Niagara Children’s Therapy
Together we can encourage your kids to thrive. Younger children express themselves best through play. As a professional child therapist I can learn a great deal by watching or joining in children’s play or by asking about their art or written work. In collaboration with you as parents we can comment or question supportively to explore your child’s feelings and to support your child’s own problem-solving. This is how my counselling can help you and your children .
As a Niagara children’s therapist I have some toys and art supplies that I give the children. Or we may write stories that cast a new light on the child’s experiences. I prefer your participation as a parent.
Family Therapy involves all members. I can help everyone to express themselves and to hear each other, something that may not happen in today’s busy households. Sometimes one child may be able to shed light on another child’s behaviors. I can support both the kids and parents in expressing their feelings in new ways.
This approach works best with youth who are mature enough to participate in an hour or more of discussion, such as middle-school children, or teens. Adult offspring also benefit from family therapy. I recommend an hour-and-a-half appointment for families.
Adolescents may prefer their own private counselling. Their concerns and feelings increasingly relate to their body changes and to their peer group. They may love their parents, but be uncomfortable discussing certain things with the older folks. Often they can use written information such as books or workbooks to help them develop coping skills. Do not ask them, or me, for a report of the session unless all agree in advance.
Adolescents may also resist counselling entirely because of their desire for privacy and control. Listen to your teen’s preferences. Come to therapy as a family if he/she resists coming alone.
- Don’t Let Your Emotions Run Your Life, and Relationship Skills 101, by Sheri Van Dijk
- How to Talk so Kids Will Listen . . . , by Faber & Mazlish (teens enjoy this)
- Mindfulness Skills for Kids & Teens: a Workbook . . . , by Debra Burdick
- The Anxiety Workbook for Teens: Activities to Help You Deal with Anxiety and Worry (An Instant Help Book for Teens), by Lisa M. Schab
- The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens: CBT and ACT Skills to Help You Build Social Confidence, by Jennifer Shannon (Author), Christine Padesky (Foreword), Doug Shannon (Illustrator)
- What to Do When You Dread Your Bed: A Child’s Guide to Overcoming Problems with Sleep, by Dawn Huebner
- Contact Niagara, the regional resource to access mental health for children and teens, contactniagara.org/
- Kids’ Help Line, 1-800-668-6868
- McMaster U. Medical Centre Anxiety Disorders Clinic, macanxiety.com/
- Niagara Health Services, Child and Adolescent Outpatient, short term support for ages 10 to 19
- Pathstone Mental Health Crisis Service, 1-800-263-4944, pathstonementalhealth.ca/services