Children & Teen Therapy in Saint John & Fredericton

Life can be challenging at any age, but childhood and adolescence bring unique hurdles. At Laura Gatien & Associates, we provide compassionate, evidence-based therapy tailored to the needs of children and teens. We strive to create a safe space where young individuals can explore their feelings, build resilience and thrive.

HOW WE CAN HELP

We believe that every child and teen deserves to feel heard, valued and understood. Our therapy sessions are designed to:

Foster self-confidence and emotional regulation
Build coping skills to navigate challenges
Encourage open communication and self-expression
Strengthen relationships with family and peers

We use age-appropriate, evidence-based methods, including:

Play Therapy: Helping younger children process emotions and experiences through play.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Equipping teens with tools to manage anxiety, depression and stress.
Parent Coaching: Supporting caregivers with strategies to foster a nurturing and supportive home environment.

WHO WE HELP

We work with children and teens ages 1 to 18 facing a variety of challenges, including:

Anxiety and depression
ADHD and behavioral concerns
Bullying or peer difficulties
Family transitions, such as divorce or relocation
Grief and loss
Trauma or significant life events
Low self-esteem

We offer children and teen therapy in-person in Fredericton and Saint John, as well as online.

Get Matched with a therapist

book appointment online

How Children & Teen Therapy Works

For children 10 and under, therapy looks a little different than it does for teens or adults. At this age, children often aren’t able to express their emotions through conversation alone. Instead, healing and connection happen gradually through relationship, play and felt safety.

That’s why we first require a parent session without the child present. This initial meeting allows the therapist to gather important background information, understand family context, and clarify therapy goals. Just as importantly, it helps establish a strong partnership with parents from the very beginning, so everyone is working together to best support the child.

Once sessions begin, our focus with young children is on building trust over time. Therapy is a journey, and for children, much of that journey happens through play-based and developmentally appropriate activities that help them feel safe, understood, and engaged. Children often communicate through play long before they can put big feelings into words.

Each session is thoughtfully tailored to your child’s age, personality and unique needs. We create a warm, welcoming space where your child can begin to open up at their own pace.

We also maintain regular communication with parents and caregivers, offering guidance, strategies, and updates along the way. Therapy is a collaborative process — and we are here to support both your child and your family every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Therapy

We begin with a parent-only session to understand your child’s history, family context and current concerns. This helps the therapist clarify goals and ensures therapy is thoughtful and developmentally appropriate. It also allows us to build a strong working partnership with you from the very start.
Yes — and that’s intentional. Play is how young children communicate, process emotions and build trust. Therapeutic play allows children to express feelings they may not yet have words for, while helping them feel safe and understood.
Therapy is a process, not a quick fix. With younger children, progress often happens gradually as trust is built over time. Changes may show up in small but meaningful ways, such as improved emotional regulation, communication, or behaviour at home or school.
Each session is carefully adapted to your child’s age, personality and individual needs. We meet children where they are and move at a pace that feels safe and supportive for them.
Parents and caregivers are an important part of the process. We provide regular communication, guidance and practical strategies to support your child outside of sessions. Therapy works best when families and therapists work together.

How much does therapy cost?

Sessions with a registered social worker (RSW) or licensed counselling therapist (LCT) are $160 for 50 minutes. For Family, Couples, EMDR or sessions with our certified play therapist, sessions are $170.

Is therapy covered by insurance?

Our counselling fees are not covered by Medicare but are covered by many extended health insurance plans.

Our clinic has therapists who are either registered social workers (RSW) or Licensed Counselling Therapists (LCT).

You must check your specific plan for what you have coverage for, as coverage is different for each policy. Verify that your plan covers counselling/therapy with a MSW, RSW or LCT. Your insurance may state you have coverage for clinical counsellor or psychotherapist, which would cover LCT or social worker.

We also offer direct billing with many different insurance companies, which allows you to keep more money in your pocket. We can direct bill Blue Cross, Veterans Affairs (VAC), Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Canada Life, Claim Secure, Chamber of Commerce, Work Safe, NIHB, Department of Social Development, and more provided your plan is set up for direct billing. You are still responsible for any co-pay amounts at the time of service.

About Laura Gatien & Associates

At Laura Gatien & Associates, we take a proactive and collaborative approach to mental health treatment, offering clients access a diverse team of professionals with various expertise and specialties who learn from and can refer to one another. We take a holistic approach to treatment and believe everything makes perfect sense in the context of your life experiences.

Quality care is very important to us as a team, and we ensure this is upheld through regular clinical meetings, ongoing professional development and training opportunities, as well as using evidence-based frameworks. This helps us provide you with the best care for your individual needs so you can make progress sooner.

Our clients benefit from shared resources that exist within a team and the peace of mind that they are not just working with an individual, but are part of a broader mental health community learning and growing together.

We prioritize accessibility and availability of services, providing limited wait times and evening appointments to accommodate diverse schedules. We will regularly ask for feedback on your experience here so we can continue to improve.

meet the team

“My child is very happy with her therapist. She feels comfortable and looks forward to her appointment. “
“The staff are so wonderful and the [therapist] my daughter sees is the absolute best. My daughter just adores her and she is helping her so much.”
“Very professional and easy to talk to. My child loves her counsellor and feels very comfortable with her.”
“I joined my son for his first appointment and loved his therapist’s approach.”
“Ricky is very supportive to my son and it has been very helpful to have new tools to help him work through his anxiety.”
“My daughter loves her therapist and she’s doing a lot better since going there.”
“Lee is great, always takes the time to understand what’s causing anxiety in my daughter’s life and tries to come up with different ways for her to better cope. Would recommend anyone to take their child to see Lee!”