You probably found yourself on this website because you have a child or teen who is going through some tough things.

Maybe they are struggling with intense worry, fear, anxiety, or low self-esteem. Or maybe they are more sad and withdrawn than you remember them, more depressed, and have more intense behaviours. Maybe it is becoming hard to know how to make sense of everything you are seeing, and you have some concerns about your young person.

Mental health challenges are so common. In fact, 1 in 5 people are affected, and I suspect those numbers are actually higher. Everyone experiences fluctuations in their well-being from time to time. Having someone to talk to and sort through what is happening can be so helpful!

My name is Anna, and I started Acorn Counselling to help families get back on track when mental health challenges pop up. I work mainly with teens who are feeling anxious or depressed (and often both). My hope is that together we can find ways to manage the ups and downs of emotion that work best for you and your family using a variety of skills and techniques. To learn more about me, visit my Meet your Therapist page here.

In a nutshell, I help teens learn to manage the ups and downs of emotions without meltdowns, overwhelm, or self-destructive behaviours, so that teens can learn to be more confident, grow healthy connections with others, and feel happier. I also help parents learn to support their teens and strengthen that critical relationship between parent and child.