Monica Dice, MA, RCC

Registered Clinical Counsellor | Duncan & Virtual

Children and young people often need more than a place to talk. CBT can help them understand what they are experiencing and develop practical skills for approaching difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations.

About Monica

Hello, I’m Monica Dice. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with more than 30 years of experience in the helping profession. I provide Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for anxiety and depression, with a particular focus on children and youth.

My work has included schools, outreach programs, crisis intervention, social services, and community-based support. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for the importance of meeting young people within the context of their family, culture, community, developmental stage, and individual strengths.

My approach is compassionate, collaborative, trauma informed, and culturally responsive. I recognize that reaching out for counselling can take courage, particularly when a child or teenager is unsure about attending. I work to create a space where young people feel safe, respected, and genuinely included in the process.

CBT for Anxiety

Anxiety can appear in many different ways. A child or teenager may worry constantly, avoid unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations, experience panic or physical symptoms, struggle with school attendance, seek frequent reassurance, or become increasingly irritable or withdrawn.

Using CBT, I help young people understand the connections among their thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviours. Together, we identify the patterns that may be maintaining anxiety and develop practical strategies for responding differently.

Treatment may include learning coping and emotional-regulation skills, recognizing anxious thinking, developing more balanced perspectives, solving problems, and gradually approaching situations that have become difficult or avoided. The pace and structure of treatment are adapted to the young person’s age, abilities, needs, and readiness.

CBT for Depression

Depression in children and adolescents does not always look like sadness. It may appear as irritability, loss of motivation, withdrawal from friends or activities, changes in sleep, difficulty concentrating, low self-esteem, hopelessness, or a decline in school functioning.

CBT can help young people recognize the cycles among mood, thoughts, behaviour, and daily routines. Our work may include identifying patterns of self-criticism or hopeless thinking, gradually rebuilding meaningful and enjoyable activities, strengthening coping skills, and developing manageable steps toward the young person’s goals.

I also draw on training in behavioural activation and Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents. This allows us to consider not only a young person’s thoughts and behaviours, but also relationships, transitions, grief, conflict, and other experiences that may be affecting their mood.

Working With Children, Youth, and Families

Children and teenagers do not experience difficulties in isolation. When appropriate, I collaborate with parents, caregivers, family members, schools, and other professionals to create consistent and supportive environments around the young person.

The level of caregiver involvement will depend on the child’s age, needs, preferences, and treatment goals. I aim to help caregivers understand what their child is experiencing, respond in supportive ways, and reinforce helpful skills outside counselling while still respecting the young person’s growing independence and privacy.

CBT with children and youth may include conversation, visual tools, activities, play-based elements, examples from everyday life, and between-session practice. Treatment is adapted so that the skills are understandable, relevant, and realistic for the individual child or teenager.

Areas of CBT Focus

Anxiety and excessive worry
Social anxiety
Panic symptoms
Health-related anxiety
Depression and low mood
Behavioural activation
Emotional regulation
Stress and overwhelm
School-related anxiety and challenges
Self-esteem and self-critical thinking
Life transitions
Children and youth
Parent and caregiver collaboration

CBT-Related Approaches and Training

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
Behavioural activation
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Emotion Focused Family Therapy
Structured, developmentally appropriate CBT adaptations

Education and Professional Credentials

Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University
Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria
Registered Clinical Counsellor, BCACC #22230
More than 30 years of experience in helping professions
Additional training in child and adolescent mental health, cultural diversity, trauma-informed care, neurodiversity, and family support

Primary VICBT service: CBT for anxiety and depression
Primary population: Children and youth
Additional populations: Adults and families
Location: Duncan and virtual counselling throughout BC
Fees: $150–$165 per session