Children’s counselling

Yes. What your child shares in counselling is private and treated as confidential.

If your child is under 18, you as a parent or guardian generally have the right to give consent for counselling. In most cases, we will meet with you first to talk through your goals, explain how confidentiality works, and answer any questions. After that, what your child talks about in their sessions is kept private unless:

• Your child gives us permission to share certain information with you, or

• We believe there is a risk of serious harm to your child or someone else.

For some teens, Alberta law allows them to be considered a mature minor. A mature minor can consent to their own counselling and also choose what information is or isn’t shared with a parent or guardian. If this applies, we will explain this carefully and make sure everyone understands what that means.

We know parents want to support their child, and we work with you to balance your child’s privacy with your involvement in their care. If you’d like to talk more about how confidentiality works in your family’s situation, please ask us.

Our counsellors adjust their approach based on your child’s developmental stage, personality, and needs. Sessions often include play, art, and hands-on activities to help children express thoughts and feelings in ways that feel natural to them. Through games, drawing, or crafts, counsellors create a safe environment where your child can explore emotions, build coping skills, and feel understood.

We use Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) to track how counselling is helping. Before each session, you and your child (if they’re old enough) fill out a short Youth Outcome Questionnaire (YOQ). These responses act like vital signs for your emotional well-being.

The results show how your child is doing in areas like emotions, relationships, and behaviour. Your counsellor reviews this progress  and, if needed, adjusts their approach to better support your child.