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Your teenager is struggling.
Adolescence can be a storm.
One minute, you see the kid they used to be. The next, you are met with a slammed door, a heavy silence, or a loud outburst.
Living with a teenager might feel like you are walking on eggshells, afraid that the wrong question or the wrong tone will trigger them.
You see them struggling, and you can feel the weight they are carrying, even if they can't talk about it.
They might look angry, lazy, or distant, but inside they feel like they are:
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Treading Water: Kicking as hard as they can just to keep their head up, drowning in expectations or academic pressure.
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Hitting the Wall of Awful: Cleaning or doing homework feels like a mountain they can't climb, leading to shame or paralysis.
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Profoundly Lonely: Even when hanging out with friends, they feel invisible, misunderstood, or unsure of where they belong.
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Constantly Performing: They are exhausted from performing the version of themselves they think the world wants to see.
Youth are navigating a world that is faster, louder, and more complex than ever before.
At Therapy Alberta, we help teens navigate the chaos of adolescence so they can find their ground.
Your Guide to Youth Therapy
Jump to:
What is youth therapy, really?
Therapy is a partnership with a safe adult.
Therapy for youth isn’t about fixing bad behavior or forcing them to talk when they don't want to.
We know the teenage brain is under massive growth.
The amygdala (the feeling center) is fully built and highly sensitive, but the prefrontal cortex (the thinking center responsible for impulse control, planning, and emotional regulation) won't be finished building until their mid-20s.
Your teen is driving a Ferrari with bicycle brakes.
We don't aim to change your child into someone else. We help them understand themselves, so they can move through the world with confidence and trust.
Youth therapy is a confidential, judgment-free zone where your teen can:
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Unload the backpack of stress they carry from school, social media, and the world.
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Decode their emotions so they don't act them out through anger or withdrawal.
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Build an identity that feels authentic and grounded.
We provide specialized support for teens navigating ADHD, anxiety, depression, grief, identity, low self-esteem, or trauma.
Is your teen experiencing these signs of struggle?
Pain speaks through the body and behavior.
The Shut Down (Internalizing)
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Numbness: They feel empty, bored, detached or nothing at all.
- Tech Escape: They are glued to screens to avoid difficult feelings.
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Physical Collapse: Simple tasks are overwhelming, and they complain of headaches, stomach aches, or exhaustion.
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Hermit Mode: Their door is always closed and they avoid family meals and shared spaces.
The Meltdown (Externalizing)
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Shame Spiral: They feel guilt and think I'm a bad kid, or I'm broken.
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Volcano: Small requests trigger rage, irritability seems out of proportion, or they have panic attacks before exams.
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Risk-Taking: Impulsive decisions, substance use, or sneaking out to chase a dopamine rush and escape the pain in their mind.
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School Refusal: The morning battle is fueled by overwhelming anxiety about the school environment, peers, or performance.
The Silent Struggle (Identity & Safety)
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Masking: They say I'm fine but their eyes look dull, tired, or empty.
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Chameleon: They change their personality to fit in with peers.
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Body Betrayal: They feel uncomfortable in their own skin and turn to disordered eating, self-harm, or hiding under baggy clothes.
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Identity Confusion: They struggle with gender, sexuality, or where they fit in a polarized world.
These aren't signs that your teenager is bad. They are signs that their nervous system is overwhelmed and looking for safety.
What causes teen struggles?
Adolescence is a perfect storm of biology, evolution, and psychology.
Surging waves of estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol fuel the teenage body and can lead to irritability, mood swings, and difficulty managing stress.
But it’s not just hormones.
Behaviors that look like defiance, laziness, or drama are often adaptive responses to a changing brain and body:
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Remodeling: Their brain is aggressively pruning away connections to be faster and more efficient. This creates temporary chaos—and forgetting chores and backpacks.
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Overload: Growing up in a digital world means the alarm system never turns off. A culture of constant comparison, cyberbullying, and FOMO keeps their anxiety spiking.
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Social Survival: Evolution wired their brain to prioritize peers over parents, making them hyper-vigilant to social rejection. Being excluded can register as physical pain.
