SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN, TEENS & YOUNG ADULTS
Child, Teen & Young Adult Counselling in Coquitlam, BC
A supportive place for young people to understand what they're feeling, build confidence, develop healthy coping skills, and feel less alone in what they're going through.
Trueself Counselling provides counselling for children, teens, and young adults experiencing anxiety, school stress, emotional overwhelm, self-esteem concerns, friendship or relationship difficulties, family changes, and challenging life transitions.
Not sure which counsellor is the right fit? We're happy to help you find someone who may be a good match.
Growing Up Can Feel Overwhelming
Children and teens are learning how to understand emotions, cope with stress and navigate relationships while also managing school, friendships, family changes and the pressures that come with growing up.
Sometimes a young person who is struggling doesn't look obviously distressed. You may simply notice that something feels different.
Behaviour can sometimes say what words can't yet explain.
A young person may become quieter, more irritable, more worried, harder on themselves, or begin pulling away from things they usually enjoy. These changes don't always mean something is seriously wrong — but they can be worth paying attention to.
Counselling can give young people space to understand what they're experiencing, feel heard, and begin finding ways to manage what's been feeling difficult — at a pace that feels comfortable for them.
SUPPORT AT DIFFERENT STAGES
Who We Support
Growing up brings different challenges at different stages. Counselling is adapted to each young person’s age, developmental stage, communication style, individual concerns and comfort level.
Children
CHILD COUNSELLING
Children don't always have the words to explain why they're struggling. Big feelings may instead show up as worry, frustration, sensitivity, withdrawal, changes in behaviour, or difficulties at home or school.
Counselling provides developmentally appropriate support to help children understand emotions, build coping skills, strengthen confidence and navigate difficult experiences or changes.
Teens
TEEN COUNSELLING
Adolescence can bring intense emotions alongside school pressure, changing friendships, identity development, family conflict, relationships, social expectations and uncertainty about the future.
Counselling gives teens space to talk honestly, understand emotional and behavioural patterns, develop coping and regulation skills, and build confidence navigating the challenges they are facing.
Young Adults
YOUNG ADULT COUNSELLING
The transition into adulthood can bring pressure around education, work, relationships, independence, identity, finances and major decisions about what comes next.
Counselling can help young adults understand themselves more clearly, manage anxiety and uncertainty, strengthen boundaries, navigate relationships and feel more confident about the direction they want their lives to take.
Counselling starts with understanding the young person in front of us—not expecting them to fit into a particular approach.
WHEN TO CONSIDER COUNSELLING
When Might Counselling Be Helpful?
Every young person has difficult days. The question is often whether what you're noticing is temporary—or whether it seems to be sticking around, becoming more intense, or interfering with everyday life.
There isn't always one obvious sign. Sometimes it's a change in behaviour. Sometimes it's something your child or teen tells you. And sometimes it's simply a sense that they haven't seemed like themselves lately.
Anxiety & Worry
Worry that seems difficult to switch off, frequent reassurance seeking, fears, physical signs of stress, or beginning to avoid things because they feel overwhelming.
School Stress & Academic Pressure
School becoming a significant source of distress, including perfectionism, fear of failure, procrastination, difficulty concentrating or avoiding school altogether.
Emotional Overwhelm
Emotions that seem increasingly difficult to manage, including intense frustration, irritability, shutting down, outbursts or difficulty calming after becoming upset.
Low Self-Esteem & Confidence
Frequent self-criticism, comparing themselves to others, focusing on perceived failures, fear of making mistakes, or struggling to recognize their own strengths.
Friendship & Social Challenges
Ongoing friendship difficulties, loneliness, bullying, rejection, social anxiety, peer pressure, or feeling as though they don't belong.
Family Changes & Transitions
Difficulty adjusting to separation, divorce, blended families, moving, grief, loss, or significant changes in family relationships and life at home.
Changes in Behaviour
Pulling away from people or activities they usually enjoy, changes in communication, increased irritability, or behaviour that feels noticeably different from their usual self.
Identity & Growing Independence
Questions or stress related to identity, belonging, relationships, independence, future plans, changing roles, or figuring out who they are becoming.
BUILDING SKILLS THAT LAST
What Young People Can Build Through Counselling
Counselling isn't only about talking about what's difficult. It can also help children, teens and young adults understand themselves more clearly, strengthen important skills and feel more confident navigating everyday life.
Difficult emotions and challenging moments are part of life. Counselling can help young people become better able to understand what they're feeling, respond to challenges and trust themselves along the way.
Understanding Emotions
Learning to notice and name feelings, recognize triggers and body signals, and understand what emotions may be trying to communicate.
Managing Big Feelings
Developing ways to move through anxiety, frustration, stress and emotional overwhelm without feeling completely taken over by the moment.
Healthy Ways of Coping
Finding practical ways to handle pressure, uncertainty, difficult experiences and everyday stress that work for them and can be used outside the counselling room.
Confidence & Self-Trust
Recognizing strengths, becoming less defined by mistakes, softening harsh self-talk and developing greater confidence in their own thoughts, feelings and abilities.
Communication & Relationships
Learning to express needs, work through conflict, understand boundaries and navigate friendships, family relationships and other important connections.
Problem-Solving & Resilience
Building confidence in working through challenges, adapting when things don't go as planned and finding ways forward after difficult moments.
