Are you experiencing constant worry, anxiety attacks, or fears that make daily life harder?

What It Looks Like:

• Excessive worry about school, friends, future, or everyday things

• Panic attacks (racing heart, can't breathe, intense fear)

• Social anxiety: fear of judgment, avoiding social situations, intense self-consciousness

• Physical symptoms: stomachaches, headaches, muscle tension, nausea

• Constant "what if" thinking or imagining worst-case scenarios

• Difficulty sleeping because your mind won't turn off

• Avoiding situations that make you anxious (school, social events, activities)

• Perfectionism or fear of making mistakes

• Health anxiety or worrying about physical symptoms

• Feeling on edge or unable to relax

How We Help:

• Our counselors use evidence-based approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness strategies to help you understand and manage anxiety. You'll learn to recognize anxious thought patterns, challenge unhelpful beliefs, develop coping strategies that actually work, and gradually face fears in a supportive way. We don't just tell you to "calm down"—we teach you how.

What You'll Gain:

• Tools to manage anxiety, confidence in handling tough situations, understanding of what triggers your anxiety and how to respond differently

Are you experiencing persistent sadness, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, or feeling empty and stuck?

What It Looks Like:

• Persistent sadness, emptiness, or feeling like nothing matters

• Loss of interest in activities, hobbies, or friends you used to enjoy

• Feeling hopeless about the future

• Changes in sleep (sleeping way too much or struggling to sleep)

• Changes in appetite or eating habits

• Constant fatigue or low energy, even when you haven't done much

• Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or completing schoolwork

• Feeling worthless, guilty, or like you're a burden

• Withdrawal from friends and family

• Thoughts that life isn't worth living (if you're experiencing this, please tell someone immediately or contact a crisis line)

How We Help:

• Depression in teens is real and treatable. Our counselors use approaches like CBT, behavioral activation, and emotion-focused therapy to help you understand what's contributing to depression, challenge negative thought patterns, rebuild engagement with meaningful activities, and develop strategies for managing mood. We take you seriously and work with you to feel better.

What You'll Gain:

• Understanding of your depression, practical skills for managing mood, hope that things can actually get better

Important:

• If you're in crisis or thinking about suicide, please tell someone immediately or contact a crisis line. Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (24/7). You can also text CONNECT to 686868.

Are you struggling with friendships, feeling left out, experiencing bullying, or finding social situations overwhelming?

What It Looks Like:

• Intense fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations

• Avoiding social events, school activities, or situations with peers

• Difficulty making or keeping friends

• Feeling like you don't fit in or nobody understands you

• Being excluded, bullied, or targeted by peers

• Overthinking every social interaction ("Did I say something stupid?")

• Loneliness or social isolation

• Difficulty joining conversations or groups

• Anxiety about eating in front of others or participating in class

• Physical symptoms (blushing, sweating, shaking) in social situations

How We Help:

• We help you develop social confidence, navigate peer relationships, build social skills, and manage social anxiety. Through CBT, social skills coaching, and confidence-building strategies, you'll learn how to handle tough social situations, make meaningful connections, and feel more comfortable being yourself around others. We also work with you (and your school, if helpful) to address bullying and create supportive environments.

What You'll Gain:

• Social confidence, strategies for making and keeping friendships, tools for handling social anxiety and peer challenges

Are you experiencing overwhelming stress about school, grades, tests, or academic performance?

What It Looks Like:

• Constant stress or anxiety about grades and academic performance

• Perfectionism: feeling like you have to be perfect or you've failed

• Test anxiety or panic about exams

• Procrastination because the pressure feels overwhelming

• School avoidance or refusal (feeling unable to go to school)

• Physical symptoms on school days (stomachaches, headaches, nausea)

• Feeling like you can't keep up or aren't smart enough

• Parental or self-imposed pressure to excel

• Burnout from overloading yourself with AP classes, activities, etc.

• Fear of disappointing parents or teachers

How We Help:

• We help you manage academic stress, challenge perfectionism, develop healthy study habits and time management skills, and address the underlying anxiety or pressure. You'll learn to set realistic expectations, cope with pressure in healthier ways, and separate your self-worth from your grades. We can also work with your school (with permission) to ensure appropriate supports are in place.

What You'll Gain:

• Strategies for managing academic stress, healthier relationship with achievement, skills for balancing school demands

Are you experiencing frequent conflict with parents, communication breakdowns, or feeling misunderstood at home?

What It Looks Like:

• Frequent arguments or conflict with parents

• Feeling like your parents don't understand you or listen to you

• Communication breakdowns ("We can't talk without fighting")

• Feeling controlled, not trusted, or overly restricted

• Disagreements about rules, expectations, freedom, or choices

• Tension related to grades, friends, activities, or future plans

• Blended family challenges or adjusting to new family dynamics

• Feeling caught in the middle of parental conflict or divorce

• Sibling conflict affecting your wellbeing

• Feeling disconnected from family

How We Help:

• We provide a safe space to process family conflict, improve communication skills, understand different perspectives, and develop strategies for navigating challenging family dynamics. We also offer parent coaching and family sessions (when appropriate) to improve communication and rebuild connection. You deserve to be heard and understood.

