VM Counselling Services – Trauma-Informed, Addiction-Informed Support for Youth and Families (Virtual/Phone)

VM Counselling Services provides trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate counselling for children and youth ages (6–17), along with family support and school collaboration. Services are offered virtually/online or by phone to support accessibility, consistency, and privacy for Saskatchewan families.

Featured Presentation: Real Talk – Addiction, Alcohol & Saving a Friend’s Life

A youth-focused, trauma-informed session that helps teens understand addiction, alcohol use, and how to respond when a friend may be in danger.

These sessions are real, practical, and focused on safety, awareness, and better decision-making.

Covers topics such as:
— Addiction and the teen brain
— Alcohol risks, blackouts, and poisoning
— Peer pressure and coping
— Recognizing when someone is in danger
— When and how to get help

Youth & Child Counselling (Ages 6–17)

Children and youth deserve a safe, respectful space to build coping skills, strengthen emotional regulation, and work through challenges at a pace that fits their developmental stage. Support may include:

- Anxiety, stress, emotional overwhelm, and nervous system dysregulation. 

- Trauma impacts, grief and loss, and major life transitions

- Ubstance use concerns (prevention/early intervention) and recovery supports

- Digital media/gaming overuse and healthy routines

- School stress, bullying, peer conflict, and confidence/self-esteem challenges

- Family relationship stress and communication difficulties

Counselling with minors includes structured consent, age-appropriate participation, and clear confidentiality boundaries that protect youth privacy while ensuring parent/guardian involvement for safety.

Family Support Services

Family support sessions focus on communication, emotional safety, and practical changes that strengthen the home environment. Services may include:

- Parent–youth sessions

- Family support for trauma, behavioural challenges, or addictions concerns

- Parent coaching (youth emotional regulation, substance use concerns, screen overuse)

- Grief and transition support for families

- Psychoeducational family meetings and skill-building sessions

Talking Circles (Youth, Family, and School-Based)

Talking Circles provide a respectful, supportive space for connection, sharing, and healing. They can be especially effective for teen groups and youth wellness programming.

Available formats may include:

- Youth Talking Circles

- Family Talking Circles

- Classroom or school-based circles

- Recovery-focused circles

- Grief and healing circles

Topics may include emotional regulation, coping skills, trauma impacts, addictions education, peer conflict, and resilience-building.

School Services & Collaboration

VM Counselling Services collaborates with schools and school counsellors as an external support and referral option. Services may include:

- Individual student sessions (virtual/phone)

- Psychoeducational youth groups

- Classroom presentations and workshops

- Digital wellness / screen overuse education

- Trauma-informed emotional regulation and coping skill sessions

- Case consultations and planning meetings (with appropriate consent)

Schools may refer families directly, or parents/guardians may self-refer.

Rates & Payment Responsibility

Parents/guardians are 100% financially responsible for all services provided to minors, including intake appointments, counselling sessions, case consultations, and any scheduled services. Youth are not billed directly.

Intake Fees:

- Parent/Guardian Intake (required for minors) $200

- Youth Intake (11–17) $150

Session Rates:

- Individual youth counselling: (ages 6–17) $150–$180/hour

- Family sessions: $170–$220/hour

- Small-group Talking Circles: (3–8 participants) $250/hour

- Youth workshops/presentations: $350–$600/hour

- Half-day school workshops: $700–$1,200

- School consultations/case meetings: billed at the applicable hourly rate

- Travel (if required): CRA mileage rate ($0.70/km) + hourly travel time

Sliding Scale (Limited Availability)
A limited number of discounted counselling sessions are available for families experiencing financial hardship. Sliding scale options require an application and approval and may be time-limited. Discounted rates apply to individual youth counselling only and do not apply to intake sessions, family sessions, school services, or group programs.

Youth sessions cannot be booked using the public appointment calendar. All youth bookings must be arranged through the parent/guardian EMAIL process.