Refresh Junior
Specialized counselling for children and teens — building emotional strength, confidence, and resilience in a safe, supportive space.
Helping Kids and Teens Thrive
At Refresh Counselling, we know that young people face unique challenges at every stage of life. That’s why we created Refresh Jr.—a safe, supportive space just for children and teens. Whether it’s big feelings, school stress, friendships, or family dynamics, our counsellors help kids and teens build resilience, confidence, and healthy coping skills.
What will my child’s first day of counselling look like
We make sure kids and teens feel at ease right from the start. The first session is all about comfort, trust, and making the process simple and stress-free.
A Warm Welcome
Your counsellor greets you with kindness and makes sure you feel comfortable in the space.
Getting to Know Each Other
Through simple questions and activities, we create a relaxed way to start building trust.
A Safe Space to Share
Kids and teens can talk about feelings, thoughts, or worries without judgment.
Support That Fits You
Children receive gentle parent involvement, while teens are given more independence in their sessions.
Child Counselling (Ages 5–12)
Child counselling provides a playful, engaging way for kids to process their emotions and build confidence. Using art, play, and age-appropriate tools, our counsellors create a safe environment where children feel heard and understood.
Why Parents Choose Child Counselling
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Helps children express emotions in healthy ways -
Builds coping skills for anxiety, school stress, or life changes -
Improves communication at home and with peers -
Strengthens parent–child relationships -
Encourages resilience for long-term growth
Teen Counselling (Ages 13–18)
Being a teen comes with unique pressures—school demands, friendships, family expectations, and figuring out your own identity. Teen counselling provides a judgment-free space to work through challenges and build the skills needed to grow with confidence.
How Teen Counselling Helps
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Provides a safe space to talk openly about tough emotions -
Builds practical tools for managing stress, anxiety, and low moods -
Supports confidence, identity, and self-esteem -
Helps navigate friendships, family dynamics, and social pressures -
Encourages healthy habits and positive long-term choices
Meet Refresh Counselling Jr.
Refresh Counselling Jr. offers caring therapy for kids and teens, helping them manage emotions, build resilience, and navigate life’s challenges.
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Refresh Counselling Jr. Therapist Team
Below is a list of our Therapists who can help navigate and support individual therapy.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Let’s work together to support your child or teen in feeling more confident, understood, and ready to thrive.
Contact Us
Book a Session for Refresh Jr.
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Have questions about Refresh Jr.?
Find quick answers about what to expect, how it works, and how to get started with the right therapist for you.
Get Answers to More Questions
How Do I Choose A Therapist For My Child?
We know this decision can feel overwhelming—you want the right fit and someone who will truly understand your child. That’s why we offer a couple things
- Try our matching tool on the home page to make sure you find a therapist that can support your child’s age group. Typically we can start supporting children as young as 5.
- We intentionally offer a 20-minute parent consultation. It’s a chance to share your goals and observations, ask questions, and explore whether our approach feels like the right match for your family. We truly want to help, that’s why “Fit” is important to us too!
What Will My Child Do In Their Session?
Every child has different needs, requires different emotional support and tools…so therapy will look a little different from one child to the next. Some kids talk about their feelings, while others express themselves through play, drawing, or creative activities. Sometimes we practice new coping skills or problem-solving strategies together.
The goal is to give your child a safe space where they feel comfortable, supported, and free to explore what’s on their mind.
Will my sessions be covered by insurance? Do you offer direct billing?
We offer Direct Billing to several different insurance providers. Generally, direct billing is determined by the therapist’s designation. Below is a list of the current direct bill breakdowns.
- All Clinicians direct bill to: Alberta Blue Cross, GreenShield, and Sunlife
- R. (Prov) Psych direct bills to: only Alberta Blue Cross & Greenshield
- Registered Psychologists direct bills to: Alberta Blue Cross, Greenshield, insurers part of Telus eclaims (Manulife, Canada Life, Desjardins, Industrial Alliance)
If your sessions cannot be direct billed, we will provide you with a receipt you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, assuming your policy allows for the proper coverage.
Occasionally, some insurance companies ask for a little more information about your therapist to confirm their coverage for services. If that happens, please email our office with the specific information you will require and we will be happy to provide that to you.
(Please note: we cannot guarantee direct billing or insurance coverage – we always recommend confirming coverage with your specific provider and checking our Rates page for more info)
What kind of Consent do I need to provide?
At Refresh Counselling, we’re required to have consent from both parents or legal guardians before a child or teen can begin therapy.
Here’s how it works:
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Each parent creates their own online profile in our system.
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Both parents sign the digital consent forms linked to the child’s file.
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Once both signatures are received, we can begin sessions.
Sometimes technology can be a bit finicky — if a form isn’t showing up or won’t submit, just email us and we’ll gladly resend it. If you prefer, our admin team can help create the parent profiles for you. Simply send us each parent’s full name, email address, and phone number, and we’ll take care of setting everything up and linking it to your child’s account so the process is quick and smooth.
Is Virtual counselling as effective as in-person counselling for kids and teens?
For many kids and teens, virtual counselling can be just as effective as in-person sessions. Research has consistently shown that online therapy for children and adolescents can lead to similar improvements in anxiety, mood, and emotional regulation compared to in-person care, particularly when there is consistency and a strong therapeutic relationship.
In fact, many kids and teens feel more at ease meeting from a familiar space at home, which can help them open up more easily — especially those who experience anxiety, social discomfort, or hesitation around new environments.
That said, effectiveness still depends on the child’s age, needs, and learning style. Some younger children benefit more from in-person sessions where play-based or hands-on activities are easier to incorporate. Older kids and teens often do very well online, particularly when they’re already comfortable with technology.
To help virtual sessions be as effective as possible, we recommend:
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Choosing a quiet, private space with minimal distractions
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Using headphones to support focus and confidentiality
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Ensuring a stable internet connection and charged device
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Helping younger children transition calmly into the session (without coaching what to say)
If you’re unsure which option is best, our team is happy to help you decide. We regularly adjust between virtual and in-person sessions based on what works best for your child as therapy progresses.
How involved will I be as a parent in my child’s counselling?
Parent involvement looks a little different depending on your child’s age and needs. For younger children, sessions may include regular parent check-ins and collaboration around goals and strategies. For teens, therapy tends to work best when they have some privacy and autonomy, while still keeping parents informed at an appropriate and respectful level.
Regardless of your child’s age, it’s not unusual for our therapists to invite parents to play a more active role, particularly at home. This might include trying out small strategies, adjusting routines, or supporting new skills between sessions.
This isn’t about doing therapy “perfectly” — it’s about creating consistency, safety, and support so your child can get the most out of counselling.
Our therapists see parents as partners in the process. We aim to balance your child’s confidentiality with your need to understand how they’re doing, and these expectations are always discussed openly at the start of therapy so everyone feels clear, supported, and on the same page.