whether with their child and/or individually, has a very positive impact on health outcomes for the family.
With kids and youth counselling Calgary, our mission is to offer your family the safe support necessary to improve communication, emotional regulation, and relationships by offering person-centred, customized support.
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How You Can Access Support for Kids & Youth Counselling in Calgary
Booking Your Appointment is Easy!
We want to make the process as simple as possible for you! Here’s how to get started:
Online booking is available 24/7 for your convenience.
No referral required—you can book directly anytime.
Direct billing available depending on your chosen provider.
Free resources for parenting, kids, and youth support are available.