Expert Child and Youth Counselling Services in Canada
Melissa Davies brings specialized expertise working with Indigenous children and families affected by sexual abuse and intergenerational trauma as a First Nations Health Authority provider. Her Master of Counselling degree from Athabasca University and Registered Clinical Counsellor status (RCC #21936) combine with eight years as a certified Reflexologist and Reiki Master to offer your child comprehensive healing approaches. She completed her practicum specifically working with children and youth at Island Community Counselling, gaining hands-on experience with play therapy techniques that help young clients express themselves naturally.
Your child receives care tailored to their developmental stage through evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, art therapy, and mindfulness practices. Sessions are available in 50 or 90-minute formats, offered in-person in Nanaimo, online, or by phone across British Columbia. Direct billing with most extended health plans eliminates upfront costs. Whether your child struggles with anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral challenges, or major life transitions, you get a counsellor who welcomes all cultures and backgrounds while providing the specialized attention young people need to build resilience and emotional regulation skills.
Understanding Your Child’s Emotional World Through Compassionate, Expert Care
When your child struggles with big emotions, behavioural challenges, or difficult life experiences, you need more than standard counselling. You need someone who truly understands how young minds process trauma, anxiety, and change. At Bee Here Counselling and Therapy, Melissa Davies brings over 15 years of healing experience to children and youth, combining her Master of Counselling degree with specialized training in play therapy for children and deep expertise working with Indigenous families affected by intergenerational trauma.
Our approach recognizes that children communicate differently than adults. Through art therapy, play-based interventions, and mindfulness based therapy techniques, we create safe spaces where young people can express what words cannot capture. Whether your child faces anxiety, behavioural concerns, or trauma responses, we meet them exactly where they are developmentally and emotionally.
What makes our child and youth services unique is the integration of somatic energy work and Reiki healing alongside evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy. We welcome clients from all cultural backgrounds and provide specialized support for Indigenous families through our First Nations Health Authority provider status. Sessions are available in flexible 50 or 90-minute formats, with online and in-person options that work for busy family schedules.
What Is Child and Youth Counselling?
Individual counselling is a one-on-one therapeutic process where children and youth work privately with a trained counsellor to address mental health challenges, emotional difficulties, and life transitions. At Bee Here Counselling and Therapy, this personalized approach creates a safe space for young people to express their feelings, develop coping strategies, and build resilience. Our child and youth counselling services address anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, anger management, and behavioral concerns through evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and play-based therapy. Each session is tailored to your child’s unique needs and developmental stage. We integrate creative approaches including art therapy, storytelling, and mindfulness techniques to help young minds process experiences and emotions effectively. Individual counselling differs from group or family therapy because it focuses entirely on your child’s personal growth and healing, allowing them to work through challenges at their own pace in a confidential environment.
Our trauma informed care recognizes how past experiences shape current behaviors and emotions. We use approaches based on strengths to help children and youth discover their own capabilities and resources for healing. Sessions typically involve building trust, identifying triggers and patterns, learning healthy coping skills, and practicing new ways of thinking and responding to difficult situations. Whether your child is struggling with school-related stress, friendship conflicts, family changes, or more complex mental health concerns, individual counselling provides the focused attention and specialized support they need to thrive.
Ready to support your child’s emotional wellbeing? Contact Bee Here Counselling and Therapy today to learn how our individual counselling services can help your young person build confidence, manage challenges, and develop lifelong skills for mental health and resilience.
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Benefits of Our Child and Youth Counselling
Building Emotional Resilience That Lasts
Young minds flourish when they develop the tools to navigate life's challenges with confidence and strength. Through evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness techniques, children and youth learn to identify their emotions, understand their triggers, and respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. This foundational skill transforms how they handle stress at school, conflicts with friends, and family changes—creating a ripple effect that improves their relationships, academic performance, and overall sense of well-being. When young people master emotional regulation early, they carry these life-changing skills into adulthood, breaking cycles of anxiety and building the resilience needed to thrive through any season of life.
Building Stronger Family Connections and Communication
Child and youth counselling creates lasting improvements in family dynamics and peer relationships. Young clients develop essential communication skills that help them express their needs clearly and navigate conflicts with siblings, parents, and friends more effectively. Through age-appropriate therapeutic approaches like play therapy and mindfulness techniques, children and teens learn to build trust, set healthy boundaries, and strengthen their emotional bonds with loved ones. These enhanced relationship skills often lead to reduced family stress, improved school social interactions, and a stronger support network that continues benefiting them throughout their development.
Building Resilient Foundations for Lifelong Growth
Child and youth counselling at Bee Here Counselling creates lasting foundations that extend far beyond immediate challenges. Through our integrated approach combining play-based therapy, mindfulness practices, and somatic healing, young people develop deep self-awareness and emotional intelligence that serves them throughout their lives. We nurture the whole child—mind, body, and spirit—helping them discover their unique strengths, build meaningful connections, and develop a strong sense of purpose and belonging. This comprehensive support empowers children and youth to not only overcome current difficulties but to thrive as confident, resilient individuals who can navigate life's journey with authenticity and inner wisdom.
Building Stronger Family and Peer Relationships
Child and youth counselling at Bee Here Counselling helps young people develop essential communication and social skills that transform their relationships at home and school. Through evidence-based approaches like play therapy and mindfulness techniques, children and teens learn to express their feelings clearly, resolve conflicts peacefully, and build trust with parents, siblings, and friends. These improved relationship skills create a positive ripple effect—reducing family tension during homework time, making it easier to navigate friendship challenges at school, and fostering deeper connections with trusted adults. As young clients practice these new skills between sessions through guided activities and family exercises, they experience more harmonious relationships that support their emotional growth and academic success.
