Teen Counselling in Barrie, ON
We offer teen counselling in Barrie, ON for adolescents navigating anxiety, depression, school stress, family conflict, identity questions, and more. Our Registered Psychotherapists provide warm, evidence-based support for teens aged 14 and up — with both in-person sessions at our Barrie office and virtual options across Ontario.
Whether your teenager is visibly struggling or quietly withdrawing, we provide a non-judgmental space where they can speak honestly, build real coping skills, and start to feel like themselves again. Parents and caregivers are also supported throughout the process. You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out — we will help from there.
✔ Therapists for ages 14+ ✔ Registered psychotherapists and social workers ✔ In-person and virtual ✔ No physician referral required
Is Your Teen Struggling? Signs It May Be Time for Counselling
You know something is wrong, but your teen isn't ready to talk about it. That's more common than you'd think. Our therapists offer a space where teens feel safe enough to open up, and we support you along the way.
Signs Parents and Caregivers Often Notice
Some changes in teenagers are part of normal development. Others signal that something deeper needs attention.
Parents usually reach out when their teen is showing:
- Withdrawal from family, friends, or activities they used to enjoy
- Persistent irritability or emotional outbursts that feel out of proportion
- Ongoing sadness, worry, or low mood that doesn't lift after a few days
- Drops in school performance or frequent school avoidance
- Changes in friendships, confidence, or how they talk about themselves
- Significant changes in sleep, appetite, or daily routine
You don't need a diagnosis to reach out. If your teen is struggling with moods and thoughts, we are here to help.
Concerns Teen Counselling Can Help With
Teen therapy at Reset supports a wide range of emotional and mental health challenges for adolescents navigating:
- Anxiety — persistent worry, social anxiety, panic
- Depression and low mood — sadness, emptiness, loss of motivation
- Self-esteem and body image — difficulty feeling accepted or good about themselves
- School stress and academic pressure — fear of failure, performance anxiety, burnout
- Friendships, bullying and social media pressure — conflict, exclusion, comparison, including online
- Family conflict, grief and life changes — separation, moves, loss
- Trauma, anger and self-harm concerns
When a Teen is in Crisis
Private psychotherapy is not a crisis or emergency service. If your teen is in immediate danger, please call 911 or dial 211 in Simcoe County to connect with a crisis support worker.
If a teen is facing active suicidal intent, acute psychosis, or severe self-harm, your teen's doctor or a local emergency service can help you assess next steps. We can often continue supporting a teenager through or after a crisis.
How Teen Counselling Can Help
Therapy doesn't remove the hard parts of being a teenager. It gives teens tools, a safe relationship, and a clearer sense of themselves, so those hard parts become more manageable.
Manage Big Emotions, Anxiety and Low Mood
Many teens struggle to name what they're feeling, let alone know what to do with it. In sessions, we help teens:
- Notice emotional patterns and what triggers them
- Connect their thoughts, feelings and behaviours
- Build coping strategies they can use day to day
The goal isn't a teen who never feels anxious or sad. It's one who knows what to do when they do.
Build Self-Esteem, Communication and Healthier Relationships
Adolescence is when young people start forming a real sense of who they are, and that work is fragile. Therapy supports:
- Confidence and self-compassion
- Communication skills and boundaries
- Healthier friendships and family relationships
Cope With School Stress, Social Pressure and Life Transitions
Exams, post-secondary uncertainty, social media comparison, shifting friendships and family changes often arrive all at once. Our therapists connect what teens learn in sessions to what's happening in their lives, whether that's school anxiety before exams, a friendship falling apart, or space to think through what comes next.
What to Expect From Teen Counselling at Reset
One of the most common questions we hear from both parents and teens is: What actually happens in a session? Here's what the process looks like at Reset.
The First Teen Counselling Session
The first session is not about solving anything. It's about getting to know your teenager.
