CHILD, TEEN & YOUTH COUNSELLING IN NORTH VANCOUVER, SURREY, NANAIMO & VIRTUALLY ACROSS BC
Supporting Your Child’s Emotional Well-Being
Navigating childhood and adolescence can be challenging. Whether your child is dealing with anxiety, behavioural issues, family transitions, or emotional distress, our counsellors are here to provide compassionate, personalized support.
At Hollyburn Support Services, we create a safe and welcoming environment where children and youth can express themselves through play, art, conversation, or other creative methods. Our goal is to empower your child, enhance their emotional well-being, and equip them with the tools they need to face life’s challenges.
Is Child/Youth Counselling/Psychotherapy Right for Your Family?
You might be wondering if counselling is the right step for your child. Perhaps they’ve experienced a recent change, are struggling with emotions, or you’re noticing behavioural shifts. Our counselling/psychotherapy services are designed to support children and youth through various challenges, including:
- Anxiety and stress
- Depression and low mood
- Behavioural concerns
- Family transitions (e.g., divorce, relocation)
- Trauma and loss
- Social and peer-related issues
- Self-esteem and identity development
We also understand that a child’s well-being is closely tied to the dynamics between their caregivers. If you and a co-parent are navigating separation, conflict, or differences in parenting approaches, our Co-Parenting Counselling services can offer guidance, tools, and support to strengthen communication and prioritize your child’s needs.
How Child, Teen, and Youth Counselling Works
Children and teenagers experience and express emotions differently than adults, and our approach reflects that. Rather than expecting a child or teen to sit and talk through their feelings, our counsellors use a child-led approach that follows your child’s pace and comfort. Sessions involve more observation and engagement than direct questioning, because children often don’t have the words for what they’re feeling, and they don’t need to in order to benefit from support.
Sometimes the most meaningful insights come through indirect routes. When a child plays, the choices they make and the stories they tell can reveal a great deal about how they see their world. Our counsellors are trained to recognize and gently work with those signals, in ways that feel natural and safe for your child.
This is especially true for very young children. Research shows that early childhood, including the first 24 months of life, is among the most formative periods we experience. Even before children develop language, they absorb the emotional environments around them. Our counsellors are trained to work with children at every developmental stage, using methods that meet them where they are.
Sessions may include:
- Play therapy using games, sand table activities, and hands-on materials
- Art-based expression and creative activities
- Walk & talk counselling for youth who find movement helpful
- Conversation and experiential engagement for older teens and youth
Our North Vancouver office includes a designated child and youth space with a sand table, games, and comfortable rooms where kids can feel at ease from their very first visit.
The Role of Parents and Caregivers
Healing doesn’t stop when the session ends. Depending on your child’s age and needs, parents or caregivers may be involved in parts of the session. We’ll also share guidance and practical strategies you can use at home, so that the progress your child makes in counselling is reinforced in their everyday environment.
Supporting your child through this process is one of the most meaningful things you can do, and our team is here to support you too.
What Ages Do You Work With?
We provide counselling and psychotherapy for children and youth from age 3 through 19. Individual counsellors vary in the age ranges they work with. Browse our team to find a counsellor whose specialty aligns with your child’s age and needs.
Affordable and Accessible Support
We recognize that therapy is an important investment, and that finances can sometimes be a barrier to accessing support. To help make counselling/psychotherapy more accessible, we offer affordable services for youth ages 12 and up, including low-cost sessions with intern clinicians who are completing their clinical training under the supervision of experienced professionals. These sessions provide high-quality care at a reduced rate. If cost is a concern, we encourage you to contact our Director of Counselling Services to discuss available options. We’re committed to helping you access the support your family needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
You don’t need a diagnosis or a crisis to reach out. If you’re noticing changes in your child’s mood, behaviour, sleep, or how they’re engaging at school or home, those are worth exploring. Our team can help you figure out if counselling is the right next step.
That’s one of the most common concerns parents share, and it’s exactly what child-led counselling is designed for. Our counsellors don’t pressure children to speak. They use play, art, games, and other engaging activities to build connection first. Many kids who “won’t talk” do just fine once they’re in a comfortable, low-pressure environment.
Adult therapy often relies on conversation and self-reflection. Child and teen counselling uses more observation, play, and experiential engagement, because younger people process emotions differently and benefit from approaches that don’t require them to find the words. Everything is tailored to your child’s age, personality, and comfort level.
We offer in-person child and youth counselling at our North Vancouver location (109 – 267 Esplanade West), our Surrey location (207-15310 103A Ave), and our Nanaimo location (170 & 190 Wallace Street). Virtual and telephone sessions are available for families anywhere in British Columbia.
Ready to Begin?
Whether you’re looking for child/youth counselling or psychotherapy in North Vancouver, Nanaimo, Surrey, Vancouver, or virtual sessions anywhere in BC, our experienced and compassionate team is here to support you. Explore our team of counsellors and psychotherapists to learn more about who might be the best match for your needs – or simply click the button below to complete our referral form and get started today.