When Your Teen Is Struggling, the Whole Family Feels It
Every family moves through periods that are harder than others — a child struggling with big emotions, a teenager pulling away, a household caught in the same conflict on repeat. These moments don't mean something has gone wrong with your family. They usually mean something needs a different kind of attention than it's been getting.
Théla provides psychotherapy for children, teens, and families, with Bonny — using approaches adapted to each developmental stage, and to what's actually happening between the people involved, not just within one person.
In-person youth and family therapy is available in Markham. Virtual sessions are available across Ontario.
Three Ways We Support Young People and Families
Child Therapy — Ages 8–11
For children old enough to participate in age-adapted conversation and structured therapeutic activities, but still processing the world very differently than an adult does. Support for anxiety, big emotions, family changes, divorce, self-esteem, and neurodivergence.
This is not a specialized play-therapy service — sessions use developmentally adapted conversation, activities, and skills work suited to children who can engage with them directly.
Teen Therapy — Ages 12–17
A space for adolescents to talk, understand themselves, and build support without feeling analyzed or managed. Support for anxiety, ADHD and neurodivergence, identity, friendships, family conflict, and emotional overwhelm — with confidentiality appropriate to a teen's developmental stage, and parents kept appropriately involved.
Family Therapy — All Ages
For when the difficulty isn't really located in one person, but in the pattern between family members. Support for parent-child conflict, communication breakdown, blended-family dynamics, separation and divorce, and the particular pressures multicultural and multigenerational families navigate.
How Do I Know Which One Fits?
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You don't need to figure this out alone before reaching out — but as a general guide:
- If the concern seems to live mainly within a child (ages 8–11) — their anxiety, their emotions, their adjustment — Child Therapy is usually the starting point.
- If the concern seems to live mainly within a teenager (ages 12–17) — their identity, their mental health, their individual struggles — Teen Therapy is usually the starting point.
- If the concern seems to live between people — recurring conflict, communication breakdown, a family reorganizing after divorce, patterns that involve several people — Family Therapy is often the better fit, sometimes alongside individual work.
If you're not sure, a consultation can help sort this out together rather than guessing in advance.
Meet Your Youth & Family Therapist
Bonny, MA, EdD (Cand.): Child, Teen & Family Therapy • Neurodivergence • Attachment • Complex Family Dynamics
Bonny works with children, teens, and families navigating anxiety, neurodivergence, emotional regulation, trauma, identity, separation and divorce, and complex family patterns. Her approach is attachment-informed, trauma-informed, and neurodivergent-affirming throughout — adapted to each person's developmental stage rather than applying one method across every age.
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), CRPO
In-person in Markham & virtual across Ontario • English, Cantonese & Mandarin
Frequently Asked Questions
Child therapy is available for ages 8–11, and teen therapy for ages 12–17. Family therapy can involve family members of any age, depending on who's participating.
No. Our child therapy service is designed for children who can participate in age-adapted conversation and structured activities, not a specialized play-therapy service for younger children.
Yes, when clinically appropriate. Sometimes individual and family work happen alongside each other; your therapist will discuss what structure fits your situation.
Yes. Bonny provides child, teen, and family therapy in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Ontario, with in-person sessions available in Markham.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you're worried — that's reason enough to reach out. You don't need to wait until things fall apart. A free consultation will help you figure out whether therapy, coaching, or a parent strategy session is the right first step.
Some resistance is normal — especially for teens who have never been to therapy before. Sometimes starting with a parent strategy session creates enough change at home that teens become more willing. Bonny can also offer to meet your teen once without any commitment, which often reduces the resistance.
Teen sessions are confidential within the limits of the law. Bonny will not share session content with parents — but she will always reach out if there is a safety concern. For younger teens (12–13), Bonny may share general themes with parents to support continuity of care. She will always be clear with both teen and parent about what confidentiality means before sessions begin.
Therapy explores emotions, processes past experiences, and supports mental health. Coaching is forward-focused and skills-based — practical strategies for daily life. Many neurodivergent teens benefit from one or both, at different points in time.
Yes — this is a core strength at Théla. Bonny has 14+ years of ADHD coaching experience and specialized autism training. She works with neurodivergent teens in both therapy and coaching formats.
Book a free 15-minute autism and transition consultation. Bonny will walk you through what's available, whether your teen may be eligible, and what the next steps look like.
Yes. Bonny offers fully fluent therapy and coaching in English, Mandarin (普通话), and Cantonese (廣東話).
Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. Many teens actually prefer virtual — they're more comfortable in their own space.
It depends on what your teen is working through. Some concerns shift in 3–6 months. More complex trauma or neurodivergent support may be longer-term. Bonny will give you a realistic sense of timeline after the first session.
No — only physicians and psychiatrists prescribe medication. If medication may be helpful for your teen, we can discuss referral options and are happy to coordinate with your teen's existing medical team.
Start Wherever the Concern Actually Is
You don't need to have it perfectly figured out — whether it's your child, your teenager, or something happening between everyone in the house. A consultation can help identify the right starting point.
A Note on Immediate Support
This page describes general therapy services and is not a substitute for emergency or crisis support. If a child, teen, or family member is in crisis or experiencing thoughts of suicide, please contact 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline, Canada) or go to the nearest emergency room. Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868) is available 24/7 for children and youth across Canada.
Areas We Serve
Teen therapy and family services in Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Mississauga, Brampton, Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa. Virtual therapy available across Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
