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Teen Counselling

teen counseling near me

Teen Counselling: Helping Teens Navigate Life’s Turning Points

The teenage years are an important developmental phase, where teens experience rapid changes physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services, we provide specialized teen counselling to help young people navigate these important transitions.

Therapists at RMPS create a safe, non-judgmental space where teens can openly share their thoughts and feelings, create new and healthier perspectives of their experiences, build resiliency, and develop healthy coping strategies. We understand that adolescence is a unique stage of life, and we make sure that our approach is tailored specifically to meet each individual’s needs. By fostering open communication and trust, we empower teens to overcome challenges and strengthen their self-concept for a happier and healthier future.

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Why Teens May Seek Counselling

The adolescent stage comes with a lot of complex mental, emotional, and social changes that can be stressful for teens. The approaches that worked when they were younger may no longer be effective, and relationships may have shifted. The expectations of growing independence can be a tough transition for the teen to manage. And then there’s the social pressure – teens’ brains are wired for seeking to fit in, be part of the group, and find their place in society. It can be hard for teens to navigate the social pressures while also figuring out who they are and what’s important to them. Not surprisingly, these stresses can lead to depression, anxiety, substance use, impulsive choices, or health issues like headaches and stomachaches. Addressing these issues in counselling can help. In the adolescent years, sometimes teens find it difficult to communicate their feelings openly with their parents. Struggles with family dynamics, such as parental conflict or changes in household structure, can lead to emotional distress. Additionally, many mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, eating disorders, and substance use, frequently emerge during adolescence.

Teen mental health counselling offers a safe and confidential space where teens can address these challenges, develop effective coping skills, and build resilience. Early intervention supports healthier emotional regulation and promotes positive developmental outcomes.

Teen girl receiving counselling teenagers support
adolescent counselling Calgary.

How Counselling Helps Teens Thrive

Teen Counselling helps them to develop new tools for navigating this new phase of life. Our Therapists’ guidance helps teens with self-reflection using evidence-informed approaches and strategies to help teens develop healthier coping mechanisms for anxiety, stress, depression, and emotional regulation. Youth counselling has shown results to improve youth’s communication skills, enable stronger relationships with peers, family, and teachers, and foster a greater sense of connection and belonging.

Counselling also helps teens clarify personal values and build confidence and self-esteem, so they can make informed decisions. Over time, these skills contribute to increased resilience, academic engagement, and confidence in facing future challenges.

Our goal is to provide teens with a safe and non-judgmental environment, to encourage teens to open up about their struggles, and help them with developing an understanding of themselves and how to approach problems that come up. This transformative process not only addresses current concerns but equips teens with lifelong tools for emotional well-being and personal growth, laying the foundation for them to thrive in adolescence and beyond.

Teen Mental Health Counselling Empowering Teens

Counselling empowers teens to navigate challenges and unlock their potential. Through guided self-reflection and evidence-based strategies, they develop healthier coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, and emotional regulation. Improved communication skills enable stronger relationships with peers, family, and teachers, fostering a greater sense of connection and belonging.
Adolescent counselling also supports self-discovery, helping teens clarify personal values, build self-esteem, and make informed decisions. Over time, these skills contribute to increased resilience, academic engagement, and confidence in facing future challenges.
By providing a safe, non-judgmental environment, teen counselling encourages openness, problem-solving, and goal-setting. This transformative process not only addresses current concerns but equips teens with lifelong tools for emotional well-being and personal growth—laying the foundation for them to thrive in adolescence and beyond.
Teen mental health counselling empowering teens
Youth counselling Calgary

Our Approach to Teen Counselling

At RMPS, we recognize that teenagers are at a unique stage of growth – neither children nor adults yet. Our psychologists take time to connect with each teen, creating trust and learning more about who they are and what matters to them before deciding on the best therapeutic approach.

This may include traditional talk therapy, expressive arts, sandtray, or music and movement-based techniques. As teens develop, adolescent counselling methods must evolve to match their abilities while respecting the fact that their thinking and brain development are still under construction. We tailor every session to meet the teen where they are at, engaging them in a way that feels authentic and relevant to their world.

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The Role of Parents and Guardians

Parents and guardians play a very important role in a teen’s counselling journey and in supporting a teen’s mental health. Maintaining open communication, reinforcing healthy coping strategies at home, and providing consistent encouragement have been shown to improve therapy results. Moreover, it’s important for parents to understand the challenges teens face, without any judgment, which helps build trust and fosters emotional safety.

Our Therapists suggest active participation by parents/guardians in family sessions, collaborating with counsellors, and modeling positive behaviours such as problem-solving and stress management. By creating a supportive and stable environment, parents and guardians enable teens to apply skills learned in teen mental health counseling to real-life situations. This partnership not only strengthens the therapeutic process but also promotes lasting resilience, healthier relationships, and overall well-being during the critical adolescent years.

