Child & Teen Therapy in Richmond Hill, North York, & Online
TEEN THERAPY
Adolescence brings real pressure: school, friendships, identity, and figuring out who you are. Teen therapy offers a private space to work through it with someone who won't judge or lecture. At Wise Psychotherapy Clinic, we provide evidence-based, client-centered support in person in Richmond Hill and North York or online across the GTA.
CONCERNS WE HELP WITH
Is this for you?
People come to therapy for many reasons. Some of the most common include:
Anxiety & stress
Low mood & depression
Identity & self-esteem
Friendships
Social pressures
Family conflict
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
ADHD, OCD, Autism
Cultural pressures & expectations
Anger & emotional regulation
School struggles
Big life changes
Don’t see your concern listed? Reach out to us! We’ll talk through what you’re experiencing and match you with the right therapist!
EVIDENCE-BASED PSYCHOTHERAPY
Our Approach
Therapy isn't one-size-fits-all. We draw on approaches supported by research and adapt them to you, your history, and what you're hoping to work through. Below are some of the frameworks we use, and what they actually look like in practice.
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Our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are closely connected, and often we get stuck in patterns without realizing it. CBT helps you notice unhelpful thought patterns as they happen and build more balanced, workable ways of responding, so you're not on autopilot when anxiety or low mood shows up.
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Not every difficult feeling needs to be fixed or eliminated before you can move forward. ACT builds skills for making room for difficult emotions while still taking action toward what actually matters to you, rather than waiting to feel "ready."
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When emotions feel intense or hard to manage, DBT offers practical, concrete tools for regulation and distress tolerance. This can be especially useful if you find yourself reacting strongly before you've had a chance to think something through.
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Some patterns don't make sense until you look at where they came from. Psychodynamic work explores how past experiences and relationships shape present-day thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, often at a slower, more reflective pace.
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While EFT is often used with couples, it's also effective one-on-one, especially for exploring patterns in how you connect with others. It helps you identify the emotions and needs underneath reactions like withdrawal, anxiety in relationships, or fear of rejection, so you understand not just what you feel, but why.
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IFS works from the idea that we all have different "parts" of ourselves, some protective, some wounded, some critical, that can pull us in different directions. This approach helps you get curious about those parts rather than fighting them, building more self-compassion and a stronger sense of your core self underneath the noise.
A note for parents:
Bringing your teen to therapy is a big step, for them and for you. We know you want to help without pushing them away. Your teen's sessions are their own space to talk openly, and we'll respect that confidentiality within the limits required by law (such as risk of serious harm). What we can share is general progress and any safety concerns. What stays private is the specific content of what they share, so they can be honest with us
What are sessions like at Wise Psychotherapy?
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THERAPY
The first session usually includes some time with the parent(s) and time alone with the teen, so everyone understands how things will work.
In your first session
A brief conversation with parent(s) about what's going on and any concerns
One-on-one time between the therapist and your teen
An explanation of confidentiality and how sessions will work going forward
Initial goals, set collaboratively with your teen
Ongoing sessions
Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly to start. Sessions are primarily one-on-one with your teen, with periodic check-ins with parents as appropriate and agreed upon in advance.
Privacy
What your teen shares is private, with the same legal exceptions as any client (risk of serious harm to self or others). We'll explain this clearly to both your teen and you at the start.
Whatever your teen is going through, we'll meet them where they are, without judgment
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No. We never force disclosure. Building trust takes time, and that's expected.
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We keep session content confidential so your teen can be honest with us. We'll share general progress and any safety concerns.
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This is common. Sometimes a first consultation call just to meet the therapist, with no pressure to continue, helps ease resistance.
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We work with teens of all ages!
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. You can book directly with us, no referral or diagnosis required. If you already have one, feel free to share it, but it's not necessary to begin.
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We ask for at least 24 hours' notice to change or cancel a session. Sessions cancelled with less notice may be subject to the full fee.
OUR TEAM
Meet the therapists who’ll work with you
Every therapist at Wise Psychotherapy Clinic brings their own approach, but shares the same commitment to evidence-based, client-centered care. Read a bit about each of us below, or book a free consultation and we'll help match you with the right fit.
Reaching out is often the hardest part. We'll make the rest as easy as we can. Book a free consultation and let's talk about how we can help your teen.
If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline) or go to your nearest emergency department