Teen and Youth Therapists and Counsellors in Mississauga

Our Mississauga teen and youth therapists work with a broad range of emotional, behavioural, and developmental concerns. Common reasons families reach out include anxiety, depression, self-harm, academic stress, ADHD, trauma, social isolation, gender or sexual identity exploration, perfectionism, and self-esteem struggles. Therapy provides a space for teens to process emotions, build resilience, and learn tools to manage stress more effectively. We draw from evidence-based models like CBT to help with negative thought patterns, DBT to support emotion regulation, and Somatic Therapy to help teens reconnect with their bodies after distress or trauma. Many parents notice that as their teen learns to understand their feelings, communication at home also improves.

All sessions are conducted online through Jane App, which is a secure, encrypted telehealth platform designed for Canadian healthcare professionals. This means your teen can meet with their therapist from the privacy and comfort of home, using a computer, tablet, or phone. For many teens, this format actually helps them open up more easily — they feel less pressure than they might in an in-person setting. The process begins by completing our Get Matched form, where you can share your teen’s goals, preferences, and budget. From there, our intake team recommends a therapist who’s a good fit, or you can browse our profiles and book directly. Each therapist follows strict privacy standards under PIPEDA and PHIPA, ensuring your teen’s confidentiality is fully protected.

It’s common for teens to feel unsure about therapy at first. Our Mississauga youth counsellors know that trust is earned, not assumed. The first few sessions often focus on creating safety and connection, rather than diving straight into difficult topics. Therapists use open-ended conversations, humor when appropriate, and validation to help the teen feel understood. We also respect autonomy — therapy is collaborative, and teens are encouraged to set their own goals. Once a sense of trust develops, many teens begin to look forward to sessions because it’s one of the few places where they feel fully heard and accepted.

Parent involvement varies depending on the teen’s age and comfort level. For younger adolescents, joint sessions can be helpful for learning communication skills and setting healthy boundaries. For older teens, therapy is typically confidential, though therapists may involve parents in check-ins or updates when it supports progress. At The Therapy Space, we value family collaboration while maintaining the teen’s privacy — this balance is key for growth. Parents often receive guidance on how to support emotional regulation, reduce conflict, and encourage independence without overstepping. When needed, family therapy sessions can also be arranged to strengthen relationships and address ongoing challenges.

High school can feel like a pressure cooker — balancing homework, extracurriculars, and future planning can lead to anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout. Our therapists help youth recognize unhelpful thought patterns, set realistic expectations, and learn coping strategies that reduce performance anxiety. We might use CBT to challenge perfectionist thinking, mindfulness to improve focus, and DBT to build tolerance for frustration and setbacks. When students learn to manage stress more effectively, grades and motivation often improve naturally, but more importantly, their confidence and well-being increase too.

Every therapist at The Therapy Space has completed a Master’s degree in counselling or psychotherapy and is registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Our Registered Psychotherapists (RPs) are fully licensed to practice independently, while Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying) provide therapy under clinical supervision as they complete licensing exams — often offering lower-cost options. Many of our clinicians also pursue post-graduate certifications in EMDR, Somatic Therapy, CBT, DBT, ACT, and IFS, which allows them to tailor treatment to each teen’s unique needs. Whether your teen is looking for short-term support or deeper trauma work, you’ll be matched with a therapist whose expertise aligns with your goals.

Session rates at The Therapy Space range from $145 to $180 per 50-minute session, depending on the therapist’s experience and specialization. We believe therapy should be accessible, so we also offer sliding-scale options and reduced-fee sessions with qualifying therapists and psychotherapy interns. These interns are completing their Master’s practicum under close supervision, providing excellent quality care at a lower rate. Therapy is an investment in your teen’s long-term mental health — many families find that even a few months of consistent sessions make a lasting difference in emotional stability, academic performance, and family connection.

The first session is an opportunity for your teen and therapist to get to know each other. The therapist will ask about what’s been going on, what the teen hopes to change, and how they’ve been coping so far. There’s no pressure to share everything right away. The goal is to create a sense of safety and curiosity about how therapy can help. For parents, we may gather background information on family history or recent stressors, especially when working with younger clients. By the end of the first session, most teens feel relief just from having a neutral person to talk to — someone who listens without judgment or expectation.

Yes. Our trauma-informed teen therapists in Mississauga are skilled in helping youth process difficult or painful experiences safely. For teens who have experienced trauma, bullying, loss, or sudden change, we use approaches like EMDR and Somatic Therapy to help the nervous system release stored stress and restore a sense of safety. Teens also learn grounding skills to manage flashbacks, panic, or emotional numbness. For those facing grief or parental separation, therapy offers space to process feelings and find language for complex emotions. Healing doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistent support, most teens begin to feel more regulated, connected, and hopeful.

Resistance is common — especially when therapy feels like something being “done” to them. Our therapists approach this gently, focusing on autonomy and choice. We often encourage parents to frame therapy as a resource rather than a punishment. Sometimes, starting with a brief consultation helps lower defensiveness; the teen can meet the therapist, ask questions, and decide if it feels like a good fit. At The Therapy Space, our team of therapists in Mississauga are skilled in working with reluctant or ambivalent clients, using curiosity and validation rather than pressure. When teens realize therapy is about understanding themselves — not being “fixed” — they usually begin to engage more openly.

The length of therapy varies based on the teen’s goals, history, and level of distress. Short-term therapy (8–12 sessions) may be appropriate for specific issues like mild anxiety, study stress, or communication skills. Long-term therapy can provide deeper support for trauma, depression, or ongoing family dynamics. Many families in Mississauga choose to continue therapy for maintenance, even after major concerns improve. We regularly review progress with both teens and parents (when appropriate) to ensure the approach remains helpful and aligned with goals.

You can book therapy in one of two ways:

1. Use our Get Matched form — tell us about your teen’s goals, preferences, and financial needs, and our intake team will connect you with the best-fit therapist.
   
2. Browse our team of therapists in Mississauga — you can watch therapist introduction videos, read bios, and book directly from their profile page.
   

All sessions are conducted virtually through Jane App, meaning your teen can access therapy anywhere in Ontario with a secure internet connection. We’re committed to making the process simple and supportive from start to finish — because your teen deserves a safe space to heal, grow, and thrive.