Next Steps Counselling Services

09/03/2026

Remember: You’re Not a Weird Horse

A zebra isn’t a weird horse.

It doesn’t need to try harder to be a horse, act more like a horse, or fit into the horse world.

It’s a zebra.

Neurodivergent people aren’t “bad at being normal.” They’re not weird versions of neurotypical people.

They’re different kinds of brains, with different strengths, needs, and ways of experiencing the world.

The goal isn’t to make the zebra more horse-like.

It’s to understand, accept, and support the zebra as a zebra.

Different doesn’t mean less. 🦓

09/01/2026

RE:THINK is an 9 week small-group program designed to help teens build practical skills they can use in everyday life. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we’ll focus on helping teens get “unstuck,” manage overwhelming thoughts and emotions, and take meaningful next steps toward the things that matter most to them.

This group may be a good fit for teens who:

* Overthink or get stuck in their thoughts.
* Avoid things because they feel overwhelming.
* Have difficulty getting started or following through.
* Are hard on themselves when things don’t go as planned.
* Struggle with uncomfortable emotions.
* Want practical tools for navigating everyday challenges.

What teens will learn:

* Real-life coping and emotional regulation strategies.
* How to notice thoughts and feelings without getting “hooked” by them.
* Values-based decision-making and goal setting.
* Guided practice, take-home activities, and troubleshooting support between sessions.

Program Details

Start Date: Monday, October 19, 2026

Time: Mondays, 6:00–8:00 PM

Location: Augusta Public Library, 4500 County Road 15

Cost: $1,500 for the full program

Funding: OAP eligible and may be covered by some employee benefit plans.

The group is led by Jenny Smith, RSSW, CYCP, and is designed with a neuro-affirming approach for teens who are ready to learn practical skills in a supportive small-group environment.

If you know a teen or family who might benefit, I’d love it if you shared this opportunity with them.

For questions or to register, reply to this email or contact me at [email protected].

I hope to see some amazing teens take their next steps with RE:THINK this fall!

08/31/2026

Now accepting new clients for in-person sessions in Brockville and virtual appointments across Ontario.

A new school year is almost here, and for a lot of teens, that brings more than just new classes.

New routines. New expectations. New friendships. More pressure.

If your teen is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or struggling with executive functioning, they don’t have to figure it out alone.

At Next Steps Counselling Services, I’m here to help neurodivergent teens and young adults build practical skills, strengthen confidence, and navigate the school year in a way that works for them.

This school year, let’s take the next steps together.

08/31/2026

RE:THINK: ACT Skills for Teens

What if you could learn to handle difficult thoughts and feelings without letting them run the show?

RE:THINK is an 9-week skills group for teens that introduces practical tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help with emotional regulation, managing stress, handling difficult thoughts, and making choices that line up with what matters to you.

Through guided activities, real conversations, and hands-on practice, teens will explore skills like:

• Getting unstuck from unhelpful thinking
• Staying present when things feel overwhelming
• Making space for uncomfortable emotions
• Identifying personal values
• Taking action toward what matters

This isn’t about changing who you are or getting rid of difficult emotions. It’s about building skills to navigate them with more flexibility and confidence.

08/26/2026

Teen Scene Fall Meet up dates are here!!

Teen Scene is a relaxed hangout for autistic (Level 1), ADHD, and similarly neurodivergent teens to connect, laugh, and share time—without pressure or big expectations.

What’s it like?
⭐ Chill vibes – Arrive, grab a snack, and ease in at your own pace.
⭐ Pick-your-own fun – Board games, creative projects, music sharing, or just hanging out.
⭐ Optional convos – Chat about self-advocacy, mental well-being, joining group conversations, or even texting etiquette.
⭐ No “musts” – Join in, observe, or take your time—it’s all good.

08/21/2026

I’m now booking September counselling appointments for new clients at Next Steps Counselling Services.

I’ve created a cozy counselling space that’s meant to feel comfortable, welcoming, and low-pressure. Somewhere teens and young adults can come in, take a breath, and know they don’t have to have it all figured out before they walk through the door.

I work with neurodivergent teens and young adults who are navigating things like anxiety, emotional regulation, executive functioning, self-esteem, friendships, and all the unspoken parts of growing up.

Now booking September appointments
📍 In-person in Brockville
💻 Virtual across Ontario

08/20/2026

We had a great time at the Augusta Township Public Library for our Real Talk Group
In the school house. Can’t wait to offer more group counselling programs there again soon!

Launching this September, Schoolhouse Sessions is a series of in-person learning, skill sharing and programming, that takes place in the Library's historic 1883 Schoolhouse. Schoolhouse Sessions is offered in partnership with community organizations, homeschool collectives, and shared interest groups.

Got a skill you want to share? Have an idea for a program that our patrons would benefit from? Do you have a curriculum-based activity you want to lead? Send us a message.

08/20/2026

Now accepting new clients for September. 💚

Next Steps Counselling Services supports neurodivergent teens and young adults with things like:

• Emotional regulation
• Executive functioning
• Confidence and self-advocacy
• Navigating relationships and social situations
• Building practical skills for everyday life

Sessions are available in Brockville or virtually.

If you’ve been thinking about reaching out, September is a great time to take that next step.

08/15/2026

And this is why I sit on the legislature committee for the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care - OACYC

You're already doing the work.

Every day, Child and Youth Care Practitioners provide critical mental health support, build trusting relationships, de-escalate crises, and walk alongside children and youth through some of life's most challenging moments.

The issue isn't whether CYCPs have the expertise to do this work.

The issue is that, too often, this work is expected without the credential protection, scope protection, and professional recognition that help ensure it is sustainable, supported, and clearly understood within larger systems.

This conversation isn't about questioning the value or capability of Child and Youth Care Practitioners. It's about recognizing the realities many members have shared: the profession continues to evolve, while policies and systems don't always evolve alongside it.

OACYC remains committed to advocating for greater recognition of the profession, listening to members' experiences, and advancing conversations that strengthen Child and Youth Care across Ontario.

08/14/2026

There are lots of ways to be neuro-affirming, but for me, it starts with something pretty simple: I meet teens where they’re at.

Not where their peers are. Not where they “should” be. Not where someone else thinks they need to be. Where they are.

I want to understand what is working for them, what feels hard, what they’re struggling with, and what they actually want support with. And then we start there.

Sometimes that means building skills. Sometimes it means finding strategies that actually work for their brain. Sometimes it means slowing things down and figuring out what’s underneath the struggle.

There’s no one starting point and there’s no one timeline. We start where they are and take the next step from there.

That’s a big part of what neuro-affirming support looks like to me.