Counselling for Teens
Teen counselling in Saanich, serving Greater Victoria, with online appointments available across British Columbia.
A Space to Feel Heard and Find Your Way Forward
School pressure, friendships, family tension and figuring out who you are can feel like a lot to manage. Sometimes you know what’s bothering you. Sometimes you just know you haven’t been feeling like yourself.
Counselling offers a space to talk things through with someone who listens, takes you seriously and helps you find ways forward that work for you. You don’t need to have everything figured out or know exactly what to say to get started.
For parents and caregivers, we can help you understand how to support your teen while respecting their growing independence and need for privacy.
What We Can Help With
Teens come to counselling for many reasons, including:
Anxiety, worry or feeling overwhelmed
Low mood, loneliness or withdrawing from others
Self-esteem and confidence
School pressure and academic stress
Friendship difficulties and social pressures
Strong emotions that feel difficult to manage
Family conflict or feeling misunderstood
Adjusting to separation, loss or other life changes
Exploring identity and navigating independence
You don’t need a diagnosis to reach out. We’ll help you explore what kind of support fits your needs.
What Counselling Can Look Like
Counselling starts with getting to know you: what matters to you, what feels difficult and what you would like to change.
Depending on your needs and preferences, sessions may include talking things through, learning practical skills or trying activities that help you understand your experiences. Your counsellor will work with you to set goals and find an approach that feels useful.
Together, you might work on:
Understanding emotions and responding to them
Finding ways to manage stress and anxiety
Building confidence and self-understanding
Navigating friendships and setting boundaries
Communicating your needs at home or school
Handling changes and difficult experiences
You can take time to build trust. Your counsellor will check in about what is helping and adjust the approach with you.
Support From a Collaborative Team
Your teen works with a primary counsellor who takes time to understand their needs. When helpful, our counsellors draw on professional consultation within our team, with appropriate confidentiality safeguards.
If support for parents or other family members would be useful, we can discuss options and agree on how care will be coordinated.
Privacy and Parent Involvement
Will My Parents Know What I Say?
Your counsellor will explain what stays private and the situations when information may need to be shared, including concerns about safety or legal requirements.
When you are able to make your own consent decisions, routine updates to parents generally require your permission. You and your counsellor can discuss what, if anything, would be helpful to share. If guardian consent is needed, we will explain the arrangements and involve you in the conversation.
How Can Parents Help?
Parents and caregivers can offer valuable support through sharing observations, attending planned check-ins and helping their teen between sessions.
Joining a teen’s session is discussed and arranged with the counsellor in advance. Individual sessions, separate parent consultations or planned family conversations may be recommended depending on the teen’s needs, consent and family circumstances.
When tension between caregivers could affect a teen’s comfort or freedom to express themselves, separate conversations may be recommended. The focus remains on supporting the teen’s wellbeing.
Counsellors Who Support Teens
Jenna Merali
BFA, MACP, RCC
Jenna supports teens who may be struggling with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or family stress. She focuses on helping teens feel understood while building practical emotional skills that support resilience and stronger connections at home.
Talita Nell
B.Sc, MACP, RCC
Talita supports teens who may be feeling overwhelmed by emotions, social pressures, or changes in family life. She creates a warm and supportive environment where teens can explore their experiences, build confidence, and develop healthier ways of navigating challenges.
Maria Butler
BA, B.Ed, MACP, RCC
Maria works with teens to better understand emotional and behavioural patterns that may be causing stress in life. Her approach helps teens develop confidence and emotional awareness.
Aileen Fearman
BSN, MACP Candidate, Counselling Intern
Aileen supports teens navigating anxiety, emotional overwhelm, grief and life changes. Drawing on 14 years of nursing experience, she brings a steady, compassionate presence and works at each teen’s pace to help them understand their feelings, recognize their strengths and find practical ways forward.
What to Expect
1. Book a Free 15-Minute Intake Call
You can contact our intake team as a teen, parent or caregiver. We’ll listen to what you’re looking for, answer questions and help identify a suitable counsellor. A consultation with a counsellor can also be arranged if you would like to meet them before booking.
2. Plan the First Appointment
Our intake team will explain the recommended starting point. Depending on the teen’s needs and consent arrangements, this may be an appointment with the teen or a separate parent / caregiver intake session. We’ll clarify who will participate before the appointment.
3. Build Trust and Decide What to Work On
Early sessions give the teen time to get comfortable with their counsellor and explore what they want help with. Together, they will discuss goals, the approach to counselling and how often to meet.
Fees & Availability
Individual session fees vary by counsellor - view our rates.
Lower-cost sessions available with our counselling intern.
Free 15-minute intake calls with our intake team.
Counsellor consultation calls available by request.
Receipts provided for eligible extended health benefits.
Find Support That Fits
Whether you’re a teen looking for someone to talk to or a parent wondering how to help, our intake team can guide you through the next step.