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Dopamine Drop: With a lower baseline for dopamine, everyday life can feel physically painful or boring. They crave high-stimulation experiences just to feel normal.
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Individuation: They must psychologically separate from their parents and figure out who they are apart from their family—pushing you away or rejecting your advice.
We validate the reality of these changes so your teen stops blaming themselves for struggling.
When is it a good time to consider therapy for teens?
When you feel in your gut that something has shifted and you can't reach them anymore.
Teens are experts at minimizing their struggles.
They might say it's not that deep, it's not a big deal, or I don't want to talk about it.
You might tell yourself it’s just a phase, they’ll grow out of it, or other kids have it worse.
But waiting often means the patterns get harder to stop.
It might be a good time to reach out for support if:
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The world is shrinking: They are quitting all activities that used to light them up (sports, art, friends, hobbies).
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Daily life is a battle: Basic tasks like showering, eating, or going to school have become major conflicts.
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They have retreated from the world: They spend hours in their room or on screens and avoid family meals.
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Their body is reacting: They have unexplained aches, panic, air hunger, or exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix.
If you are worried about their safety, self-harm, substance use, or suicidal thoughts, you don't need to wait for a crisis.
Therapy gives teens the tools they need before they hit the wall.
How can therapy help your teen?
We offer a space that is radically different from school or home.
There are no grades, chores, expectations, or judgment.
Neurodivergent and queer youth are safe here too.
Youth Therapy can help your teen:
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Feel their Emotions: Turn overwhelming feelings into manageable sensations reduces fear.
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Regulate the System: Learn somatic tools to calm a racing heart, wake up a numb body, or cool down rage.
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Build a Buffer: Develop resilience against academic pressure or social stress so they focus on what matters.
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Reclaim Agency: Move from being a passenger of life to the driver, and learn the rules of the road.
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Find Belonging: Explore their identity in a polarized world, and choose where they want to fit in.
Therapy can be a place they feel truly seen, understood, and celebrated for exactly who they are.
What therapy approaches work best for youth?
Therapy works best when teens feel connected.
We use dynamic, research-backed methods that actually work with the teenage brain.
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Somatic Therapy (Speaking the Body's Language): For teens who struggle in their bodies, Somatic Therapy works with the nervous system to release tension, anxiety, and trauma without the story.
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EMDR (Processing the Past): For teens who have experienced bullying, trauma, or acute stress, EMDR helps the brain digest painful memories so they stop hurting in the present.
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DBT (Riding the Wave): Perfect for the emotional rollercoaster, DBT teaches practical skills for distress tolerance and emotional regulation. It helps teens stop the cycle of conflict and find the middle path.
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ACT (Dropping the Rope): Instead of fighting anxiety or trying to banish bad thoughts, ACT teaches teens to accept their thoughts and focus on their values to help them build a meaningful life.
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Affirming Therapy (Including All of You): We help BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth externalize the oppression they face, rewrite the stories people have told them about who they are, and find pride in their identity.
Our therapists are trained in multiple approaches, so they can build a plan that is as unique as your teen.
If you are looking for a specific modality, visit our Approaches to Therapy page to see what our therapists offer.
What happens in youth therapy?
Therapy is a conversation, not interrogation.
Therapy isn't a place where they are analyzed, lectured, or told to behave.
We value connection over correction, creating a space where they feel safe enough to drop their defenses and be real.
Here is what they can expect:
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The Connection: The most important part of therapy is the relationship. We start by building trust and talking about who they are and what they like or dislike.
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The Assessment: We get a clear picture of what’s going on and identify the goals they want to achieve (not just what their parents want).
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The Work: We might talk, draw, use music, practice breathing, or problem-solve real-life drama. We give them tools they can use at home, school, or with their friends.
We are all on the same team. While your teen's privacy is sacred (it’s the law, and it’s how therapy works best), we keep parents in the loop for safety or support at home.
Whether you join us in-person in Calgary or online across Alberta, the goal is always the same: to create a space where youth feel safe enough to heal.
Meet our featured Youth Therapists
Our team includes therapists who specialize in the unique culture of adolescence. They are parents who get it too.