Your teen's therapist will:
- Introduce themselves and explain how sessions work
- Ask what's been going on and what your teen hopes to get from therapy
- Discuss confidentiality — what's private, and the rare circumstances when it isn't
- Answer any questions your teen (or you) might have
- Begin building the rapport that makes everything else possible
There's no pressure to share everything right away. The first session sets the foundation. Your teen won't be pushed faster than they're ready to go.
A Personalized Plan That Moves at Your Teen's Pace
No two teenagers are the same — and neither are their therapy plans.
After the initial session, your teen and their therapist will develop a direction together. Goals can shift as things change. Some weeks are about processing something hard. Others are about building specific skills. The approach adapts to what's actually helpful, not a fixed program.
We don't rush the work. Building real trust with a teenager takes time, and that relationship is what makes the strategies stick.
How Parents and Caregivers Can Be Involved
Parent involvement in teen therapy is not one-size-fits-all. It depends on the teenager's age, needs, consent, and what their therapist determines is clinically appropriate.
Some parents check in briefly at the beginning or end of certain sessions. Others receive general updates on themes or progress without disclosing specific conversations. In some cases, particularly where family dynamics are part of what's being worked on, a parent may be invited into sessions with the teen's knowledge and agreement.
What won't happen is your teenager's therapist reporting back on private disclosures without consent. That privacy is essential to the therapeutic process — and we explain that clearly from the start.
Confidentiality and Consent in Teen Therapy
01
What Stays Private in Therapy
Confidentiality is crucial to teen therapy. For teenagers, it's the reason they're willing to speak honestly at all.
When a teen knows their therapist won't repeat what they share — to parents, teachers, or anyone else — they're far more likely to talk about what's actually going on. That honest conversation is where real therapeutic work happens.
At Reset, our therapists include Registered Psychotherapists (RPs), a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and a Registered Nurse (RN). Each upholds confidentiality in accordance with the ethical guidelines of their professional college.
In practical terms: what your teenager says in their sessions stays in their sessions. Their therapist does not provide session summaries to parents. The teen is the client, and the therapeutic relationship is built around their trust.
02
When Safety Concerns Change Confidentiality
Confidentiality has limits, and your teen's therapist will explain those limits clearly at the very first session.
In certain circumstances — where there is a serious and imminent risk of harm to the teenager or to someone else, or where disclosure is legally required — confidentiality may need to be broken. These situations are uncommon, and therapists do not take them lightly.
Explaining these limits upfront is part of informed consent, not a reason for concern. Teenagers generally respond well to knowing exactly what is and isn't private. It helps them make an informed choice about what to share — and trust that the boundaries are real.
Therapy Approaches Reset May Use With Teens
Our teen therapists draw from several evidence-based approaches. The one used with your teenager will depend on their specific needs, their therapist's training, and what works best as the relationship develops.
Help Your Teen Find a Therapist They Can Like and Trust
Finding a Therapist Your Teen Can Connect With
The relationship between a teenager and their therapist matters more than any specific technique. Therapeutic rapport is one of the strongest predictors of whether therapy works — and this is especially true with adolescents, who are quick to disengage when they feel judged, talked at, or misunderstood.
At Reset, we take therapist fit seriously. If you're not sure who to book with, our Therapist Match Quiz can help you narrow it down.
Meet Our Team of Teen Therapists in Barrie
The following Reset therapists currently work with adolescents aged 14 and up. Check the booking page for availability.
Melanie Lockhart, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Melanie works with teens navigating anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and the challenges that can come with relationships and growing independence. She brings a practical, CBT-based approach and a genuine commitment to helping teens develop coping skills, build confidence, and better understand themselves.
Van Shanahan, Registered Psychotherapist
Van works with teens navigating anxiety, depression, and the pressures that can come with adolescence. His approach is practical and collaborative, helping teens process what they're experiencing, develop healthy coping strategies, and build skills they can use in everyday life.
Leah Juras, Registered Psychotherapist
Leah works with teens navigating anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and body image. She brings a gentle, attachment-informed approach and creates a space where teens can feel understood, supported, and comfortable exploring what they're experiencing at their own pace.