Counselling teenagers with parent involvement
teen counselling calgary

Meet Our Teen Counsellors

At Rocky Mountain Psychological Service, we have a team of psychologists to provide dedicated support to adolescents. Whether you are a parent searching for teen counseling near me or a teen searching for support, our therapists use a professional approach to help teens face their life challenges with empathy and expertise. Each counsellor has masters-level or doctoral level training in mental health with specialized training in child and adolescent development and counselling skills. Our goal is to create a safe space for teens that gives them the courage to openly communicate their concerns and to collaboratively work with their psychologist to better understand themselves, why they do what they do, and whether a different approach or response might be something that they see as helping them towards their own goals. By combining proven therapeutic methods with genuine care, our counsellors help teens build resilience, improve self-esteem, and develop practical coping skills. We are committed to guiding youth towards emotional well-being, personal growth, and lasting positive change.

Teen Counselling – FAQs

What issues can counselling help teens with?

Teen counselling can address academic stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, peer pressure, bullying, family conflict, and identity exploration among others. It provides a safe, confidential space for adolescents to discuss challenges and develop healthy coping strategies.

Yes. Psychologists highly value confidentiality and discuss this with teens and parents. The psychologist will discuss with the parent and teen their expectation for how much of the teen’s counseling information will be shared with parents and how this will happen to ensure that the teen feels comfortable, the parents feel comfortable, and confidentiality is maintained. There are generally two exceptions to this: if there is a safety issue or if the psychologist is ordered by a Judge to share information. If there is a risk of harm to the teen or others, certain information may be shared with parents, guardians, or other professionals to ensure safety. Transparency and predictability is important to us at RMPS, so how this process works and when a psychologist would share confidential information is discussed with parents/guardians and the teen at the beginning of therapy and during the therapy process.

The timeframe varies. Some teens may benefit from short-term counselling (6–8 sessions), while others may require longer-term support depending on their needs and goals. The psychologist will create a treatment plan with the parents/guardian and the teen and will regularly discuss progress and next steps
Parental involvement is typically recommended. Joint sessions or at-home reinforcement of youth counselling strategies can strengthen progress.
Teen counselling addresses adolescent developmental stages, communication styles, and age-specific challenges, using evidence-based approaches suited to younger clients.
It can be tricky to find the right therapist/psychologist for your teen. In looking for a therapist for your teen, talk to friends, family for suggestions and recommendations, talk to your child’s school or pediatrician. You may need to try out a few different clinicians to find the one who is a good fit for you and your teen. When you are looking, check to see whether they have specialized training and experience, are licensed, and ask them about their approach. A group practice can be a benefit because if one clinician isn’t a personality fit, they may have someone else who is a fit so that you don’t have to completely start over.

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Cassandra White

Cassandra has been the owner and Director of RMPS since 2013. She brings more than 20 years of experience in working with children and families to the practice. Her background and expertise in the areas of assessment and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD as well as her knowledge of neurofeedback therapy and play therapy give her the broad base of knowledge to direct this multi-faceted private psychology practice.In addition to her experience in assessment and treatment of learning disabilities and giftedness, Cassandra has training and expertise in Child Psychotherapy and Play Therapy. She has worked extensively with children and their families regarding treatment of anxiety, depression, behavioral issues and emotion regulation using play-based and expressive interventions. Cassandra is also a clinical supervisor who provides supervision and consultation to other practitioners specializing in working with children. Cassandra’s experience and knowledge is not only academic; she is the mother of four children. Her experience of being a parent of four children makes her a very practical and realistic therapist. She understands the demands of parenting and does not rely on “book knowledge” or recommendations that appear unattainable for parents. She prides herself in understanding both the needs of the parents and the child. She looks for ways to enhance family functioning so that parents can feel competent and successful in their difficult jobs of raising children with a variety of complex needs.
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MacKenzie Ebel

MacKenzie is a Psychometrist/Psychological Assistant at RMPS. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Princeton University, where she also played 4 years for the women’s ice hockey team. She recently completed her Masters in Counselling Psychology through City University of Seattle.MacKenzie has worked with children, youth, and their families in a number of settings, through coaching, as a behavioural aid, and counselling through her internship placement. She is excited to continue learning about assessment administration, neurofeedback, and play therapy practices at RMPS! Currently, she is part of the assessment and neurotherapy team, as she completes her final capstone assignment and intends to join our counselling team as a Registered Provisional Psychologist.

