What type of therapist should a teenager see, and what is a therapist for teens called?

If you've searched for help for a teen, you've probably seen a confusing mix of titles. The good news: the title matters less than two things, whether the person is licensed and whether they have real experience with teens. Here's how to make sense of the names.

What is a therapist for teens called?

People use several names for the same thing:

• Teen therapist or therapist for teens: the everyday term most people search for
• Adolescent therapist or adolescent counsellor: the more clinical version of the same idea
• Youth counsellor or youth worker: common in schools and community programs
• Child and adolescent psychologist or child and adolescent psychiatrist: professionals in those fields who focus on young people

These describe who someone works with, not their licence. To know what they're trained and allowed to do, look at their professional title.

The main types of professionals who see teens

Only licensed people can use the titles "Counselling Therapist," "Registered Counselling Therapist" or "RCT" in Nova Scotia (Counselling Therapists Act, s. 23).

Which type should a teenager see first?

For most teens, the first stop is a licensed therapist (an RCT, psychologist or social worker) who works with teens regularly. That covers the most common reasons teens start therapy: worry and stress, sadness or irritability, school pressure, friendships, dating, family conflict and confidence.

Consider starting elsewhere if:

• You need formal testing, for example a psychoeducational assessment for school accommodations. Look for a psychologist (see When should a teenager see a psychologist?).
• Symptoms are severe or not improving, or a doctor has raised medication. Start with your family doctor, who can refer to a psychiatrist if needed.
• There's immediate risk of harm. Use crisis services first (below).

What kind of therapy works for teens?

Different therapists use different methods. For anxiety, which the Canadian Paediatric Society calls the most common mental health condition in children and youth, treatment options include education, psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), family-based approaches and, in some cases, medication (Canadian Paediatric Society).

Across all methods, the relationship matters. A large review of 295 studies found that a stronger working relationship between client and therapist was linked to better results (Flückiger et al., 2018). For a teen, that means someone they feel comfortable with, who doesn't lecture, and who explains things in a way that makes sense to them.

How to check a teen therapist is legitimate

Search their name on the public register for their profession: counselling therapists, psychologists or social workers. Then ask in a free consultation how much of their work is with teens, and how they handle privacy with parents. Our full checklist is in How to choose a therapist.

Frequently asked questions

About the author

Courtney Cribb, MEd, RCT, CCC, is a Registered Counselling Therapist in Nova Scotia who works mostly with teens and young adults. Her research on teens and sexting is published in the Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy. She offers online sessions by video or phone across Nova Scotia and, where permitted, elsewhere in Canada. Learn about teen therapy with Courtney.