Our psychotherapy/counselling services are generally focused on providing child-friendly Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). With this approach, the therapist focuses on helping the child to learn skills and strategies to best manage whatever issue they are facing. With child-friendly CBT, children often complete workbook exercises to help reinforce their skills.  

With very young children, it is common for our therapist to use cognitive-behavioural focused therapeutic play. This approach involves children playing with toys, drawing, playing games, etc. in conjunction with the therapist. While playing, the therapist helps to guide the process by teaching important skills and strategies to help children better manage various mental health issues.  

Whether the process involves, child-friendly CBT or cognitive behavioural focused Therapeutic Play, parental involvement is crucial. Parents are typically present for the first session to provide important background information and help establish a sense of comfort for their child with the therapist. As treatment progresses, parents are generally involved for the first 5-10 minutes of a session to provide an update on how their child has been doing in-between sessions (including how well they are utilizing the new skills they are learning). During the final 5-10 minutes of the session, parents are invited to return to discuss what happened during the session and to review skills and strategies their child learned. Parents fulfill a very important role in the therapeutic process by helping their child practice and use the skills they have learned in-between sessions.