What You'll Gain:

• Communication skills, strategies for managing conflict, improved relationship with family (when possible)

Are you struggling with negative beliefs about yourself, low self-worth, or feeling like you're not good enough?

What It Looks Like:

• Negative self-talk ("I'm ugly," "I'm stupid," "Nobody likes me")

• Constant comparison to others (friends, social media, peers)

• Feeling like you don't measure up or aren't good enough

• Difficulty accepting compliments or recognizing your strengths

• Perfectionism or fear of failure

• Giving up easily because you don't believe you can succeed

• Feeling like you have to be someone else to be liked

• Sensitivity to criticism or rejection

• Avoiding challenges or new experiences because you doubt yourself

How We Help:

• We use CBT, strengths-based approaches, and self-compassion strategies to help you challenge negative self-beliefs, recognize your worth, build genuine confidence, and develop a healthier relationship with yourself. Building self-esteem is a process—we work at your pace to create real, lasting change.

What You'll Gain:

• Healthier self-image, confidence in your abilities, skills for challenging negative self-talk

Are you navigating a major life change—parents' divorce, moving, loss of a loved one, coming out, or other significant transitions?

What It Looks Like:

• Feeling lost, confused, or overwhelmed by change

• Grief over what you've lost or what's different now

• Anxiety about the future or uncertainty about what comes next

• Identity questions ("Who am I now?")

• Anger or sadness about changes you didn't choose

• Difficulty adjusting to new schools, homes, or family structures

• Feeling like your life has been turned upside down

• Mixed emotions (relief and sadness, excitement and fear)

How We Help:

• Life transitions—even when necessary—can be really hard. Our counselors help you process the emotions that come with change, make sense of what's happening, develop coping strategies, and move forward with clarity and resilience. We provide support as you navigate both the practical and emotional aspects of major life changes.

Common Transitions We Support:

• Parents' divorce or separation

• Moving to a new city or changing schools

• Death of a loved one, family member, or friend

• Coming out or identity exploration (LGBTQ+ support)

• Family structure changes (new stepfamily, new sibling)

• Transition to high school or preparation for leaving high school

• Health diagnoses or disability

What You'll Gain:

• Support through tough transitions, coping strategies, help making sense of change and moving forward

Are you grieving the death of someone important to you, the end of a relationship, or another significant loss?

What It Looks Like:

• Intense sadness, crying, or emotional pain

• Numbness or feeling disconnected from emotions

• Anger at the person who died, the situation, or the world

• Guilt ("I should have..." or "If only I had...")

• Difficulty accepting that the loss is real

• Intrusive thoughts or memories of the person or loss

• Avoiding reminders or places connected to the loss

• Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy

• Feeling like you should be "over it" by now but you're not

• Wondering if what you're feeling is normal

How We Help:

• Grief is a natural response to loss, and there's no "right" way to grieve. Our counselors provide compassionate support as you navigate grief, honor your loss, process difficult emotions, and gradually adjust to life after loss. We meet you wherever you are in the grieving process—there's no timeline.

Types of Loss We Support:

• Death of a family member, friend, or loved one

• Death of a pet

• Breakup of an important relationship

• Loss of friendship

• Miscarriage or pregnancy loss in the family

• Loss of identity, abilities, or what you thought your life would be

What You'll Gain:

• Support through grief, understanding that what you're feeling is valid, strategies for coping with loss

If you have ADHD, you might also experience emotional challenges, social struggles, or low self-esteem that benefit from counseling support.

What It Looks Like:

• Emotional outbursts or low frustration tolerance

• Rejection sensitivity (intense emotional reaction to criticism or perceived rejection)

• Difficulty with friendships or peer relationships

• Low self-esteem from repeated struggles or feeling "different"

• Anxiety related to school performance or forgetting things

• Challenges managing emotions or impulse control

• Impulsive behavior affecting relationships or school

• Family conflict related to ADHD challenges

• Feeling misunderstood or judged

How We Help:

• While we don't diagnose or treat ADHD itself, our counselors provide essential emotional and behavioral support for teens with ADHD. We help with emotion regulation, building self-esteem, managing anxiety, developing social skills, and addressing any behavioral or relational challenges. You'll learn strategies tailored to how your brain works.

What You'll Gain:

• Emotion regulation skills, improved self-esteem, strategies for managing ADHD-related challenges, support for social and school struggles

Note:

• We can coordinate with your doctor or other professionals for comprehensive ADHD support.