Tammy Thomson

Tammy is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) program at Yorkville University and is trained at the master’s level in art therapy as a professional art psychotherapist and member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association. She brings more than 20 years of experience working with children, teens, and families in child development settings, children’s hospitals, and schools as an early childhood educator and elementary teacher.She completed a Bachelor of Applied Science specializing in Child Development Studies at the University of Guelph, Ontario and holds a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Tammy is a member of the Canadian Counsellor and Psychotherapy Association and College of Alberta Psychologists while pursuing her next goal of registration as a provisional psychologist. Tammy values a client-centered approach using play therapy and the expressive arts to support those who may find it difficult to articulate their thoughts and feelings with words. Children and families do not need any skill or prior art experience and the art studio is a safe place where children can gain a sense of independence, greater emotional regulation, and confidence through self-exploration. Expressive interventions in art therapy can treat behavioural issues, anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, physical and developmental disabilities, and attachment difficulties. As a parent of three young children herself, Tammy understands the complexities of family life using compassion to help parents feel more confident in their role of raising a successful family.

Raquel Freitas

Raquel is an Office Administrator at RMPS. Back in Brazil, her home country, she graduated as a Psychologist and worked as a clinician for the past 5 years. Although she loved working with children and adults, she discovered a new passion: manage the administrative tasks that keep the business running. 

As someone who is passionate about learning new things and developing new skills, with the career transition also came the decision to live abroad and explore a new culture. To serve empathetically and connect with people is Raquel’s main personal and professional goal.

Emma Donnelly

Emma is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in her hometown at Brandon University, after which she moved to Calgary to earn her Master’s of Science in School and Applied Child Psychology at the University of Calgary.Emma has a passion for working with children and families and has experience doing so in a number of settings, including schools, homes, early intervention programs, and within the community. She specializes in assessment, including psychoeduational, social-emotional-behavioural, and autism assessment. Emma uses a client centred approach to counselling, supported by cognitive behavioural therapy, as well as play-based and attachment-based techniques. She believes in meeting clients where they are at and prides herself in working together with her clients to achieve their goals, improve their functioning, and enjoy their daily life.

Amanda Stoner

Amanda is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Amanda earned her doctoral degree in Psychology at Brock University in Ontario in 2017, with a specialization in developmental psychology. Amanda provides formal assessment services at RMPS. 

Since 2009, Amanda has received formal training and work experience in private practice settings in conducting psycho-educational assessments for students ranging from preschool through university. Amanda is skilled at test administration, interpretation of data, and report writing for various referral questions including ADHD, Learning Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, Giftedness, and Intellectual Disabilities. Amanda enjoys working with people of all ages from diverse backgrounds, and she tries to make the testing environment feel relaxed and comfortable while maintaining integrity in testing protocol.

Denise Riewe

Denise has completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences through the University of Lethbridge and a Master of Counselling with Athabasca University. She is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and a member of the Psychological Association of Alberta.Denise has over 9 years of experience supporting children, youth and their families in both residential and community-based practices. Denise is experienced in working with high and at-risk youth, supporting children and their families with strength-based approaches. She practices from a client-center approach supported by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Theraplay, and other play and art-based modalities.

John Pynn

John is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. He completed his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. He brings more than 20 years of experience working with children, teens, and families in a variety of settings. He brings a relaxed and collaborative atmosphere to sessions.John uses an integrated counselling approach including client-centred, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focussed therapy (SFT) to find the best-fit for clients. He has experience with a variety of mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, anger, self-
esteem, relationships, parenting, ADHD, grief/loss, addictions, and trauma. This broad experience comes from working in schools, social service agencies, group-care, and clinical settings. He also draws from the practical experience of being a parent to two teenagers as well as a husband. Supporting and empowering clients with mental health concerns is something John genuinely enjoys. John also provides counselling for adults and holds a Gottman level 1 certification for couples therapy.

Zara Crasto

Zara is a Psychometrist/Psychological Assistant at RMPS. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Calgary and her Graduate Diploma in Psychological Assessment at Concordia University of Edmonton. 

Zara has spent over five years working alongside children, adolescents, and their families in a variety of settings. These include public and private schools, in-home support, residential programs, early-intervention programs, and non-profit organizations. Currently, Zara is part of the assessment and neurotherapy team. As a lifelong learner, Zara plans to go back to graduate school and eventually become a psychologist one day.

Kellie Lanktree

Kellie is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She completed a Bachelor of Child and Youth Care with the University of Victoria and a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology through the University of Lethbridge.Kellie has over 10 years experience supporting children and youth with developmental disorders/delays and their families. Kellie has experience working in schools, clinical settings, and within homes to provide support and therapeutic interventions. Through her time at RMPS, Kellie has also gained experience in helping individuals affected by trauma, grief/loss, separations, emotional dysregulation, depression, and anxiety. Kellie practices through developmental, attachment-based and trauma-informed lenses, and draws from a variety of play-based approaches such as Synergetic Play Therapy, Child-centered play therapy, DIR/Floortime, art-based mediums, and mindfulness-based practices. Kellie also provides Neurofeedback therapy, and is working on receiving her certification through BCIA. Kellie believes in meeting children and their families where they are at and that there is no “one size fits all” for therapy.