Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Simcoe, ON.

I have been working with, and helping children for over 20 yrs. At Growth Counselling Services your child will be meeting with an experienced, fun, and compassionate therapist that utilizes a variety of child-centered approaches to assist him/her with their presenting challenges, while considering what works best for them on an individual basis. Whether your child is experiencing difficulties such as - school, bullying, behaviour, anxiety, or even trauma, I have confidence that through our work together and a parental commitment to the process, he/she will be left with a meaningful experience that produces positive and lasting change. If your child needs help, let's take the journey together

Specifically bullying or behaviors caused by family, school related issues. I have counselled many young children and believe that they need to have a voice. Many children don't have a voice and many challenges come from this. Children often react in unhealthy ways because they aren't being heard. I offer a safe place for children to learn to express their emotions.

Psychotherapists offer valuable support to parents with young children, helping navigate the challenges of family life. They provide a safe space to discuss parenting concerns, offer guidance on effective strategies, and assist in managing stress. Psychotherapists also address specific issues like postpartum depression, changing relationship dynamics, and work-life balance, fostering emotional well-being and stronger family bonds.

There are a wide range of issues that affect children - they are vulnerable to many kinds of maltreatment and increasing stressors in our culture. However children often find it difficult to express their feelings and fears, which means that problems can be left undetected and unresolved. It is helpful then, to seek professional help if a child seems unhappy or distressed. With children, the construction of a trusting relationship between counsellor and client is especially important. Sometimes the counsellor will use puppets or sandboxes or play therapy to allow the child to tell their own story. In a safe trusting environment, the child can find their way towards emotional health.

My approach when working with children under 12 years old is to ensure that they are provided with a positive and safe experience of therapy. I prefer to tailor therapy to their developmental stage by creating a fun environment that may involve play, art, and activities during sessions. Discussions about their interests, skills, and special talents and abilities are at the forefront of our therapeutic conversations to help build confidence and feelings of positivity. My background in relational therapy may invite parents or siblings into sessions as well. Please contact me for a free consultation if you are interested in determining if I would be a good fit for your child/children.

I work with youth ages 10+, teenagers and adolescents in navigating all the complexities of being a young person in today's society. Together, we can come up with a plan on how to navigate topics of social media, school stress, procrastination, perfectionism, body image challenges, presentation anxiety, ADHD, identity exploration, existential thoughts, self-harm and suicidal ideation. We will do so by engaging in expressive arts-based therapies like colouring, going outside for ecotherapy walks, listening to music, playing games, or just hanging out together.

With my many years in education I am able and skilled at working with and relating to children and adolescents. Childhood should be a time for healthy growth and development. For many children and teens, it is a time of great emotional stress. Children react to stress in many ways including withdrawal and acting out behaviors at home and school. I am here to help children and families learn the life skills necessary to be successful and happy. Family counseling may help to promote better relationships and understanding within your family. There is no shame in needing support. Family counseling during a divorce, or a child experiencing trauma can help all of you find some peace.

Children are often impacted by family dynamics and for that reason, at Psychotherapy Collective our approach to working with children aged 6-11 is a family based approach. While I do not work with children under the age of 12, we have many therapists on our team who work with children aged 6-11. I encourage you to view our approach to child and family therapy (https://www.psychotherapycollective.ca/services/child-and-family-therapy) and schedule a consultation with one of our family therapists to see if they are the proper fit for your journey.

I specialize in working with children ages 4 and up. My goal is to create a warm, inviting environment where children need the opportunity to express themselves, but they also need to be able to do it in the way that comes most naturally to them: play. I believe it's important that kids can have a place where they can have fun and develop their natural potential. This may mean learning to express emotions, improving behaviour or learning coping skills

There are a wide range of issues that affect children - they are vulnerable to many kinds of maltreatment and increasing stressors in our culture. However children often find it difficult to express their feelings and fears, which means that problems can be left undetected and unresolved. It is helpful then, to seek professional help if a child seems unhappy or distressed. With children, the construction of a trusting relationship between counsellor and client is especially important. Sometimes the counsellor will use puppets or sandboxes or play therapy to allow the child to tell their own story. In a safe trusting environment, the child can find their way towards emotional health.

Children can be impacted by transitions and traumas in their lives. When they don’t know how to cope, the stress can build up. I provide safe and compassionate counselling where the child can talk about their feelings without the fear of being judged, better understand why they feel this way and learn strategies to move forward. I help children express their feelings and emotions through the lenses of play and art therapy combined with cognitive behavioural therapy for children. examples of common problems that can be addressed in my therapy: -bullying -loss/grief separation/divorce -depression, anxiety and panic -attachment disorder -behavioural challenges -learning difficulties

While I do not work with youth under the age of 16, our clinic has many child and family therapists who are availability to schedule a free consultation. Since children are often impacted by family dynamics, we often find the most effective way to work with children, ages 6-11, is within the context of family therapy. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with one of our child and family therapists by visiting https://www.psychotherapycollective.ca/services/child-and-family-therapy

When children are struggling with fears, worries, sadness, issues created by divorce, bullying, or even learning challenges, the greatest help we can offer is to teach them skills which will build their core sense of self and ability to cope. The greatest gift we can give is to help children build resilience. Through creative activities and learning opportunities Thrive develops emotional resilience in kids and teens. Dr. Ellen works with children in the following areas: self-esteem anxieties worries sadness bullying combativeness divorce grief

Therapeutic art making works really well with young children as they often have difficulty expressing their feelings with words. I use this technique in counselling young children along with interview style counselling, to provide a non-threatening way to communicate with young children about their feelings and experiences. Children are far more expressive in their artwork, and tend to communicate their inner worlds through their drawings. I tap into their experiences using their art and work with parents to resolve issues the child may be dealing with. Often I have parents create art with their child to help them gain insight into their child’s experiences.