Teen Therapy in Ontario

When a parent or caregiver books, the first appointment is with you, without your teen. It’s a full, paid 50-minute session with the therapist your teen will see. You’ll talk about what’s been happening, what you’re hoping for, and how therapy will work, including consent and privacy. Your teen’s first session is booked after that.

With some of our therapists, yes. They offer a free 15-minute consult so you, or your teen, can ask questions and see whether they feel like a good fit. It’s a short conversation, not a therapy session, so the therapist won’t go into your teen’s story in detail. If you’d like to go ahead, the next step is a full 50-minute session with you, the parent or caregiver.

You have a right to know how your teen’s therapy is going. Teens talk more openly when they feel safe and know what will and won’t be passed on to their parents. So, before therapy starts, you, your teen, and the therapist agree what you’ll be told, how, and how often, and what happens if there’s a concern about safety.

That’ common, and it doesn’t mean therapy won’t work. Because the first session is with you, you can start without their agreement and talk it through with the therapist, who can suggest ways to raise it at home. Many teens who arrive reluctant settle once they see that the therapist isn’t there to take sides.

Therapy is voluntary, though, and it works best when a teen wants to be there. If yours really doesn’t, it can help for you to come on your own, for support in parenting your teen through this.

Yes. Most teens come to us through a parent, but if you’re a teen and want to book for yourself, you can. Some of our therapists offer a free 15-minute consult if you’d like to meet them first. Your first appointment is a full 50-minute session with the therapist, who will talk with you about consent, your privacy, and how your parents fit in. If you’re 18 or older, our individual therapy page is the place to start.

If you and your teen’s other parent live apart, the therapist will usually need consent from both of you. They’ll talk with you in the first session about how to involve the other parent. If that’s difficult, tell them, and they’ll talk it through with you.

We’re not a crisis service. If your teen is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. You can call or text 9-8-8, Canada’s suicide crisis helpline, at any time, and Kids Help Phone is available 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868. As soon as everyone is safe, call us (416 – 616 - 2207) and book an appointment for them.

No. We’re psychotherapists, so we don’t provide assessments or diagnoses; those come from a psychologist or a physician. What we do is work with your teen on what’s hard day to day (emotions, friendships, school) and with you on what helps at home. Your teen doesn’t need a diagnosis to start. When you’re ready, we can refer you to someone who can provide an assessment.

Yes. We offer online teen therapy anywhere in Ontario, and in person in Bolton. Many teens are comfortable online, some prefer it, and some like to come in. Your therapist will talk with you both about what suits your teen.

Many extended health plans cover psychotherapy, but it depends on your plan and on your therapist’s designation, so check which providers yours includes. We bill most major insurers directly. A 50-minute session is $150 to $180, depending on the therapist.