48 King William St Unit 2, Huntsville, ON P1H 1G3 | 10 Mississaga St E, Orillia, ON L3V 1V7

Veritas Psychotherapy & Counselling Logo | Therapy in Orillia, Huntsville, & Across Ontario

Veritas Psychotherapy & Counselling

Teen Therapy

Navigating a world that is always shifting can be tough. We provide a safe space where your teen will feel heard, understood and valued.

Person icon with hands on hips | Teen therapy to build more confidence and resilience

Build More Confidence & Resilience

Lightbulb icon | Teen therapy to develop healthier coping strategies

Develop Healthier Coping Strategies

Heart icon | Teen therapy to find healing and improved mental health

Find Healing & Improved Mental Health

When they need to talk.

Peer pressure, identity struggles, and the desire to belong can take a toll on your teen’s mental health.

Teens face pressure from more places than ever before – school, parents, friends, social media, and even from within themselves. The cumulation of it all can lead to feelings of worry, sadness, loneliness, and self-doubt. Sometimes, they just need someone to talk to who isn’t part of their family. It’s not that they don’t trust their family but they don’t want to be judged, feel shamed or disappoint their parents.

Veritas Psychotherapy & Counselling, can help your teen get the help they need.

Veritas Psychotherapy & Counselling

Diving deeper into teen therapy

The teen years are a time of change and growth, filled with both opportunities and challenges. Teens often are dealing with such a myriad of issues that they aren’t even sure what’s wrong. Therapy can be a wise and brave step in navigating the unknowns.

As a parent, therapy for your teen can help ease the pressure of tying to figure out what’s bothering them or how to help them. In therapy, we help them untangle their emotions, identify the root cause and take steps towards a better future.

Some of the most common issues we see:

Teens experience anxiety and stress from friend groups, school, family, extra curricular activities, and more. It’s not always obvious when a teen is stressed out – to them or to you! In teens, stress and anxiety can show up in emotional ways, like withdrawing, anger, or quietness, or it can show up physically as different ailments. If you suspect your teen is stressed or anxious, we can help them figure it out by providing a safe space to explore these feelings, using mindfulness techniques and other gentle approaches to help them to understand the underlying causes and develop coping strategies.

Sometimes what your teen is feeling is more than anxiety or stress. Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or withdrawal from activities they once enjoyed can indicate depression. Just like in adults, depression doesn’t always have a clear cause, but sometimes a traumatic event or series of experiences such as bullying can lead to depression.

Through compassionate dialogue and evidence-based interventions, we help teens recognize their triggers, build support systems, and develop a positive mindset that emphasizes their strengths and potential.

Family dynamics and conflicts can significantly impact a teen’s well-being and sense of self. Whether it’s a big change, such as divorce, or a series of smaller issues that have built up, trying to navigate their place in a family can lead to high levels of stress in teens.

In therapy we create a safe space where they can share emotions that they may not be comfortable sharing at home. We understand where they are coming from and offer practical tools and strategies to help them understand their emotions and what they can do to foster stronger, more harmonious relationships at home.

For many teens, friendships become a central part of their lives, providing support, validation, and a sense of belonging. The relationships they build now can have a profound effect on their development. When issues arise with peer pressure, challenges, or online connections, it can be confusing and have an impact on your teen’s mental health.

In therapy we can offer compassionate support for their challenges while providing the skills they need to navigate the ups and downs of teen relationships.

Teens often grapple with questions about who they are and where they fit in the world. Their level of self esteem is significantly impacted by their surrounding environment and the experiences they have. The negative thoughts this triggers can keep teens from taking healthy risks, solving problems and focusing, but it can also lead to deeper issues such as feeling unworthy or unloved.

In therapy, we encourage teens to embrace their unique identities, fostering self-acceptance and empowering them to pursue their passions and values.

The rise in social media and easy access to information has significantly shifted societal views of beauty and social status. Trends change almost daily, fitness and nutrition influencers are everywhere, and trying to keep up with the extreme variances in information can have a significant impact on a teen’s mental health.

In therapy, we work to promote a balanced perspective on body image, guiding teens towards self-acceptance, healthy eating habits, and self-care.

The digital age means that schoolyard bullying doesn’t always end at the school gates. Online platforms can amplify hurtful words, making it feel like there’s no escape for many teens. In addition, the trauma caused by witnessing a distressing event or experiencing on themselves can confusion, anger, guilt or shame to cloud their perception and deeply affect their view of the world. In therapy, we can provide support and tools to help them manage these experiences, address their wounds, rebuild trust and reclaim their self worth.

