Youth Counselling
While youth counselling may involve similar therapeutic approaches to those used with adults, the ways in which the process is guided may differ according to an individual’s age, developmental stage, personal goals, and needs. I believe it is important to recognize the youth’s unique qualities and strengths, meeting them where they’re at, so the two of us may collaboratively determine strategies that will work best for their life. This concept is rooted in what’s called a person-centered approach to counselling.
Being a young person can be extremely hard. Being a parent or guardian to a young person can also be extremely hard. There are a lot of emotions, moving parts, and transitions between ages 12-24, and your child may not yet have built the capacity to articulate their needs in a way that makes sense to you. Communication can sometimes feel like hitting your head against the wall, and yet, it’s likely you and your child share similar objectives: to ensure their well-being, happiness, and success.
As your child’s counsellor, I also maintain a dedicated interest in their mental and physical wellness; which is why I opt to work with them throughout the counselling process; not against, in front, or behind. Together, your child and I will have opportunity to explore their experiences, perspectives, hopes, and challenges. I will support them in developing various skills and strategies to work toward their goals for counselling, while also helping them (and you) understand their role within your family system.
Counselling can be deeply impactful and you may notice positive outcomes such as:
- A better mood
- Less conflict
- Improved communication
- Increased ability to cope with stress
- More confidence
- Etc.
Other changes may be more subtle, as counselling for youth can often set the stage for deeper awareness later in life. Worries and fears related to exploring the self may have lifted, making it easier for your child to ask for support if they need it in the future. A foundation has been laid, and your child now has a greater capacity to navigate their developmental needs moving forward. Go team!
Being in your youth can be extremely hard. There are so many roles to be played, so many pressures and expectations, and so many things to accomplish in such little time. So much is going on! Throw social media, parents, friends, sex, Covid-19, partying, and just general, day-to-day happenings into the mix, and we’ve got a recipe for S-T-R-E-S-S!
Sometimes it may feel impossible to even get out of bed, never mind finding a way to fully function throughout the day. You may feel anxious, confused, unsure, self-conscious, depressed… and on top of everything else, it may seem like nobody gets it!
Thinking about asking for help can be scary. Perhaps change feels impossible. Maybe change isn’t even something that you want. You could be feeling nervous and like you don’t know what to expect. All of your uncertainties are really normal! You’re considering trying something new and unfamiliar. I get it.
I remember what it was like to be a young adult; sometimes it feels like your whole world is crashing down. Change can feel impossible and it may seem like you have no control over anything in your life. Together you and I can begin to figure some of that out.
Counselling, really, is simply an opportunity for you to share what’s going on for you. An opportunity to tell it like it is, without pressure to say or do the “right” thing, without judgement; without any expectation at all, other than that you show up. As your counsellor, I’m going to meet you where you’re at, working with you to decide what would be helpful in your life, as you see it.
Sometimes youth come to me for help with:
- Stress or anxiety
- Issues at school
- Thoughts of suicide
- Depression
- Family concerns
- Low self-esteem
- Substance use
- Other difficult issues
Together we can:
Talk openly and confidentially about what’s really going on and explore what you’re truly feeling, learn to set appropriate boundaries, identify your strengths, seek more balance for your life, explore new ways of communicating, problem-solve, find ways to be compassionate toward yourself, explore your personal values and beliefs, experiment with ways to deal with conflict, learn new ways to manage your emotions, etc.
After counselling you may:
Feel more confident, have a better sense of who you are, experience less stress and anxiety, feel happier or less depressed, notice changes in your relationships, accept some of the transitions coming into your future, feel more self-aware, feel more equipped to cope with difficult situations, have higher self-esteem, etc.
What I offer that’s special:
- A unique atmosphere that allows the space for you to direct your counselling experience, including where we set up. We can sit in the barn loft, walk around the property, watch the horses, or simply lounge in the grass.
- Something real. With me you can expect an authentic presence. I will genuinely work with you, as hard as I can, to support access to what you’re looking for in terms of your healing process.
- Animal presence. Counselling takes place on an acreage where horses, cats, and a dog also reside.