ABBOTSFORD
CHILD & YOUTH COUNSELLING
The ultimate goal of child & youth counselling is to support the individual to process what is happening in their lives.
Being a young person in this world can be hard — navigating the ongoing demands of life on top of family, friends, and social relationships is a lot. Our RCC and RSW therapists are here for them. And for you.
When your child is struggling, the hardest part is often not knowing how to help.
Maybe they've told you something that scared you. Maybe they've stopped telling you anything at all. Being a young person right now is genuinely hard. The pressure, the social stuff, the family changes, the things happening inside their head that are difficult to explain to anyone — it's a lot. And most kids don't have a space where they can actually say the hard things without worrying about what happens next.
Whether your child is dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, school pressure, bullying, family changes, or something they haven't been able to name yet — our RCC and RSW therapists are here for them. And for you.
Child & youth counselling in Abbotsford and Chilliwack gives young people exactly that. A relationship with a therapist they can trust. A space that's entirely theirs. Somewhere they can work through overwhelm, make sense of what's happening in their lives, and start building the tools to move through it.
For parents — starting the process
HOW GETTING STARTED WORKS:
Our intake process for children and youth begins with you, before your child ever sits down with a therapist. Here is what to expect, step by step.
FIRST CONTACT
When you reach out, our admin team will set up a parent session before your child's first appointment.
If your child is under the age of 12, a parent intake session is required. If your child is a mature minor, a parent session is not obligatory. Your child does not attend this appointment. Our reception team will advise you on what to bring, including any custody, parenting, or court documents that may be relevant.
Please take a moment to review our Child & Youth Policy in full before your intake appointment.
PARENT INTAKE SESSION
We meet with you — without your child present
This session is for parents of children 12 and under. It gives us the chance to understand your child's world, their history, their strengths, and the concerns that brought you here. We'll agree on goals together, confirm consent and guardianship, and make sure everything is in place before your child begins. If parents are separated or divorced, we'll typically offer a separate session with each parent, so everyone's perspective is heard without your child being put in the middle.
CONSENT & PAPERWORK
We confirm guardianship and review any relevant documents.
We'll ask about who holds decision-making authority for your child and review any applicable custody, guardianship, parenting, or court-ordered arrangements that may impact consent for services. This helps ensure we have the appropriate permissions in place & can communicate with the correct individuals throughout the process. You'll also be asked to complete our Parent Consent & Communication Policy. Please review the consent section below for more information about what this process involves.
YOUR CHILD'S FIRST SESSION
Once everything is in place, we book your child's first session
After we've met with you and confirmed everything is ready, we schedule your child's first appointment. From there, their therapist will build a trusting relationship with them — a space entirely theirs, where they can work through what's overwhelming them and start building the tools to move through it.
Policies & What To Know
Parent Non-Negotiables
We've summarized the key policies below so there are no surprises. Full details are in our Parental Consent and Communication Policy, which you'll review and sign when getting started.
Children's sessions are confidential.
The content of your child's sessions is kept private to support their sense of safety and trust. We don't provide detailed progress reports or share specific session discussions. When clinically appropriate, their therapist may share general updates — treatment goals, overall themes, attendance — always within applicable privacy law. Counselling is child-focused: your therapist's primary duty is to your child's therapeutic needs & best interests.
One scheduling contact person
We ask families to designate one parent or guardian as the primary scheduling contact. All bookings, cancellations, and admin communication go through that person. Our reception team doesn't mediate co-parenting matters through scheduling or email — if that support is needed, it's best addressed within a counselling session with everyone's consent.
Child's Wellness & Best Interests
Your child's therapist remains neutral and focused on your child. We don't provide custody evaluations, parenting assessments, or court recommendations unless we've been specifically contracted to do so. If ongoing conflict begins to compromise your child's therapeutic progress, their therapist may pause or withdraw services so that your child's well-being stays at the centre.
A NOTE ON CONSENT IN BC
In British Columbia, where a child isn't able to consent to counselling on their own, consent from one legal guardian is generally sufficient to begin unless court ordered. When you provide consent, you're confirming three things:
You are a legal guardian of the child.
There is no court order or written agreement requiring guardians to make health-care or counselling decisions together.
You will provide us with a copy of any court order or agreement that affects decision-making for your child.
Please note: It is your responsibility to inform us about any such order or agreement. Eterna relies on the information you provide and does not investigate, search for, or independently verify whether any custody or decision-making order exists. If an order does require both guardians to consent, both guardians' consent will be needed before your child's sessions begin — please bring any relevant order or agreement to your parent session. For older youth who can understand the nature and effects of counselling, we also consider their own consent, in keeping with BC health-care law.
WHAT WE WORK ON
COUNSELLING FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS—WE GET IT, AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP.
