Support for Neurodiverse Teens and Their Families
Is your teen feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, or disconnected? You're not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out all by yourself.
At Five Star Wellbeing, we support neurodiverse teens and their families in a way that is safe, respectful, and free of judgment. Whether your teen has a formal diagnosis or is just having a tough time, our focus is always on connection, understanding, and support — not fixing.
A Safe Space to Be Heard and Understood
We believe every teen deserves to feel accepted and supported for who they are. That is why our counselling approach is built on trust, empathy, and open communication.
We are here to help teens better understand themselves and their experiences, while giving parents and caregivers tools to improve relationships at home.
Meet Your Counsellors
Derrick McEachern, Counselling Therapist (Left Image) and Kathryn Burgher, Counselling Therapist (Right Image)
Meet Your Counsellors
Kathryn Burgher, Counselling Therapist
Kathryn works directly with teens, helping them feel more confident and in control of their lives. She supports young people in exploring their strengths, expressing their needs, and learning practical ways to cope with challenges — all in a space where they can be completely themselves.
Kathryn supports clients with:
- Social anxiety or difficulty making and keeping friends
- School stress, academic burnout, and executive functioning challenges
- Emotional outbursts or shutdowns
- Sensory sensitivity or feeling different
- Identity, self-worth, and confidence struggles
- Difficult parent teen communication
Derrick McEachern supports clients with:
Derrick works with couples and families, offering emotionally focused therapy that helps people reconnect and rebuild trust. Whether you are dealing with conflict, emotional distance, or major life changes, he helps families and partners strengthen their relationships through better understanding and communication.
Derrick supports clients with:
- Conflict in romantic or family relationships
- Emotional distance or patterns of disconnection
- Parenting stress and blended family dynamics
- Trust issues, including recovery from infidelity
- Long-standing emotional wounds
- Separation, co-parenting, or reunification
- Supporting teens and parents together in family counselling
What Does Neurodiversity Mean?
Neurodiversity refers to the natural differences in how people think, learn, feel, and process the world around them. This includes conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more.
At Five Star Wellbeing, we do not treat these differences as problems to be solved. We see them as part of what makes each person unique. Our role is to help teens and families understand these differences so they can communicate better, build emotional strength, and feel more connected to each other.
Is Counselling Right for You or Your Teen?
If you are not sure whether counselling is the right step, that is okay. You are welcome to book a free 15 minute consultation with Kathryn. There is no pressure — just a chance to ask questions, learn more, and decide what feels best for your family.
In person and online sessions are available for clients across Canada, with daytime, after school, and evening appointments to fit your schedule.
1. Book a Free 15 Minute Consultation – Speak with Kathryn to see if counselling is a good fit for you or your teen.
2. Talk to Your Teen About Counselling – Open the conversation with curiosity and empathy. Remind them this is a space where they can be themselves. If this seems difficult or awkward see - What to do if they refuse your help.
3. Explore Family Counselling – If you are facing ongoing stress or disconnection, book a Couple or Family Counselling can help your family feel more heard and supported.
Wellbeing Assessment
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Our Services
Our Emotionally Focused Individual Counselling Therapy will help you recover from loss or suffering, steady your mind, improve your mood, make positive changes and be more compassionate with yourself and others.
Emotionally Focused Couple and Family Therapy therapy helps families understand attachment needs and fears, repair bonds, and communicate in more helpful ways.
Derrick McEachern is a Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT) in Nova Scotia, and a Canadian Certified Counsellor. He specializes in providing mindfulness-based and emotionally focused therapy. He offers workshops and webinars and consults with businesses on ways to improve employee wellbeing and mental health.
Derrick McEachern, M.Ed., RCT, CCC
Counselling Therapist, Owner
Five Star Wellbeing Counselling and Mental Health
tel: 902 698 1194
derrick@fivestarwellbeing.com
https://fivestarwellbeing.com
