Child and Adolescent Counselling
Children and teenagers can find it hard to explain why something feels difficult. Sometimes the first signs a family notices are more arguments at home, a child who no longer wants to go to school, or a teen who pulls away from friends and activities they used to enjoy. Other young people can describe the concern clearly and would like a space to talk it through with someone outside the family.
At Maria Schmid & Partners, child and adolescent counselling is shaped around a young person’s age, preferences and the situations they face at home, at school and with friends. If you are a young person reading this page, you can start by telling us what feels hardest or what you would like the adults around you to understand.
Book an appointment or call 403-801-4839 for help choosing a counsellor.
When counselling may help a child or teen
Families may seek support for worries that make it hard to join in, low mood, strong emotional reactions, conflict at home, friendship difficulties or a change in confidence. Counselling can also be useful when a child or teen is adjusting to a separation, a loss, a new school or another change that has disrupted familiar routines.
You may be wondering whether what you notice is part of a transition or a sign that your child needs more help. An initial conversation can help clarify what the young person is experiencing, which situations bring out the concern and whether individual counselling, caregiver support, family sessions or an assessment would be a useful next step.
How we work with young people and caregivers
The counsellor takes time to get to know the young person, including what they enjoy, what they find frustrating and how they prefer to communicate. Younger children may express more through play, drawing or stories than through direct questions. Older children and teens may prefer conversation or practical ways to work through a situation, such as what to say when they feel left out or how to ask for help when they are overwhelmed.
Caregivers can share what they notice and help make changes at home that support the work. The young person can also describe what they want from the sessions and have a say in the goals. The clinician will discuss when it makes sense to involve caregivers, how updates are handled and what information can be shared.
What to expect at your first appointment
Before the first appointment, ask who should attend and whether any consent information or documents are needed. This is particularly useful when caregivers share decision-making or there are existing agreements or orders about who can consent to services. The clinician will explain confidentiality and its limits in a way the young person and caregivers can understand.
You can bring a short description of what has changed, what you have tried and what seems to make things easier. The first meeting gives the young person a chance to ask questions and the family a chance to decide whether the approach feels like a good fit.
Meet the counsellors who work with Children and Adolescents
Danielle Smith
Registered Psychologist
Dr. Smith is a registered psychologist who works with children and adolescents on concerns including anxiety, mood and conflict at home. She takes account of the young person’s perspective and considers how the people around them can support the work.
Tricia Thomas
Registered Psychologist
Tricia is a registered psychologist who works with children and adolescents facing emotional and relationship difficulties. She may use play or storytelling alongside conversation, depending on the young person’s age and how they prefer to express themselves.
Nicole Berggren
Registered Psychologist
Nicole is a registered psychologist who works with adolescents and families and draws on her knowledge of development. Her approach considers how a young person’s experiences and relationships at home shape the concerns they bring to counselling.
Jason Stein
Registered Social Worker
Jason is a registered social worker with experience supporting young people and their families. He takes a collaborative approach to concerns such as strong emotional reactions, conflict and substance use, helping the young person identify goals that matter to them.