Figuring Out Who You Are
You're not a kid anymore, but you're not quite an adult either. That in-between space is confusing. We help you explore your identity, values, interests, and what actually matters to you—not what everyone else expects.
When School Feels Impossible
The pressure to perform, the constant comparison, the fear of failing, the burnout from trying to be perfect. We work on managing academic stress, finding motivation when it's gone, and building skills that actually help instead of just saying "try harder."
Family Stuff That's Complicated
Maybe your parents don't get you. Maybe there's conflict at home. Maybe you're dealing with divorce, new family dynamics, or feeling caught in the middle. We create space to process what's happening and figure out how to navigate it without losing yourself.
The Social Minefield
Friend drama. Feeling left out. Not fitting in. Wondering if anyone actually likes you. We help you understand relationships, set boundaries, recognize toxic dynamics, and build the confidence to show up as yourself—even when it's scary.
Processing the Hard Stuff
Trauma. Loss. Things that happened that you can't stop thinking about. Experiences that changed you. We create a safe space to work through what you've been through at your own pace, without pressure to "get over it."
When Your Brain Won't Cooperate
Anxiety that makes everything feel overwhelming. Depression that makes you feel nothing at all. Panic attacks. Intrusive thoughts. Self-harm urges. We take your mental health seriously and give you real tools to manage what's happening in your head.
Building Confidence That's Real
Not fake positivity or pretending everything's fine—actual self-worth that comes from knowing yourself, accepting your flaws, and recognizing your strengths. We help you quiet the critical voice and treat yourself like someone worth caring about.
The Pressure to figured it all out
Everyone keeps asking about your future—college, career, life plans—but you’re not sure what the answer is. Or maybe you have ideas, but you don't want to make the wrong choice. We help you cut through the pressure & uncertainty so you can make decisions that aligned with you.
Navigating Life Online
Social media comparisons. Cyberbullying. The pressure to have a perfect feed. FOMO. Screen addiction. We help you figure out a healthier relationship with technology, recognize what's real versus performative, and protect your mental health.
WHAT WE HELP WITH
We offer a wide variety of services to support your mental health journey. The topics below are just some of the areas we address — we're here to help with any challenge you're facing.
Family & Home Life
Parent Conflict · Divorce or Separation · Blended Family Adjustments · Sibling Rivalry · Family Communication · Grief & Loss · Moving or Relocation · New Baby Stress
Identity & Belonging
Sexuality & Sexual Identity (LGBTQ2S+) · Coming Out · Gender Identity Exploration · Cultural Identity · Racism & Discrimination · Finding Your Community
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Anxiety · Depression · Panic Attacks · Stress & Overwhelm · Anger Management · Emotional Regulation · Self-Harm · Suicidal Thoughts · Low Mood
Neurodivergence & Development
ADHD · Autism Spectrum · Learning Disabilities · Sensory Processing · Executive Functioning · Social Skills · Emotional Dysregulation · Masking & Burnout
Relationships & Social Life
Friendship Drama · Feeling Left Out · Social Anxiety · Toxic Friendships · Boundaries · Dating & First Relationships · Loneliness · Fitting In
Growing Up & Life Changes
Puberty & Body Changes · Starting High School · Preparing for Adulthood · College Stress · First Job · Leaving Home · Independence & Responsibility
Identity & Self-Worth:
Body Image Issues · Self-Esteem · Self-Criticism · Perfectionism · Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating · Finding Who You Are · Feeling Different
Trauma & Safety
Childhood Trauma · Abuse (Physical, Emotional, Sexual) · Witnessing Violence · Bullying & Cyberbullying · Sexual Assault · PTSD · Separation Anxiety
WHY CHOOSE CHILD/YOUTH COUNSELLING?
Children and youth counselling focuses on building a safe and trusting relationship with the child or youth, because young people build relationships more slowly than adults. Counselling is grounded in this trusting relationship so that the child or youth can begin to share and process their challenges. We aim to keep them safe while maintaining confidentiality, so that the child or youth feels free to share their thoughts and feelings in a secure therapeutic relationship. Oftentimes, children come in on their own or with their parents and the goal is always to support the child or youth to feel confident in the process.
EXPLORE CHILD & YOUTH THERAPISTS
CHILD & YOUTH COUNSELLING
IN ABBOTSFORD
Our team of RCC and RSW therapists are ready to meet your family where you are — no judgment, no pretense, just real support for the real stuff.
Amanda Strider
RCC | AGE 14+
Josh Miller
RSW | AGE 6+
Tamara Dueckman
RCC | AGE 14+
Bailey Murphy
RCC | AGE 6+
Tatiana Carballo
RCC | AGE 6+