Building Lifelong Resilience and Self-Mastery
Child and youth counselling at Bee Here Counselling empowers young people to become architects of their own wellbeing. Through evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, and mindfulness-based therapy, children and teens develop essential life skills that extend far beyond our sessions together. They learn to navigate challenges with confidence, regulate emotions effectively, and build meaningful relationships that support their growth. These foundational tools become part of their personal toolkit for life, fostering resilience that helps them thrive through adolescence, young adulthood, and beyond—creating a strong foundation for sustained mental health and personal empowerment throughout their journey.
Looking for support with our Child and Youth Counselling?
Let’s have a caring conversation.
Like bees that find their way home, we all seek a place of comfort and belonging. At Bee Here Counselling and Therapy, we create that safe space where you can simply ‘Be’ – authentically yourself. Together, we’ll explore your path to healing, pollinating your life with new perspectives and nurturing growth one step at a time. We serve Child and Youth Counselling to anyone within the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan or Ontario with multiple types of insurances accepted and covered.
Our Process for Child and Youth Counselling
Initial Contact and Consultation
- Begin with a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your child's needs and determine if our services feel like the right fit for your family
- Choose the format that works best for you and your child—in-person sessions in Nanaimo, secure online video calls, or phone consultations for maximum flexibility
- Complete simple intake forms at your own pace. These help us understand your child's background and current concerns without overwhelming paperwork
- Rest assured that this initial step is pressure-free and designed to make both you and your child feel comfortable about beginning the counselling journey
- Discuss any questions about our child-centred, trauma-informed approach and learn how we create safe, welcoming spaces specifically designed for young people
- Receive clear information about session options, including both 50-minute and 90-minute formats, plus details about insurance coverage and direct billing availability
- Know that confidentiality and your family's privacy are our top priorities. We follow strict professional guidelines to protect your child's information
- Leave this conversation with a clear understanding of next steps and the reassurance that seeking support for your child shows tremendous care and strength as a parent
Step 2: Comprehensive Assessment and Collaborative Planning
- Complete a thorough but gentle assessment using evidence-based questionnaires that help us understand your child's emotional well-being, anxiety levels, and any behavioural concerns in a way that feels safe and supportive
- Engage in collaborative conversations with both you and your child to identify their unique strengths, challenges, and personal goals for therapy while respecting their individual voice and perspective
- Explore your family's cultural background and values to ensure our approach honours your traditions and creates a truly inclusive therapeutic environment that feels authentic to your child's identity
- Develop a customized treatment plan together that integrates the most effective therapeutic approaches for your child's specific needs, whether that includes play therapy, mindfulness techniques, or creative expression methods
- Establish clear, achievable goals that your child helps create, ensuring they feel ownership over their healing journey while building confidence in the therapeutic process
- Review practical details including session frequency, preferred communication methods, and how we'll track progress in ways that celebrate your child's growth and development
- Create a safety plan and coping strategies toolkit that your child can use between sessions, empowering them with immediate tools for managing difficult emotions or situations
- Schedule regular check-ins to assess how therapy is progressing and make any necessary adjustments to ensure your child continues to feel supported and engaged in their healing process
Step 3: Active Treatment Phase
- Regular Weekly Sessions: Consistent 50-minute appointments that create a safe rhythm for healing. Your child will know what to expect. This predictability builds trust and allows deeper therapeutic work to unfold naturally.
- Collaborative Goal Setting: Together, we'll identify specific, achievable targets that matter to your young person. These might include managing big emotions, improving friendships, or building confidence. Goals evolve as your child grows and changes.
- Therapeutic Activities and Skill Building: Sessions blend talk therapy with engaging activities like art creation, mindfulness exercises, and play-based learning. We'll practice coping strategies, emotional regulation techniques, and communication skills that transfer into daily life.
- Progress Monitoring and Celebration: We regularly check in on how things are going through simple mood tracking, brief questionnaires about feelings and behaviours, and honest conversations about what's working. Every small step forward gets acknowledged and celebrated.
- Family Integration and Support: Parents and caregivers receive guidance on supporting their child's progress at home. We'll share strategies that work and help create consistency between therapy sessions and family life.
- Flexible Session Structure: Each appointment adapts to your child's needs that day. Some sessions focus on processing difficult experiences, others on learning new skills, and some on simply feeling heard and understood in a safe space.
- Between-Session Practice: Age-appropriate homework assignments like journaling, creative projects, or practicing breathing techniques help reinforce new skills. These activities are designed to feel manageable and meaningful, not overwhelming.
- Empowerment and Self-Advocacy: Your young person learns to recognize their own strengths, express their needs clearly, and develop confidence in their ability to handle life's challenges. They become the expert on their own experience and healing journey.
Step 4: Progress & Completion
- Regular progress check-ins using standardized questionnaires that measure anxiety levels, mood changes, and daily functioning to track your child's healing journey objectively
- Collaborative review sessions where you, your child, and the therapist celebrate milestones achieved and identify areas of continued growth and resilience
- Development of a personalized maintenance plan. This includes coping strategies your child can use independently. It also includes family practices that support ongoing emotional wellness at home.
- Flexible follow-up appointments scheduled monthly or quarterly to reinforce positive changes and address any emerging challenges before they become overwhelming
- Access to booster sessions during times of transition, stress, or significant life changes such as school transitions, family changes, or developmental milestones
- Creation of a "wellness toolkit" containing personalized strategies, mindfulness techniques, and self-regulation skills your child has mastered during therapy
- Ongoing support through brief check-in calls or secure messaging to ensure sustained progress and provide reassurance during difficult moments
- Referral coordination to community resources, school support services, or specialized programs that continue supporting your child's growth beyond individual therapy sessions
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