- (249) 516-6398
- 420 George St N, Peterborough, ON K9H 3R5
Something shifts. Maybe it happens gradually, a slow withdrawal, less eye contact, shorter answers. Maybe it’s more sudden and emotions feel way out of control. Either way, something that used to feel manageable doesn’t anymore, and it’s hard to know what to do about it, whether you’re the one going through it or the one watching someone you love go through it.
If you’re a teenager reading this: maybe school feels like too much some days. Maybe you’re anxious about something you can’t quite explain, even to the people who ask. Maybe things have happened that are hard to talk about. You don’t need to have the words figured out before reaching out.
If you’re a parent reading this: you’ve heard “I just can’t go today,” and the absences have started adding up. You’ve watched your kid shut down when you try to talk. You know something’s wrong, but every question hits a wall. Watching your child struggle and feeling shut out is one of the harder parts of parenting. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It often means they need a space that isn’t home to work through what’s happening.
I totally get that walking into a new room and talking to some guy you’ve never met feels weird. Because it kind of is… I’m happy to take our time, create some space and move forward when you’re ready. I’m not going to sit across from you with a clipboard and ask “how does that make you feel?” I’ll meet you where you’re at, move at your pace, and work with you in a way that respects your intelligence and your need for some say in your own life, while keeping the goals clear.
Before I became a therapist in 2020, I spent twenty years working directly with youth and young adults in leadership development, mentoring, and community building. I understand how teenagers think, how they test trust, and what it actually takes to earn enough of it that a real conversation becomes possible.
The anxiety that used to keep you home a few times has become a pattern. The longer it continues, the harder it gets to break. We work on what’s driving the avoidance, not just how to get back in the building, and build tools to manage the anxiety when it hits, rather than escape it.
Sometimes we go quiet when we’re overwhelmed. It’s not like we’re trying to be difficult, it’s just hard to find words to describe something we don’t understand. Part of the work is finding those words. Part of it is building the emotional regulation skills that make the overwhelm less consuming.
Bullying doesn’t always look the way other people picture it. It can be exclusion, online, relational, and it can leave a mark that outlasts the situation itself. We work on what happened, how it’s shaped the way you see yourself, and how to rebuild the confidence that took the hit.
High school removes some structure but adds real pressure. For teenagers with ADHD, that combination can be destabilizing. This work is about building self-awareness and practical strategies, understanding how your brain works and developing systems that support you instead of fighting you.
Figuring out who you are is the actual work of adolescence. For some, that process is louder and harder than for others, marked by low self-worth, comparison, a sense of not fitting anywhere. This is some of the most important work we can do at this age, and it tends to have lasting effects.
I find it useful for parents to be part of the first session or two. It gives me context, and it shows your teenager this is collaborative, not something being done to them. From there, I work with your teenager directly, at their pace. Confidentiality matters here, it’s often the condition under which a teenager will say something honest. I’ll work out with both of you what stays private and what doesn’t, with the teen taking the lead, as their trust in the process is paramount. At the same time, safety is always the primary concern.
You are my client: not your parent. Whatever you say here stays between us, with a few exceptions I’ll walk you through up front (mostly around safety). You and I will decide how to keep your parents updated and in the loop, but not a play by play of everything we talk about. This is your space to figure things out, not a place where everything gets reported back. I’m not here to judge you or fix you. I’m here to help you get through whatever’s going on, at your own pace.
My office is in Peterborough, within easy reach for families across the city and surrounding areas including Lindsay. For families further away, or for teenagers more comfortable starting online, I offer video and phone sessions anywhere in Ontario.
This Approach May Be a Good Fit If You:
If you’re not sure whether therapy is the right step, the free consultation is the right place to start. Parents: We can talk about what you’re seeing, what your teenager is willing to engage with, and whether this feels like the right fit. Youth: a consultation is a chance for me to introduce myself a bit and space for you to let me know how I might help you. That’s it: no commitment required.
