Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Fort Langley, BC.

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*

Much of my experience early on as a psychotherapist was with teens (12-18). I found the most helpful tool was creating a safe and judgement free environment where they were able to explore themselves, their inner thoughts, and their values, free of pressures from the outside world. Once establishing a safe relationship, we were able to identify emotions, what they mean, and how to express them in a healthy way. I often bring parents into the counselling room to be a part of the process too. By offering compassion for their own struggles, and a bit of knowledge on the developing brain, we can work together as a team to help everyone reach their full potential.

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.

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.

When working with young children, I do so as a secure attachment specialist. I typically work not just with the child(ren) but the family as an entire system of support and healing. My goal is to support the parent(s) of the child in learning secure attachment practices until the child begins to seek them out for support and guidance. When appropriate I co-counsel with my colleague Jamie Sabourin who also specializes in working with teens and children.

I provide Comfortable play and art therapy sessions for children, that allows them to interact with their emotions without becoming overwhelmed. When given the proper setting Children have the innate ability to process their past traumas, hurts, or relationship transitions and move towards positive growth and academic potential. Child parent relationships can become strained during a separation; I work to help parents connect with their child and identifying areas of support.

There are so many different opinions about the best way to parent! Many of these parenting trends come and go so quickly and can leave you feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. We want our family to be a happy unit where our kids will become healthy functioning adults someday - without the daily fight. I use the attachment approach ~ getting your kids on your team so they will want to interact and contribute to the family. No matter how desperate your situation may seem, I am confident that there are inherent strengths that each of you have to offer. I will help you find and build on what is working in your family and ,offer new ideas that will continue to add to your current family successes

I have worked with young children for the majority of my career, specifically in a school setting. My primary goal in working with young children is establishing a safe, caring, trusting and fun environment in which children are able to comfortably be able to clearly articulate their emotions and feelings. Helping young children become aware of their behaviors, feelings and emotions are often key in guiding them further, and implement coping mechanisms to help them manage their presenting concern.

My approach to counselling children is rooted working with the parents. Incorporating principles of attachment theory, I recognize the significance of secure emotional bonds in a child's development. I aim to address any attachment-related concerns with parents directly which will support the child in developing healthy connections. I tailor interventions with the parents to meet the unique needs of each child. Through exploration of emotions, coping strategies, and building resilience, children benefit from a supportive environment that facilitates their emotional growth and overall well-being.

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 offer children a safe place to express their feelings and provide guidance to support them in managing experiences that they are finding overwhelming. I focus on developing a healthy and trusting connection first and foremost and use a strength based lens in which children can feel empowered to grow. Children often need validation from a safe adult so being able to connect and listen non-judgementally is of crucial importance to me in this work.

In counseling children, I create a safe, supportive, and age-appropriate environment where they feel comfortable expressing themselves through talk, play, or creative activities. I use a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques and child-centered approaches to help them understand and manage emotions, build problem-solving skills, and challenge unhelpful thoughts. Children benefit by developing healthier coping strategies, greater self-confidence, and stronger emotional awareness, which supports resilience, positive behavior, and improved relationships at home, school, and with peers.