Teens
The teenage years can be tumultuous for everyone in the family. Parents often feel conflicted about their role during this time. They want to help their kids without being overbearing, and they are also naturally worried about their development and well-being. Teenagers often want independence, but they may also be struggling with their identity, relationships, and mental health.
At Boreal Therapy Collective, we work with teenagers experiencing anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, loneliness, low self-esteem, self-harm, and more. We are here to help teenagers feel better about themselves and live life more authentically.
For teen therapy, book with:
Amy Parsons
Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only)
Kenneth Guye (virtual only)
Kim Cardinal
Samantha LeBlanc
Sarah Callin
When Should You Consider Therapy For Your Teenager?
Some teens self-initiate seeking therapy. They want a private space where they can talk about their feelings or needs. However, some teenagers will resist the idea. As a parent, it’s important to consider treatment if your child is struggling with any of the following issues:
They seem to be depressed: Depressive symptoms can happen in childhood, but they tend to emerge during adolescence. Depression may coincide with self-harm, school avoidance, and low self-esteem. In serious cases, it can result in suicidal ideation.
They are getting bullied: Bullying is a rampant problem that can result in both short-term and long-term consequences. Unfortunately, it often leaves both parents and their children feeling helpless about the situation.
They have problems with anger or aggression: While anger is an inevitable emotion, not knowing how to cope with it can lead to all sorts of problems, such as excessive stress, relationship problems, and physical health issues. Some teens will bully others or inflict violence to release their anger. Others might turn it inward with self-harm, substance use, or other compulsive behaviors.
They are questioning or struggling with their sexual orientation or gender: Teenagers may face uncertainty and internal conflict about their gender, relationships, or sexual preferences. It is an unfortunate and unjust reality that the 2SLGBTQIA+ community continues to experience discrimination and violence. If your child is a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, this can certainly have an impact on their mental health.
They are acting “much differently”: If your child’s mood or behaviour has changed drastically, it could be due to a worsening mental health problem or a recent trauma. Some children might open up about how they feel, but others present as more guarded or even silent altogether. This can speak to difficulties with distress tolerance, which may compound over time.
Benefits of Therapy for Teenagers
Boreal Therapy Collective offers a supportive and secure environment for teenagers to receive guidance and coping skills to navigate these tender years. Here are some of the common outcomes clients receive in treatment:
Strengthened self-esteem: Having a safe place to talk about feelings and learn new coping skills can foster a sense of resilience, which can help teenagers feel better about themselves and more capable of handling life’s difficulties
Increased values clarification: Therapy can help teenagers feel more affirmed in who they are and what they value. Over time, this can lead to them making choices that feel more aligned with their ethics and desires.
Better relationships: As teenagers gain self-esteem and improve their boundaries, their relationships tend to improve. They may be less likely to tolerate dysfunctional relationships, resulting in them seeking healthier support systems in daily life.
Mental health stabilization: There aren’t specific cures for conditions like depression, anxiety, or PTSD, but therapy can offer a roadmap for helping teenagers understand their triggers, cope with inevitable stressors, and reduce the impact of certain symptoms.
What to Expect From Your Teen's Therapy Sessions
Unlike younger children who benefit more from play-based therapy, adolescents and teenagers often engage in a more traditional therapy format. Your older child will likely learn new coping skills to manage stress and improve their self-esteem. Based on their current mental health circumstances, they will also work on managing distressing symptoms. If there are crisis issues, treatment will focus on managing and resolving those first.
Parental consent is an important part of treatment. Your child has a right to confidentiality, and older children may naturally be more protective over their privacy. That said, you, your child, and your child's therapist will collaborate on which kind of information will be shared with you.
Change can take time, and your teen may, at first, resist going to therapy. Regardless of the situation, aim to stay open-minded about the process and be encouraging and validating of your child's progress.
It may also be helpful to consider your own therapy at this time. Having your own therapist allows you to work on some of your own emotions or mental health needs, and it's a great way to model taking care of yourself.
Many therapists also recommend family therapy when adolescents are involved. This gives parents the chance to learn how to better support their families, and it can strengthen boundaries and resilience within the home.
Teen Therapy in Fort McMurray
How to Start Therapy for Your Teen
Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here!
Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment
Your teen’s first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your teen’s first appointment, the therapist will meet with you and your teen for a quick introduction. After this, the therapist will meet with your teen one-on-one (don’t worry, if your teen wants you to stay it’s okay). The therapist will ask your teen questions to better understand their areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much your teen shares, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps the therapist identify your teen’s needs and develop an appropriate treatment plan. At the end of each appointment, if your teen is comfortable, you will be invited back to review of what occurred during the appointment (including any strategies to practice at home).
After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, your teen will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage their symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice.
Teen Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective
Where We Are Located
We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here.
Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. There is also an empty dirt lot adjacent to our office that many use for parking. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here.
Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you!
Rates & Benefit Coverage
Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $300.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $200.00/hour or $300.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). We offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. With your consent, we will always direct bill first. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information, click here.
