Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in West Point Grey, BC.

I have over twenty years of experience in working with children. I understand that children process information at different rates and often in different ways than adults. My Counselling approach is gentle, warm and age and stage appropriate. I help young children and elementary-aged children to manage their emotions, build friendships, organize their school life, improve their academics, cope with anxiety, understand death, grief and loss, as well as deal with family dynamics e.g., separation/ divorce. I use play, art, narrative and cognitive behavioural therapy as some of my therapeutic tools. I really enjoy working with my young clients and seeing how happy they become!

Therapy and counselling for young children is a unique and delicate process. I have experience and expertise in working with young children in a safe, relaxed and healing way. I believe that children are highly resilient and intuitive and therapy can be very effective and rewarding for them. As an adjunct to my approach, I offer intensive support to parents in gaining understanding and insight into their child's behaviors, even if they are highly difficult to manage. I also welcome any and all families with children who have mental health diagnoses as I have expertise in that area as well. Contact me for a free consultation to see if I am the right fit for you and your child.

Is your child bullied or isolated from others? Is your child reluctant to go to school, has trouble making friends, or seems withdrawn and lonely? Many children have trouble with self confidence, anxiety or social skills. Improving self esteem, emotional regulation, and social skills deficits in the younger years reduces difficulties later. We all want the best for our children, and as a parent myself I know how it can hurt to watch your child suffer and not know how to help. Find out how your child can be helped by in-person counselling, online coaching, or online educational programs.

I love working with children, we have fun with toys, colouring, art work, and games to help the child. This is called play therapy and it is different than any other kind of therapy. Children usually act out their emotions rather than talk about them as adults do. I usually meet with the parent(s) at the first appointment and then either later at that appointment or at the next appointment, I meet with the child and the parent and eventually work into play therapy. Often the child's play mirrors the anxiety or stress that the child is dealing with.Play therapy helps children get better, feel more secure and confident to be able to grow up happy and healthy.

As a Certified Play Therapy Supervisor, I have extensive training working with children and teens. I use play therapy and a combination of other modalities that may fit the child's/teens needs. I use these methods to help children process difficult situations and find new healthy ways of coping. We also work with parents as we know how important their roles are on-going. We help them help their children.

I work with youth ages 13 and above to address their mental health concerns. I work with youth to help them work through trauma from adverse childhood experiences, family conflict, peer rejection, and other traumatic events that may occur due to life transitions, grief, and traumatic experiences. I help individuals cope with anxiety, depression, PTSD, BPD, grief, concurrent disorders, and self-esteem issues.

I treat children (11 & up) and adolescents who present with ADHD. We would discuss strategies that work to provide support for your child to succeed in school, socially, and improve their overall daily function. By accomplishing these goals, it would improve their self esteem and give them confidence in themselves to be successful. Additionally, we would use the creativity that comes with the ADHD brain to its full potential. Symptoms often include: struggle with time management, outbursts, talking excessively, being impulsive, forgetful, fidgeting, and many others. Using behaviour therapy techniques, such as CBT, we would jointly create a plan that is feasible, and address many symptoms

Counselling children and adolescents requires an understanding of the physical, emotional and cognitive stage of development through the life span. It is critical for a counsellor to address the issues of children on all levels of development. Young children, for example, are less verbal and cognitively developed than teenagers, and therefore, may benefit from play therapy and/or expression of thoughts and feelings through more concrete modalities such as art, music or dance therapies. When working with younger children, parents are typically a part of the counselling process. Adolescents, on the other hand, typically benefit from psycho-education and role play. Confidentiality is key.

Is your teen struggling with anxiety, substance use, or relationships with their peers? Do you see them withdrawing, acting out, or losing interest in things they once loved? Are you feeling helpless, worried, or overwhelmed as a parent, unsure of how to support them? I understand how heartbreaking it is to watch your child suffer and feel like you can't reach them. As a clinical counsellor, I specialize in helping teens navigate these challenges. Together, we can improve their emotional well-being, boost their self-esteem, and strengthen family connections. Let's work towards a happier, healthier future for your teen. Book your free 15-minute consultation now. *I see clients ages 15 and up*

My Approach to Counselling Children may include but is not limited to: * Acquiring general information * Talk therapy * Art Therapy * Behavioural Therapy * Play therapy * Relaxation techniques * Solution focused * Cognitive Behavioural Therapy * Attachment-based psychotherapy If you do not see a specific approach that you are looking for Please feel free to call and ask.

Children, like adults, can be affected by anxiety, stress, pressure and self-esteem issues. It can be very challenging for children to balance a busy lifestyle of sports, school, friends, and personal growth. It can also be very challenging for parents to watch and support their child as they struggle. We use child play therapy as a great tool to support young children in expressing their inner thoughts and feelings, while also creating tools and strategies for how they can cope with things better. We will also work with the parents, as needed to better understand their child and learn tools on how to support them.

Children are so precious to me, and because I have two of my own...I know how precious they are to you too. I work together with my specially trained (psychiatric dog) named Target, when I work with children. Not only does Target help a child to feel at ease, but there is something incredibly special that happens when a child is cuddled up to a dog with whom he feels both warmth and softness. It doesn't hurt either that 'Target' is a great intensive for children wanting to return. (Which is often a concern) Also my relaxed style, experience with working as a Youth Leader, and Directing Children's productions, gives me an edge on making sessions fun, hip and creative.

In my practice, I work with preschoolers, school-age children, teens, and young adults. I conduct psychoeducational and neuropsychological assessments for learning disabilities, giftedness, ADD and ADHD, organization problems, memory difficulties, developmental delays, FASD, head injuries, and other challenges. I also provide Cogmed training for attention and working memory difficulties. Cogmed can help children with ADD, ADHD, learning disabilities, and executive functioning problems. Cogmed can help your child to improve their short-term memory, stay on task, and concentrate in school. If you’re concerned about your child’s learning, I look forward to hearing from you.