Adolescence doesn’t have to be a time of turmoil. With the right support and guidance, it can be a time of growth, discovery, and joy!

WHO WE ARE

Why work with Veritas Psychotherapy

We believe that teens should have a comfortable place to talk. In our office, they will find opportunities for:

Healing

We confront past traumas and emotional scars, not just to understand them, but to heal and grow from them.

Personal Growth

Through therapy, we provide opportunities to develop resilience, empowering your teen to step outside of their comfort zones and embrace new challenges.

Building Strong Relationships

We model a healthy, loving relationship within the therapy sessions, giving your teen a tangible guide to shape and improve their connections outside of therapy.

Joseph Hoyda MA, RP
Clinic Founder, PhD Candidate

Therapists Specializing In Teen Therapy

Samantha Arnold

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Joseph Hoyda, Therapist in Orillia, Huntsville, and Online across Ontario

Joseph Hoyda

Registered Psychotherapist
Megan Hill Registered Psychotherapist

Megan Hill

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Chelsea Howard, Registered Social Worker in Orillia and online across Ontario

Chelsea Howard

Registered Social Worker

Our Approach

How Our Teen Therapy Works

Sowing seeds outside | Step one of the therapy process is to understand the client's story

We understand their story

During the first session, we will focus on getting a better understanding of your teen’s challenges in order to build a connection that will encourage openness.

Growing plants outside | Step two of the therapy process is to identify the client's needs

We identify their needs

After identifying the root of their challenges, we develop a plan tailored to helping your teen with the emotions and behaviours that will create lasting, positive change.

Nurturing plants outside | Step three of the therapy process is to help the client heal and grow

We help them process and heal

We provide them with tools they need to identify and manage the triggers and situations that come up in their everyday life to help maintain lasting change.

Happy teen girl outside with her arms outstretched with the sun shining

Questions About Teen Therapy

If your teenager starts acting differently, like getting upset more easily, not spending time with friends and family, or having trouble in school, it might mean they could use some help from a therapist. This is especially true if they seem very stressed or are struggling with mental health challenges. Family changes or stressors might also necessitate therapy as a form of support. Remember, initiating therapy is not a sign of failure, but a proactive approach to addressing potential issues and enhancing your teen’s well-being.
How long therapy will take doesn’t have a straightforward answer, as it can vary widely. It might be short with only a few sessions, or it could take longer, depending on different factors. The therapy process includes building a trusting relationship with the therapist, which can take time, especially if there are complex issues involved. We are dedicated to understanding and respecting your Teen’s unique situation. The duration may also depend on individual needs and goals, such as ongoing support for life’s stresses or working towards a specific aim like overcoming social anxiety.
Yes, therapy is confidential, which means that the therapist will not share information about your teen’s treatment with anyone without your teen’s consent, except in certain situations, such as if your teen is at risk of harm to themselves or others.

It’s common for teens to feel reluctant or uncertain about therapy. Here are strategies that might help:

  • Open Dialogue: Talk with your teen about what therapy is and why you think it could be beneficial. Listen to their concerns and acknowledge their feelings.
  • Choose the Right Therapist: Finding a therapist who specializes in working with teens and aligns with your child’s needs can make the process more comfortable.
  • Involve Them in the Decision: Allow your teen to have a say in choosing the therapist or the type of therapy, fostering a sense of control and investment.
  • Reassure Privacy: Emphasize that therapy is a confidential space where they can speak openly without judgment.
  • Be Patient: Understand that it might take time for your teen to warm up to the idea of therapy. Offering consistent support and encouragement without pressuring them can help.

Have more questions?

What you can expect from adolescent therapy

Every teen is different and comes to us with different challenges. Because of this, we can’t guarantee specific results or timeline.

Diverse group of teens together outdoors.

Get Started

Start Your Therapy Journey

If you have questions about therapy, our services, or anything else, send us a message! We’d love to hear from you.

Call Us

705-664-0310

Have a few questions?

Schedule a free consultation to have your questions answered. Consultations are entirely optional and are not required before booking your first appointment. Please book directly with a therapist using the button below.

Schedule An appointment

If you’re ready to get started with therapy, you can book an appointment directly online using our secure booking platform. You can also request an appointment by submitting our contact form or calling us. We can help you get booked in! Please visit our team page to book directly with a therapist.

Veritas Psychotherapy

Therapy to help you gain the freedom you need to move your life forward.