Counselling For Teens and Adolescents

Support for Teens. Help for Families.

Being a teen today is hard, and parenting teens can be just as challenging. Between school pressure, social stress, identity development, family expectations, and navigating an increasingly digitial world, it's no surprise many teens are struggling. At Five Star Wellbeing, we offer therapy that’s welcoming, emotionally safe, and grounded the science of attachment.

A Welcoming, Private Location

Our private counselling office is located on a quiet property in Greenwich, Nova Scotia, surrounded by 70-year-old willow trees overlooking a peaceful pond. This calming, natural environment helps teens feel more at ease and free from the distractions and pressures of everyday life.

Most teens worry that seeing a therapist might mean there's something wrong with them. Working with us, they understand that their problems and challenges are normal. They are not a medical condition to be solved, they are young people learning to navigate a complex world.  

Whether teens prefer to talk indoors or take a quiet walk around the pond before or after a session, this space creates room to breathe, reflect, grow and heal.

Common Reasons Teens Come to Counselling

• Anxiety and worry
• Low mood, lack of motivation, or withdrawal
• Emotional outbursts or shutdowns
• School avoidance and academic stress
• Family conflict and communication struggles
• Peer pressure, bullying, and social isolation
• Identity exploration, including LGBTQ+ support
• Low self-esteem and body image concerns
• Coping with divorce, loss, or major changes
• Risky behaviours, self-harm, or thoughts of hopelessness

How Therapy Can Help

We support all teens, particularly those who may be participating in high-risk behaviours, be suffering from depression, loss, anxiety or trauma, as well as youth experiencing neurodiversity or complex family circumstances. We use Emotionally Focused Individual or Family Therapy as well as behavioural interventions to create a space for growth.

Therapy can help your teen:

• Understand and regulate emotions
• Build confidence, boundaries, and self-awareness
• Improve communication with family and peers
• Learn tools to manage stress and anxiety
• Feel supported and accepted, just as they are

We offer counselling that is:

• Teen-centered and developmentally appropriate
• Inclusive and welcoming (including LGBTQ+ youth)
• Relational, trauma-informed, and emotionally safe
• Practical and grounded in evidence-based practices

What Teens Say After Counselling

“I didn’t think I’d like talking to someone, but it feels good to have a space just for me.”
“I feel like I understand myself better.”
“It helped just knowing someone wasn’t judging me.”

Start with a Conversation

Counselling is more effective before a crisis. If your teen is showing concerning behaviour or signs of distress, or if you simply want them to have a safe space to talk, we’re here to help. 

How to Talk to Your Teen about Counselling

Here are a few ways to talk to your teen about counselling:

• “I’ve noticed things seem a bit heavy for you lately, I wonder if it might help to talk to someone outside the family?”
• “You don’t have to go through this alone. A therapist could be someone on your side, with no pressure or judgment.”
• “I know things have been tough lately. If talking to me/us feels hard, maybe a counsellor could give you a space to figure some things out.”
• “It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Do you think talking to someone with experience helping young people might be helpful? 
• This feels like a big decision, do you think a counsellor might help you walk through your options or have some strategies to deal with the difficult emotions?

If you think your teen needs help, but resists the idea of therapy, read this article on How to Help Your Child When They Refuse Your Help. 

Wellbeing Assessment