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For when it all feels like too much
School, friends, home, your own head. Some days it’s one of them, some days it’s all of them. And sometimes it’s heavier than that: anxiety that won’t quit, a low that won’t lift, or something that happened that nobody knows about. You don’t need to have the words for it yet.
You don’t have to be in crisis to talk to someone. “Not okay” is enough of a reason.
Some people notice
You don’t need to tick every box. One or two that feel familiar is reason enough to reach out.
- Worry that won’t switch off, about school, friends, or nothing you can name
- Pulling away from friends and family, spending more time alone
- Sleep that’s all over the place
- A shorter fuse than usual, or tears out of nowhere
- Not caring about things that used to matter
- Grades sliding, or trying too hard and burning out
- Something happened that still shows up in your day
The questions people ask
Do I need my parents’ permission?
Not always. In Nova Scotia there’s no set age for this. If you understand what therapy is and what you’re agreeing to, you can say yes for yourself, and your clinician will talk that through with you at the start.
Is my parent in the room?
It’s common for a parent or guardian to join for the first few minutes of session one, but that’s up to you and them. After that, it’s just you and your clinician.
Will you tell my parents what I say?
What you share stays between you and your clinician. The exceptions are the same as for anyone: if you’re at risk of serious harm, if someone else is, or if a court orders it. If it helps, parents can get a general sense of how things are going, but not the details. We go through all of this with both of you before you start.
Is it covered by insurance?
Teens are usually covered as dependants under a parent’s extended health plan. Call the number on the benefits card and ask. We can bill most major insurers directly, so you only pay what the plan doesn’t cover; otherwise you get a receipt after every session.
Who will I see?
One of our clinicians who works with teens. You can read about each of us, and see who is taking new clients, on our About page.
What kind of therapy would we use?
Most often CBT (working with the thoughts and habits that keep things stuck) and ACT (making room for hard feelings while still doing what matters). Sometimes EMDR if something that happened is still showing up, or EFT for the feelings underneath the reactions. We match it to the person, not the age.