REGISTERED PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
I help LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent teens in a world that feels too loud, fast, and judgmental. If your teen is struggling with identity or school refusal, I use ACT, CBT, DBT, and Affirming Therapy to offer a safe, inclusive space to unmask and breathe.
Exclusively Online
REGISTERED PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
I offer a culturally safe haven for BIPOC and immigrant youth navigating the complex balance of two worlds. Using CBT, EMDR and Somatic Therapy, I help teens process racial trauma, family expectations, and anxiety using a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive lens.
Exclusively Online
REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER
I work with teenagers who are shutting down or acting out. I help guys navigate anger, masculinity, and substance use. If you are tired of the silence or the explosions, I use CBT, DBT, and Mindfulness to help you find a way to express yourself without losing control.
Online & In-Person
Why is growing up in Alberta so hard right now?
The struggle is not just in their heads.
The environment plays a huge role in adolescent mental health.
Teens have lost their village. There are fewer non-parental adults to whom they can turn for guidance, forcing them to rely almost exclusively on peers or the internet.
The pressure on Alberta's youth today is unique, intense, and unrelenting:
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Boom & Bust Stress: Economic uncertainty trickles down. Teens feel the family stress or financial fear, internalizing the need to be perfect or not add burden.
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Pressure Cooker: Teens feel pressure to succeed in our hustle culture driven by high performance, which creates anxiety about grades and the future.
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Educational Whiplash: Frequent curriculum changes, the return of high-stakes diploma exams, and new policies make the classroom a political battleground.
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Systemic Stress: Shifting political landscapes makes the classroom unsafe for 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth while they are still developing their own identity.
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Seasonal Anxiety: The long winters can lead to isolation and SAD, while wildfires and climate change create a very real existential dread about the future.
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Lost Years: The pandemic interrupted safety, academic, and social development. Many teens lost normal school, sport, or extra-curricular experiences.
We understand these pressures because we live here too.
We help teens find stability even when the ground feels shaky.
You don't have to carry this alone.
Your teen is carrying the weight of the world in a backpack.
They are overwhelmed and struggling.
But they are also resilient, creative, and capable of incredible growth.
They deserve a space where they don't have to mask, perform, or protect anyone's feelings.
The next step is simple. You can book a free, 15-minute consultation to meet a therapist and see if it feels like a good fit for your teen.
No pressure, no commitment, just a conversation.
Our therapists offer daytime, evening, and weekend appointments to fit your lifestyle.
Common Questions About Youth Therapy
What if my teen doesn't want to go to therapy?
It is completely normal for teens to be hesitant. Force rarely works, but choice does. We recommend giving them agency: show them the therapist profiles and let them choose who they want to meet. We offer a free 15-minute consultation (meet & greet) so they can see if they click with the therapist before committing.
Will you tell me what my teen says in therapy?
Trust is the engine of therapy. Teenagers have a right to confidentiality. We will not share the details of their sessions unless there is a safety risk or harm. However, we can guide you on how to support them.
What if they refuse to go to school?
School refusal is often a panic response, not defiance. We work with the underlying anxiety and sensory overwhelm to help them build a ladder back to engagement, advocating for their needs with the school system when necessary.
Is online therapy effective for teens?
Absolutely. For many teens, being on a video call in their own bedroom feels safer than sitting in a clinical office. It removes the barrier of travel, reduces social anxiety, and lets them control their environment.
Do you offer direct billing?
Yes, many of our therapists can direct bill to most insurance companies (Blue Cross, Canada Life, Green Shield, Manulife, SunLife and others). If we cannot direct bill your specific plan, we will provide you with a receipt to submit for reimbursement. Learn more on our Insurance for Therapy in Calgary & Alberta page.
How much does therapy cost?
Our fees follow the Psychologists' Association of Alberta Recommended Fee Schedule. Rates vary depending on the therapist's credentials (e.g., Registered Psychologist, Social Worker, or Certified Canadian Counsellor). You can see the rates for each therapist on our Fees & Payment Policies page.
If you have more questions about therapy or the process, visit our FAQ page or contact us.
