Youth & Young Adult · Ages 12–25
Youth & Young Adult Mental Health in Calgary & Okotoks
Counselling for teens and young adults who are carrying more than they let on — with Carissa Cochrane, CCC, in Calgary and Dr. Jennie Johnson, PhD, Registered Psychologist, in Okotoks. In person, or virtually anywhere in Alberta.
Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, the questions get harder. Who am I when nobody's watching? Why does everyone else seem to have it figured out? What happens if I let people down?
Teens and young adults are managing real pressure — school, friendships, performance, family, identity, and a future that keeps being described as urgent. Most of them handle it by getting very good at appearing fine. Counselling gives them one hour where they don't have to.
What youth and young adult counselling can help with
- Anxiety, worry, and the pressure to perform
- Low mood, motivation, and feeling flat or disconnected
- Perfectionism and fear of failing or disappointing people
- Friendships, belonging, conflict, and social media
- Identity, confidence, and figuring out who they are
- Emotional regulation and big reactions that feel out of proportion
- School, exams, and the transition to post-secondary or work
- Family stress, separation, and change at home
- ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent experiences
- Grief, loss, and difficult or frightening experiences
How we work with teens and young adults
This isn't child therapy with older clients, and it isn't adult therapy scaled down. Young people are more capable than they're often given credit for, and less certain than they let on, so the work has to hold both.
- They set the pace. Nobody is made to talk about something before they're ready.
- Their goals, not only yours. A teen who has their own reason to be there engages very differently from one who was sent.
- Practical, not just insight. Regulation skills, sleep, self-talk, boundaries — things that change a Tuesday, not only a worldview.
- Strengths first. We're neurodiversity-affirming: differences in wiring are part of who someone is, not a problem to be corrected.
Teenagers can tell instantly whether an adult is genuinely interested in them or just trying to manage them. Everything else depends on getting that part right.
Where parents fit in
For younger teens, parents are part of the picture — we'll talk with you about how to support your teen at home, and what's helping. At the same time, a teen needs to know the room is theirs, or they'll say what they think will be repeated. We're clear with everyone from the first session about what stays private and what doesn't, so nobody is left guessing. Safety always comes first.
For young adults 18 and over, sessions are theirs. Family can be involved if they want that, and not if they don't.
What to expect
We start with a free 15-minute consult — often with a parent for younger teens, or directly with the young person themselves. It's a low-stakes way to ask questions and get a feel for whether it fits. From there, the first full session is about understanding what's going on and what they'd want to be different. No one has to arrive with it all worked out.
Who it's for
Young people aged 12 to 25 — in junior high, high school, post-secondary, working, or somewhere in between — and the parents who've noticed something has shifted and aren't sure what to do next.
Working with an athlete specifically? Dr. Jennie also offers sport psychology for performance pressure, injury, and confidence. For children 12 and under, see child psychology.
Where to find this
Available in Calgary & Okotoks
Carissa sees youth and young adults at our Calgary office; Dr. Jennie sees them in Okotoks. Virtual sessions are available anywhere in Alberta.
Go deeper
Related reading from our blog
Youth & young adult questions