Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Lake Cowichan, BC.

Children are unique and precious. At Great Life Counselling, I provide a safe environment for children to express themselves using a wide range of methods, some of which include; play, art role playing and writing. I offer a kind and gentle approach and aim to offer each child an opportunity to grow and heal at their own pace. Each child is gifted and I will help your child to gain self confidence, recognize their own talents and skills; while offering them support to problem solve and overcome challenges.

As a family man, I'm seriously passionate about the importance of family and hope to support families in my private practice struggling with hopelessness, break downs in communication and lack of boundaries and clear expectations in the home. If you're looking for help improving the environment in your home, please reach out for a free consultation.

When working with Children and Teens I like to use an activity-based approach. This means we may use play, art or games to facilitate conversations and learn new skills. For example, if a child likes to create imaginary characters, we may use play to create new characters and have them face the challenges that the child is facing. We will then introduce tools to help the characters cope with those challenges.

Registered Clinical Counsellors, interns, and Child and Youth Care Counsellors provide one to one counselling for children with a focus on reducing anxiety, improving mood, enhancing social skills. Using directive and non-directive methods, children can express their innermost thoughts and feelings through a language that feels most natural to them: play. Expressive play therapy and art therapy can be useful tools for children with limited verbal abilities. Counselling can also be focused on regulating big emotions through mindfulness techniques, emotion identification, and coping skills. We enhance the service with parent participation options, including conjoint sessions.

As a registered play therapy supervisor I have advanced training and clinical experience in using developmentally appropriate tools and strategies for addressing children's emotional difficulties. When children struggle with their emotions, relationships and life events, play and creative interventions act as the language for children to process in ways that traditional, adult-oriented talk therapies simply cannot. Children look forward to their counselling and experience psychotherapy as a positive in their lives. These play-based interventions, along with parenting supports transferred from the play therapy room to home, ensure families experience the long term changes they need.

Critically important with youth is to build rapport through an interest shared by them and often this is better achieved through conversation. I work with kids who are verbal and who are open to counselling, usually youth or teens. Once rapport and trust are established it becomes possible for the child to share information very sensitive to them, and this openness allows problems such as depression, anxiety, ADHD to be understood and addressed.

Children are resilient. They have an amazing way of adapting to change in the world around them. When a child has lost their ability to adapt or is no longer able to cope and manage their world, a multitude of behaviors can manifest. This can be scary and frustrating for the parent or caregiver and can be equally difficult for the child. We understand and appreciate the struggles that children face today and how challenging parenting can be. We will work together to uncover the underlying issues and recreate harmony for both the child and/or parent. In a warm and understanding environment we will use a variety of techniques, customized to your child'd individual needs.

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*

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.