If you're on the autism spectrum, you might benefit from counseling support for emotional regulation, anxiety, social challenges, or navigating a neurotypical world.

What It Looks Like:

• Anxiety related to social situations, changes in routine, or sensory experiences

• Difficulty understanding or expressing emotions

• Challenges with emotional regulation or meltdowns

• Social challenges or peer relationship difficulties

• Feeling misunderstood or like you don't fit in

• Difficulty with transitions or unexpected changes

• Co-occurring anxiety or depression

• Stress related to masking or trying to "fit in"

• Identity questions related to being autistic

How We Help:

• Our counselors use neurodiversity-affirming, evidence-based approaches to support your social-emotional wellbeing. We help with emotion regulation, managing anxiety, navigating social situations, building self-advocacy skills, and honoring your unique strengths and needs. We respect and value neurodiversity while providing practical support for challenges you face.

What You'll Gain:

• Emotion regulation strategies, support for social challenges, affirmation of your identity, skills for navigating a neurotypical world

Note:

• Our counseling services can complement speech therapy or occupational therapy you may be receiving.

Are you experiencing intense anger, frequent emotional outbursts, or difficulty managing big emotions?

What It Looks Like:

• Frequent angry outbursts or "losing your temper"

• Feeling like emotions go from 0 to 100 instantly

• Saying or doing things you regret when you're upset

• Getting in trouble at school or home because of anger

• Difficulty calming down once you're upset

• Feeling misunderstood or like people judge your reactions

• Physical symptoms: muscle tension, feeling "hot," rapid heartbeat

• Irritability or impatience most of the time

• Guilt or shame after emotional outbursts

How We Help:

• We help you understand what's underneath the anger, identify triggers, develop healthier ways to express and manage emotions, and build emotional regulation skills. You'll learn to recognize early warning signs, use effective coping strategies, communicate your needs without aggression, and respond to situations more effectively.

What You'll Gain:

• Emotional regulation skills, understanding of your anger triggers, healthier ways to express emotions

Are you struggling with body image, negative thoughts about your appearance, or concerns about eating and food?

What It Looks Like:

• Negative thoughts about your body or appearance

• Constant comparison to others or social media images

• Preoccupation with weight, food, or body shape

• Restricting food, skipping meals, or dieting

• Binge eating or feeling out of control around food

• Excessive exercise driven by body image concerns

• Avoiding social situations because of body image worries

• Low self-esteem tied to appearance

• Distorted perception of how you look

How We Help:

• We provide general support for body image concerns and help you develop a healthier relationship with your body and food. We use CBT and self-compassion approaches to challenge negative beliefs, address perfectionism, and build self-acceptance. For more serious eating disorders requiring specialized treatment, we can coordinate with appropriate specialists and medical professionals.

What You'll Gain:

• Healthier body image, improved self-esteem, strategies for challenging negative thoughts about appearance

Note:

• For diagnosed eating disorders requiring medical monitoring or intensive treatment, we coordinate care with appropriate specialists.

Have you experienced trauma—abuse, assault, violence, accidents, or other deeply distressing events—that continues to impact your life?

What It Looks Like:

• Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares about the trauma

• Avoiding reminders, places, or people related to what happened

• Feeling constantly on edge, jumpy, or hypervigilant

• Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe

• Emotional numbing or feeling disconnected

• Sleep disturbances or nightmares

• Irritability, anger, or emotional outbursts

• Difficulty concentrating at school

• Feeling like the trauma is still happening

• Shame, guilt, or self-blame

How We Help:

• Our counselors use trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches to help you heal from traumatic experiences. We create a safe therapeutic relationship, help you process trauma at your own pace (never forcing you to talk about things before you're ready), develop coping strategies, and work toward healing and integration. Trauma therapy is gentle, collaborative, and focused on restoring your sense of safety and control.

What You'll Gain:

• Safe space to process trauma, coping strategies, healing and hope for the future

Important:

• If you're currently in an unsafe situation, please tell a trusted adult, contact Child and Family Services, or call a crisis line immediately.

Are you feeling unmotivated, lost, stuck, or struggling to find purpose or direction in your life?

What It Looks Like:

• Feeling like nothing matters or "what's the point?"

• Lack of motivation for school, activities, or things you used to care about

• Not knowing what you want or who you are

• Feeling stuck or directionless about your future

• Apathy or disconnection from goals and interests

• Going through the motions without engagement

• Difficulty finding meaning or purpose

• Feeling pressure to have your life figured out but having no idea where to start

How We Help:

• We help you explore your values, interests, and strengths, challenge beliefs that keep you stuck, address underlying anxiety or depression that may be affecting motivation, and develop clarity about who you are and what matters to you. You don't have to have everything figured out—we'll work together to find direction and meaning.

What You'll Gain:

• Greater clarity about your values and interests, improved motivation, sense of purpose and direction