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Youth Counselling in Victoria, Cowichan valley & ONline across bc
Counselling for teens in BC
If you're here because you're worried about your teenager, reaching out can be the hard part. Most parents land on this page after weeks or months of watching something shift, mood, grades, friendships, sleep, and not knowing whether it's a normal part of being a teenager or something that needs more support.
Our counsellors work one-on-one with teens ages 12 and up, in a space that's theirs: confidential, non-judgmental, and separate from the pressure of a parent-teen conversation at home. Sessions run in person at our Victoria and Cowichan Valley offices, or online for teens anywhere in BC. Most families start with a free 20-minute consultation to ask questions and see if it's a fit before booking a first session.
Signs your teen could benefit from counselling
There's rarely one clear moment that makes the decision obvious. More often it's a pattern:
Mood swings, irritability, or withdrawal that's lasted longer than a few weeks
Grades dropping, or a teen who's stopped caring about school after previously caring
Pulling away from friends, or a friend group that's changed suddenly
Anxiety around school, social situations, or specific fears that's starting to limit what they do
Signs of low self-esteem, negative self-talk, or comments about not being good enough
Conflict at home that's escalated past the usual parent-teen friction
A major change, a move, a divorce, a loss, that your teen hasn't talked through
Any signs of self-harm, disordered eating, or substance use
What to expect from youth counselling
The consultation. A free 20-minute call, usually with a parent first, to talk through what's going on and figure out whether individual counselling for your teen, family sessions, or a mix of both makes sense.
The first session. Your teen's counsellor will spend the first session or two getting to know them and building trust before diving into anything specific. Teens are often more guarded in a first session than parents expect. That's normal, and it's part of why we don't rush this stage.
Confidentiality. What your teen shares in session stays between them and their counsellor, with the standard exceptions any counsellor is legally required to act on: risk of serious harm to themselves or someone else, or abuse. Counsellors will talk through what confidentiality does and doesn't cover with both you and your teen before sessions begin, so nobody's caught off guard.
Ongoing sessions. Most teens meet weekly or every other week. Counsellors draw on approaches suited to adolescents, including CBT and DBT skills for managing anxiety and big emotions, adjusted to what your specific teen is dealing with rather than run as a fixed program.
Rates & Insurance
Youth sessions are billed at the same rate as individual adult sessions, based on your counsellor's tier:
Licensed counsellors (RCC, RSW, CCC): $150–$170 per 50-minute session. This is the tier most extended health plans reimburse at the highest rate.
Counsellors awaiting registration: $100 per session. Fully trained clinicians completing supervised hours toward registration.
Master's-level intern counsellors: The first session is free, then $35–$70 per session, working under direct supervision from our licensed team.
We offer direct billing to most major extended health plans, including Pacific Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, and Desjardins. Many plans cover dependents on a parent's policy, so it's worth checking your plan before booking, or asking us and we'll help you figure it out.
Questions people often ask us about our youth therapy service
FAQ
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Generally, no. Confidentiality is part of what makes counselling work for teens, and we protect it the same way we would for an adult client, with the same legal exceptions around safety. We'll be upfront with you and your teen about where those lines sit before sessions start.
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Many extended health plans cover dependents under a parent's policy, and we offer direct billing to most major providers. Coverage and session limits vary by plan, so it's worth checking with your provider or asking us when you book.
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Youth counselling is one-on-one between your teen and their counsellor. Family counselling includes multiple family members in the room and focuses on the dynamic between them. Some teens benefit from both, individual sessions for themselves and family sessions to work on things together. Your counsellor can help you figure out what mix makes sense.
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Yes. We offer virtual sessions for teens anywhere in BC, which some teens actually prefer, since it removes the in-person element some find harder to open up in.
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Counselling generally works better when a teen has at least some buy-in, even reluctant buy-in, rather than none. A free consultation call can help here: hearing directly from a counsellor what sessions actually involve often lowers a teen's resistance more than a parent explaining it secondhand.
Start with a free consultation
You don't need to have it all figured out, or know exactly what's going on with your teen, before booking a call. A 20-minute consultation is a low-pressure way to ask questions and find out if counselling is the right next step for your family.
Book a Free Consultation | Get Matched with a Counsellor | Call or Text: 1 (888) 520-9151