Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Peterborough Youth Services?
  • We are a mental health and youth justice organization serving children youth and families. We provide a range of accessible, collaborative and responsive services for the improvement of client and community safety and wellbeing.
  • What kind of help is available?
  • A range of services are available including Crisis Response, Individual and Family Counselling, Group Support, Parent/Caregiver Support, Enhance Youth Outreach, Case Management/Service Navigation as well as Youth Justice programs.
  • What can counselling do for me?
  • Counselling provides help for youth dealing with many different situations and life experiences such as:
    • Difficulties coping with life in general
    • Physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse
    • Gender and identity
    • Family violence and/or family breakdown
    • Grief and loss
    • Poor self-image
    • Conflict with the law
    • Sexuality and relationships
    • Sadness, depression, anger
    • Difficulties at school
  • Individual counselling gives young people an opportunity to meet privately with a Counsellor to talk about problems they may be having and explore possible solutions. Your Counsellor will talk with you and gather some information from you and answer any questions you might have. Counselling may include sand play, art or games. You and your Counsellor will decide what works best for you.
  • Family counselling is an opportunity for you and members of your family to meet with a Counsellor to work out problems that you haven’t managed to solve on your own. This could mean we meet with one other person in your family or several members, whatever would be most helpful.
  • Crisis Response Services are available for children, youth up to 18 years of age and families.
  • Parent Caregiver Support is available to families and may be offered in the family home.
  • Case Management and Service Navigation helps connect you to the services and supports that are best able to meet your needs.
  • Day Treatment is an intensive service in which the youth attends the program daily (Monday to Friday) and receives support in managing anxiety, depression, suicidality and family conflict.
  • Youth Justice Programs receive referrals from Probation Services for young persons who have been convicted of an offence while under the age of 18 and received a court ordered disposition to participate.
  • Why should I come to PYS?
  • Research has shown us that certain factors can help children/youth cope with life’s stresses:
  • Friendship/belonging
  • Participating in activities
  • Feeling good about yourself
  • Feeling good about how others see you
  • Having adults in your life whom you admire
  • Having a professional counsellor with whom you can talk
  • How do I get started?
  • You or someone who cares about you can call Peterborough Youth Services and speak with the receptionist who will arrange a call with our Triage Worker. That Triage Worker will help you determine if PYS is the right place for you and, if not, help get you to the service in our community as easily as possible. PYS and Kinark Child and Family Services have a Coordinated and Access Process where we are able to work together to ensure you get the Right Service as soon as possible.
  • Someone who cares about you  might include your parents, other family members,  community organizations such as schools, probation, children’s aid organizations, the courts, doctors, public health nurses, and many others who are involved with young people. Although we encourage family involvement, in accordance with the Child, Youth and Family Services Act any child 12 or over may refer themselves with or without the knowledge or consent of their parents.
  • PYS is funded through the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, the United Way, foundation grants and private donations. Services are available to you and your family at no cost.
  • Is it for me?
  • If after having read this you’re still not sure whether PYS is right for you, why not call and arrange to meet with our Triage Worker to find out more about how PYS might be able to help you? Our Triage Worker will be more than happy to arrange a time for you to come in to meet with them. You can e-mail us at [email protected] or you can phone 705-743-1681 to speak with the receptionist.
  • What if I’m in crisis?
  • PYS’ Crisis Response Service is able to respond to calls within 24-72 hours, Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm, except on Statutory Holidays.
  • If you require immediate assistance and PYS is not open then alternately you can speak to a Crisis Counsellor over the phone by calling 310-COPE at 1-855-310-2673 (COPE)
  • In an emergency, visit Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s emergency room or call 911
  • Hours of Operation
  • From September to June :
  • 9am to 7pm – Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
  • 9am to 5pmm – Thursdays and Fridays
  • During July and August:
  • 9am to 5pm – Monday to Friday.
  • What about Privacy and Confidentiality?
  • Peterborough Youth Services is committed to protecting your privacy during the collection, use, security and sharing of personal health information related to our clients and their families. All information is stored in a manner that protects its security, and appropriate measures are also taken in the destruction of personal information. We are committed to meeting the privacy standards established by relevant legislation including the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), the Youth Criminal Justice Act and Child, Youth and Family Services Act.
  • For more information on PYS’ practices, including how to make a complaint about privacy, you can view a complete copy of PYS’ Privacy Policy at the link below:
  • Privacy Policy
  • Peterborough Youth Services Policy and Procedures
  • Complaint Information
  • Written complaints may be sent to Peterborough Youth Service at 459 Reid Street, Peterborough ON K9H 4G7, by e-mail at [email protected]  or by fax at 705-743-1994 .
  • Verbal complaints may be made by phone (705) 743 1681 or in-person to any of PYS’ Staff at 459 Reid Street.
  • Complaints may be made to The Ontario Ombudsman 483 Bay Street, 10th floor Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C9 Phone: 1-800-263-1830 Fax: (416) 586-3485 TTY: (866) 411-4211 Email: [email protected]