Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in East York, ON.

Adolescents face unique challenges as they grow and develop. I provide a supportive space to address issues such as behavioural problems, anxiety, and social struggles. Through a combination of therapeutic techniques and engaging with both the child and their family, we work together to build resilience and coping skills that support their emotional and psychological growth. Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to learn how we can support your child or adolescent in navigating their challenges.

While I do not work with youth under the age of 18, 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 doing therapy with young children, my primary goal is to first make them feel safe and comfortable. I use Play Therapy and Emotion Focused techniques to address concerns and help them regulate their emotions to be able to navigate significant changes in their lives. I find that it is helpful to collaborate with parents for a smoother transition of therapy tools into their lives at home. These younger years can greatly impact their adulthood, which makes therapy a useful tool in building long-term resilience. Call today to see if your child’s needs and my expertise are a good fit.

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.

Working with young children requires a gentle, playful, and creative approach that meets them at their developmental level. In counselling, I create a safe and engaging environment where children can express themselves through play, art, and other age-appropriate activities. These methods help them explore feelings, build coping skills, and develop healthy ways to communicate. I work closely with parents and caregivers to understand the child’s needs and provide consistent support at home. Whether addressing anxiety, behavioural challenges, social skills, or the effects of life changes, my goal is to help children feel understood and strengthen their emotional resilience.

Therapy with young children can be very critical to your child’s future development and emotional health. I provide some structure geared toward the issue at hand but the child also has a chance to explore their feelings in creative ways. Situations many young children come to therapy for include difficulty regulating emotions, parental separation or divorce, grief, withdrawal, trauma, amongst others. No matter what your child is going through, therapy can get them over the hurdle by allowing them to speak out in different ways and discovering coping strategies to get them through.

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.

Growing up is a unique phase of life, filled with new experiences, challenges, and developmental changes. Navigating this period can feel overwhelming and intense. Our work together will involve exploring these aspects of yourself and processing the emotions that arise along the way. Many young people can struggle to express their feelings and may not feel comfortable sharing with family so speaking with a therapist can feel reassuring, as it offers a safe, compassionate environment where you can express your emotions freely, without judgment or expectations. Book a free 15-minute consultation with me to see if I’m the right fit for you.

Children experience big emotions, even when they don’t have the words to express them. Our child therapists use play, creativity, and connection to help children process difficult feelings, build confidence, and feel safe in their world. Whether your child is dealing with anxiety, tantrums, grief, or school challenges, we work closely with caregivers to ensure that your child feels supported at home and in therapy. Every session is designed to help your child feel seen, heard, and understood.

Children learn by trial, error and parental guidance, and when faced with new situations or expectations, emotions will surface as a normal reaction. Young children have limited communication skills, and often a temper tantrum is the only means to communicate that they need help. However, when severe emotional symptoms develop into an unhealthy pattern, parents should seek professional help. As an Expressive Arts therapist, I enter the child's world of emotions and thinking through play, art and music. Children love to play. It is their language of communication. Let me offer you my help to explore goals, solutions, coping skills and support for your child. 905-842-3626