Andi Atkins, Registered Psychotherapist
Andi works with teens navigating anxiety, depression, self-esteem, stress, and major life changes. She shares a genuine commitment to creating a supportive space where teens can feel understood, build confidence, and develop practical tools for managing the challenges they face.
Teen Counselling in Barrie — Fees, Booking and Local Access
Session Fees, Insurance and Referrals
Sessions are $170 (no tax) for 50 minutes. This rate applies to individual teen therapy.
A few things worth knowing:
- No referral is required to book directly with any of our therapists
- We do not offer direct billing at this time
- Receipts are provided after each session for insurance reimbursement
- Many extended-health benefit plans cover Registered Psychotherapists — confirm your plan's coverage and credential requirements before your first session
- Private psychotherapy is not covered by OHIP
- We accept Visa and Mastercard
For more detail on insurance and receipts, visit our FAQ page.
In-Person and Virtual Teen Counselling
We offer both in-person sessions at our Barrie office and virtual therapy via secure video or phone.
Format availability varies by therapist — check individual profiles on the booking page for current options. Virtual sessions are available to clients anywhere in Ontario, making Reset accessible whether your teenager prefers the structure of an office visit or the comfort of connecting from home.
Many families use a combination of both depending on schedule and circumstance.
Local Access Across Barrie and Simcoe County
Our Barrie clinic is located at 151 Essa Road, Suite 201, Barrie, ON — easily accessible from across the city, with on-site parking and convenient proximity to Highway 400.
We serve clients from across the Simcoe County region, including Barrie, Orillia, Innisfil, Bradford, New Tecumseth, and surrounding communities. Virtual sessions extend our reach to teenagers anywhere in Ontario.
Reset has been part of the Barrie mental health community since 2016 — over a decade of supporting individuals, families, and adolescents across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Counselling in Barrie
How do I know if my teen needs counselling?
If your teenager has been withdrawing, struggling emotionally, or showing persistent changes in behaviour or mood, those are worth taking seriously. You don't need a diagnosis or a crisis point to reach out. See the signs section above for a fuller overview — and trust your instincts as a parent.
Does my teen need a referral for counselling?
No referral is needed to book directly with any Reset therapist. You can schedule through our online booking page at any time. Some extended-health insurance plans may require a referral for reimbursement, so check your specific plan before your first session.
Can parents attend teen counselling sessions?
It depends on the teen's age, needs, and what their therapist recommends. Some sessions may include a brief parent check-in. In other cases, involvement is more limited to protect the teen's privacy and therapeutic trust. Your teen's therapist will discuss what makes sense from the outset.
Is teen counselling confidential?
Yes — what your teenager shares with their therapist stays private, in line with CRPO ethical guidelines. There are narrow exceptions when safety or legal requirements apply, and these are explained clearly at the first session. Confidentiality is what allows teenagers to speak honestly.
How much does teen counselling cost at Reset?
Sessions are currently $170 (no tax) for 50 minutes. This rate applies to individual adolescent therapy. Direct billing is not currently available, but receipts are provided for insurance reimbursement. Private therapy is not covered by OHIP. Rates are subject to change.
What if my teen does not want to go to counselling?
This is common, and it's okay. Forcing a teenager into therapy rarely works well. A more effective approach is keeping the door open — letting them know support is available when they're ready, and perhaps starting with a single no-pressure session to meet a therapist. Sometimes curiosity gets them there before willingness does. We work with where teens actually are, not where we wish they were.
Ready to Find the Right Teen Therapist in Barrie?
You don't need to know exactly what's wrong before reaching out. And your teenager doesn't need to know exactly what to say before their first session.
What matters is that something feels like it needs attention — and you're willing to take a step toward getting support. Our team at Reset is here to make that step feel manageable.
We'll help your teen connect with a therapist they genuinely like and trust — someone who sits beside them, not above them, through whatever they're facing.