Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Welland, ON.

Children and teens are growing up in a fast-changing world. Life can be overwhelming. How can counselling help? Younger children express themselves best through play. Both parents and therapists may learn a great deal by watching children play or from their art work. We ask questions to explore the child’s feelings and support the child’s own problem-solving. Older children may like workbooks, exercises. Family Therapy is yet another approach. With help from the therapist, all family members can express themselves and hear each other in ways that usually do not happen in today’s busy households. Family Therapy works better if the children are old enough to stay focused for an hour.

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

Raising children can bring great joy, however parent-child relationships can be extremely challenging at times. It is important to create and model healthy boundaries for our children. It is also important to promote our children’s emotional health. In therapy I work with you and your child or children to find positive ways to address difficulties and develop healthy relationships.

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.

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

Growing up can be challenging and sometimes leave youth feeling confused, frustrated, or misunderstood. I strive to make them feel accepted for who they are and feel heard and validated. Promoting a safe and judgment free environment is a priority and necessary for youth to be able to let their guard down and communicate openly. Together we look at areas of life that are challenging for them and identify the factors that are contributing to the difficulties they are experiencing. We then work on managing those areas more effectively by developing positive coping strategies and emotions management skills. I have a passion working with youth and encourage you to book a free consultation.

3 Chords therapists work with young children to learn how to regulate and manage big emotions. The techniques we use with children help to engage them through virtual means and learn aspects about themselves. We take a strength-based approach to empower the children to make changes and see the positives within themselves which helps to build their self-esteem.