Child Counselling Calgary

Supporting children and teens ages 6–18

Childhood and adolescence bring extraordinary growth, and sometimes, extraordinary difficulty. Perhaps your child has worry that won’t switch off, emotions that feel too big to manage, or school stress that spills over into everything else. Whatever is going on, it’s become too hard to deal with alone.

At Bluebird Psychology, we provide Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based counselling for children and teens aged 6 to 18. Our psychologists work with young people to build practical strategies for managing anxiety, low mood, anger, social challenges, and more in a space where they can feel genuinely heard and understood.

We are proud to offer counselling services in English, Arabic, Punjabi, and Hindi.

Child CBT Counselling in Calgary

Not sure if counselling is right for your child? Book a free 15-minute consultation. We're happy to answer your questions and help you figure out the right next step.

How We Can Help:

Child counselling at Bluebird Psychology often supports children and teens dealing with:

Teen Therapy Calgary

Our Approach - CBT and Beyond

CBT is an evidence-based, goal-oriented approach that helps children and teens understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Through CBT, children and teens learn practical strategies they can use in real situations, not just in the therapy room. In some ways, they learn to become their own “mini therapist” or “scientist,” learning tools to examine their current behaviour and emotions and change how they navigate tough feelings.

Because children learn and communicate differently at different ages, we tailor how we work to suit each child. Alongside CBT, our sessions may incorporate:

  • Expressive art and creative activities

  • Play therapy techniques, which is particularly effective for younger children

  • Mindfulness and grounding practices

  • Games and age-appropriate activities

For younger children who aren't yet ready for or suited to talk-based therapy, our play therapy option may be a better fit. Click here to learn more about play therapy and how it works.

Child Psychologist Calgary

A space where children feel safe

Our office is designed to feel welcoming rather than clinical. Our waiting room features a playroom, complete with a reading nook, art station, and toys, to help children and teens feel comfortable and welcome from the moment they enter our space. We also offer free drinks and snacks.

We take the time to understand each child's personality, strengths, and specific challenges before developing an individualized plan.

Parents are an active part of the process. We keep you informed and involved at every stage while maintaining your child's confidentiality, because the adults in a child's life are often the most important part of their support system.

Child Therapy Calgary

How The Counselling Process Works

Step 1 (Optional) — Book a Free 15-minute consultation
Start with a phone call with one of our psychologists. This consult gives you a chance to ask questions, share your concerns, and confirm whether our approach is the right fit for your child.

Step 2 — Parent intake session
Before your child's first session, we meet with parents alone. This gives us the full picture of what's going on and lets us plan the best approach for your child. These meetings can be booked in-person or virtually.

Step 3 — Regular sessions
Sessions are 50 minutes long and priced at $240. Frequency and length of treatment depend on your child's needs - some children benefit from brief, focused support while others work with us on an ongoing basis. Sessions can also be booked in-person or virtually.

Meet Your Therapists

ADHD Therapy

Shawna Cunha, MEd, MA - Registered Provisional Psychologist

Shawna brings nearly two decades of experience working with young people - including 19 years as a middle school teacher before transitioning into full-time psychological practice. That background gives her an unusually grounded understanding of what adolescence actually looks like day to day: the academic pressure, the social complexity, the exhaustion of trying to hold it all together.

She works with teens experiencing anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, ADHD, grief, and life transitions. Her approach is warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed, drawing on CBT, DBT, somatic approaches, and EMDR. She is particularly skilled at supporting high-achieving teens navigating burnout, self-worth struggles, and the weight of expectation.

Book a Free Phone Consult

Mohamed Osman-Abdallah, MSc - Registered Provisional Psychologist

Mohamed works with teens, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, identity, and life transitions. His approach is warm and down-to-earth — he creates a space where young people can show up as they are, without needing the right words or a clear sense of what needs to change. That ease of connection makes him a particularly good fit for teens who are reluctant or unsure about therapy.

He draws on ACT, CBT, DBT-informed approaches, narrative therapy, and trauma-informed practice. His work is culturally responsive, neurodiversity-affirming, and LGBTQIA2S+ affirming. Mohamed provides therapy in both English and Arabic.

Book a Free Phone Consult

Shradha Suri, MRes, MA — Registered Provisional Psychologist

Shradha has over ten years of experience supporting children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, developmental delays, and learning challenges across Canada, the UAE, and India. She brings both clinical precision and genuine warmth to her work — and a culturally attuned perspective shaped by years of practice in diverse communities.

She works with children and families using CBT, mindfulness, solution-focused therapy, and attachment-based approaches, always tailoring her work to the individual child rather than applying a one-size-fits-all framework. Shradha collaborates closely with parents, educators, and other professionals to make sure assessment insights translate into real, everyday support at home and at school. Shradha provides therapy in English, Punjabi, and Hindi.

Book a Free Phone Consult

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If your child's emotions or behaviour are significantly affecting their daily life, for example, their school performance, friendships, sleep, or family relationships, it's worth exploring support. You don't need to wait for a crisis. Early support is almost always more effective than waiting until things become severe.

  • Child counselling at Bluebird Psychology is available for children and teens aged 6 to 18. For children aged 4 years and older, we also offer play therapy.

  • Many extended health plans cover psychological services. We don't direct bill, but provide detailed receipts after every session for you to submit to your provider.

  • Yes, virtual counselling is available for families anywhere in Alberta!

  • This varies considerably. Some children need only 6–10 sessions to address a specific concern. Others benefit from longer-term support. We'll give you our honest assessment after the intake session and check in regularly on progress.

  • Child counselling at Bluebird uses CBT, which is a talk-based, structured approach that works well for children aged 6 and up who can reflect on and discuss their thoughts and feelings.

    Play therapy uses sand tray, art, and imaginative play to help children process emotions without needing to put them into words, making it particularly effective for younger children or those who find talk-based approaches difficult.

  • Our psychologists follow the child's lead. Children are never pushed to discuss anything before they're ready. Therapy is a gradual process, building trust and comfort first, then exploring challenges at a pace that feels safe. Many children find it much easier to open up than their parents expect, particularly once they feel at ease in the space.

  • This is one of the most common concerns parents bring to us. Reluctance is completely normal, particularly for older children and teens. We're experienced at building rapport with children who are hesitant, and our sessions are designed to feel engaging rather than clinical.

    The parent intake session helps us understand your child's personality and plan the best approach before they arrive. Most children who are initially reluctant warm up quickly once they see what sessions actually look like.

  • In Alberta, both parents with legal guardianship typically need to consent to psychological services for a minor. If your family situation is complex, for example, separation, shared custody, or other arrangements, contact us before booking, and we'll help you navigate what's needed.

  • Sometimes what looks like an emotional or behavioural challenge has an underlying learning or cognitive component, such as ADHD, a learning disability, or giftedness. If we suspect an assessment would provide useful information, we'll discuss this with you.

    Bluebird Psychology offers psychoeducational assessments, ADHD assessments, and gifted assessments, so if your child needs both support and an assessment, we can coordinate both in one place.

Have questions?

We’re here to help!

Email us: office@bluebirdpsychology.ca
Call us: (587) 288-6884

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with one of our psychologists here.

We are located at 277, 200 Rivercrest Dr. SE in Calgary, AB