Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Burlington, ON.

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 children is one of the most rewarding areas of my career. Parents often come to me asking me to help their children find their way in life, get along better with peers, focus/pay attention better, do better in school, and ensure their future success. There are a number of interventions that can help your child succeed; starting from a comprehensive psychoeducational assessment to brain development/training to life coaching. Utilizing the Bayridge Method we can make the aspirations you have for your children a reality!

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.

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.

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

Children can often exhibit externalizing or internalizing behaviors when they are unable to express themselves or process/cope with their feelings and emotions. Therapy can be a safe space for children to make sense of their feelings through creative and engaging means. Depending on age, working with young children can entail working with parents on how to best support their child in what they are going through and to give parents a space to reflect on the kind of parent they want to be while expressing concerns or personal challenges they may be experiencing. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ensure we are a good fit.

A variety of approaches can be tailored to young children, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. This approach involves individual counselling as well as teaching young children skills such as managing and coping with emotions, interpersonal skills (dealing with others), tolerating emotional distress and managing attention.

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