Counselling for Children & Youth (Ages 4 to 16)
What to Expect:
- First Session usually includes the parents. This gives the counsellor an opportunity for an open discussion with the parent to determine what the concerns are.
- Subsequent appointments with parents may be scheduled as needed or requested.
- The counsellor may provide recommendations to the parent to support the process of the psychological treatment.
- All rules for confidentiality apply.
- For children under 14 years of age, all information sharing is open to parents.
- For adolescent/ youth 14 years and over, information sharing is at the discretion of the therapist and with consent of the youth, with the exception of harm or danger.
Behaviours Often Seen In Children That Might Suggest Emotional Distress:
- Age regression
- Unexplained tantrums
- Bedwetting
- Acting out
- Unrealistic fears
- Clinging behaviours that are not age appropriate
- Promiscuous or sexually inappropriate behaviours
- Self-harm (cutting)
- Unexplained emotional changes
- Drawing morbid pictures (death, harm to people / animals)
- Verbalizing or acting out cruel behaviours toward animals
- Excessive sleeping
- Unexplained illness, body aches / pains
- Head banging
- Rocking behaviour
- Hoarding Food
- Unexplained weight gain / weight loss
- Short attention plan (relative to stage of development)
- Socially inappropriate or awkward gestures
Areas of Counselling
- Bullying as victim or bully
- Parent -child conflict
- Children impacted by separation & divorce
- Blended family relationships
- School stress
- Grief
- Acting out behaviours
- Exposure to trauma and abuse
- Cutting (self-harm)
- Dating violence
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Attachment disorder
- Attention deficit hyper activity disorder (adhd)
- Social skills
- Gender issues
- Self-esteem
Counsellors Specializing in Children & Youth:
Jenifer Borgen
Hours of Service: Evenings, Monday through Thursday from 5 PM to 9 PM
Communities Available for Service:
Athabasca, Slave Lake, Westlock
Rose Ann Swanson
Communities / Hours of Service:
Smith – Wednesday evenings
Plamondon and Lac La Biche – Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Thursday evenings from 5 PM to 9 PM.
