COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY
“Teach my child coping skills” is a request I get early and often from parents. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a great option for teenagers to guide them through specific thought processes that once established they can continue to use on their own after they have completed their counselling. Some teenagers still escalate too fast to be able to pick-up on the early indicators, or for parents to see the early signs to be able to cue coping skills like breathing techniques so we will explore together if this is a right option for your teen. CBT is still a great modality for common issues that youth are struggling with including depression, suicidality, anxiety disorders, OCD, anger, ADHD, or self-harm.
*** When choosing a CBT therapist for your child please ensure you are comparing apples to apples because the majority unfortunately many therapists claim they have CBT, but since it is not a regulated modality on its own many claim they have it when they have simply not invested in the full certifications. I have my full CBT Certification through Sir Wilfred Laurier and with the specialization in the Level 2 CBT specifically for tailoring CBT to children and youth. I say this not out of ill-will, but in order to convey that vulnerable populations especially deserve the highest quality of care, and you have the right to ask any therapist for proof of any of their credentials to ensure your investment in their therapy is getting you the caliber of care you are hoping to provide for your child.