Sometimes the smallest changes are the ones that matter.
Progress might look like speaking up when something doesn't feel right, recovering from a difficult emotion a little sooner, worrying less about making a mistake, asking for help, setting a boundary—or simply being able to say, “I understand why I feel this way.”
WHAT TO EXPECT
What Are Counselling Sessions Like for Children & Teens?
Starting counselling can feel unfamiliar—for young people and parents alike. There isn't one “right” way for a child or teen to participate. Some arrive ready to talk, while others need time to feel comfortable before sharing very much at all.
That's okay. Counselling begins by meeting the young person where they are, rather than expecting them to know exactly what to say.
We Begin With Safety & Trust
Before anything else, the goal is to help your child or teen feel comfortable with their counsellor. They aren't expected to immediately share personal experiences or talk about everything that's bothering them.
We Make Sense of What's Going On
As trust develops, counselling can help them explore emotions, experiences, stress, relationships and patterns that may be connected to what they're experiencing in everyday life.
We Build Skills They Can Use Outside the Room
Depending on what they need, sessions may include practical ways to manage anxiety, big emotions, stress, communication, relationships, self-confidence and other everyday challenges.
We Adapt as They Grow & Things Change
Counselling isn't a fixed formula. What feels important may change over time, and sessions can evolve as new concerns, strengths, experiences and goals emerge.
There is no expectation to “open up” on command.
Sometimes the first meaningful step is simply realizing: “I can be myself here, and I don't have to explain everything all at once.” A strong therapeutic relationship is built gradually, with respect for the young person's comfort, personality and pace.
FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS
Supporting Your Child While Respecting Their Space
When a child or teen begins counselling, parents and caregivers often have questions about how involved they will be, what remains private, and how they can best support their young person outside of sessions.
Caregivers can provide valuable context and support. At the same time, young people often benefit from having a space where they can develop trust, explore what they're experiencing, and speak openly at their own pace.
WORKING TOGETHER
Parent & Caregiver Involvement
The level of parent or caregiver involvement can look different depending on the young person's age, developmental stage, individual needs, circumstances, and goals for counselling.
Parents and caregivers may be involved in providing background information, discussing concerns, identifying goals, or having periodic conversations with the counsellor when appropriate.
BUILDING TRUST
Privacy & Confidentiality
A sense of privacy can be an important part of building trust between a young person and their counsellor. Having space to speak openly can make it easier to explore emotions, experiences, relationships, and concerns honestly.
Confidentiality also has limits. There are circumstances in which information may need to be shared because of safety, legal, or professional obligations. Your counsellor will explain confidentiality and its limits at the beginning of the counselling process.
BEFORE COUNSELLING BEGINS
Consent & Assent
Consent requirements can vary depending on a young person's age, circumstances, decision-making capacity, and family situation. Before counselling begins, your counsellor will discuss the appropriate consent process with you.
We also want young people to understand what counselling is, what they can expect, and to have a voice in participating whenever possible. Feeling included in the process can help create a stronger foundation for counselling.
BETWEEN SESSIONS
Supporting Progress at Home
Counselling is only one part of a young person's world. Supportive relationships at home can play an important role in helping children and teens practise new skills and feel understood.
Depending on the situation, your counsellor may help you think about ways to support communication, emotional regulation, healthy boundaries, coping strategies, or other skills outside of counselling sessions.
NOT SURE HOW COUNSELLING WOULD WORK FOR YOUR CHILD?
It's okay to have questions before getting started.
A free 20-minute consultation gives you an opportunity to tell us a little about what's been happening, ask questions about the counselling process, and see whether one of our counsellors may be a good fit for your child or teen.
COUNSELLING CLOSE TO HOME
Child & Teen Counselling in Coquitlam, Victoria & Online Across BC
Finding the right counsellor matters—but so does finding support that works with your family's life. Trueself Counselling offers in-person child and teen counselling in Coquitlam and Victoria, along with secure online counselling throughout British Columbia.
Whether your child feels more comfortable meeting face-to-face or your family needs the flexibility of virtual appointments, we'll help you explore an option that feels comfortable and practical.
Coquitlam, BC
A welcoming place to talk, slow things down and begin making sense of what's been feeling difficult.
Our Coquitlam counselling office is located in Austin Heights and provides in-person support for children, teens, young adults and families in Coquitlam and the surrounding Tri-Cities.
Counselling is available for concerns including anxiety, school stress, emotional overwhelm, self-esteem, friendship and relationship difficulties, family changes and challenging life transitions.
Victoria, BC
Face-to-face counselling for young people who may feel more comfortable connecting with someone in person.
Trueself also offers in-person counselling in Victoria, BC for young people and families looking for support on Vancouver Island.
Counselling is tailored to the young person's age, developmental stage, experiences, strengths and goals, with time to build trust and become comfortable with the counselling process.
VIRTUAL COUNSELLING
Online Counselling Across British Columbia
For teens, young adults and families who prefer the flexibility of meeting from home, secure virtual counselling is available throughout British Columbia when online sessions are appropriate for the client's age, needs and circumstances.
It also matters that your child or teen feels comfortable with the person they're talking to. If you're unsure where to begin, tell us a little about what you're looking for and we'll help you consider which Trueself counsellor may be a good fit.
Help Me Find a Counsellor