How I Help
Ways we can work together.
Play Therapy
Online Counselling
CBT
Sandplay
EMDR
Parent-Child Therapy
What is Play Therapy?
A common wondering from caregivers is how true therapy or healing can take place if we are simply playing each session. Play therapy goes beyond ordinary play – it is an evidence-based, systematic therapy approach where a trained therapist can formulate assessments, track play themes, and are invited into a child’s view of themselves and their place in the world.
Sessions can look different depending on the therapist and the child. With younger children I call our time together “special play time.” This time can be done one-on-one with the therapist and can also include the parent. Even the simple act of playing with your child strengthens your bond and your child’s feeling of safety and security in the relationship as they experience your unconditional delight and love for them.
The Association of Play Therapy has two great videos on Play Therapy:
Tele-Play Therapy and Online Counselling
One of the positive outcomes of the “age of Covid" was learning how to effectively provide play therapy services virtually. Many children did very well online. Not only are they used to the idea of video calls in general, but the online sessions allowed for an instant feeling of safety meeting with someone new in the familiarity of their own home which is full of all of their favourite things (and humans!). Using a mixture of the items you have available in your home as well as various games and programs online, your child can be engaged and have fun in a virtual setting!
Some families also enjoy the option of doing a mix of in person and online sessions as this can increase accessibility to counselling services. For example, sessions can still continue when a family member is sick and they cannot leave the home. Or parents can participate in online intake and parent sessions when they don’t have child care available. And some simply prefer to attend from the comfort of their home (and if you’re like me - in the comfort of your sweats and slippers!).
With online therapy, travel, distance and time barriers are no more! Excited about my services but don’t live locally? You and your child can still access my services online. As a Canadian Certified Counsellor I can provide services across Canada.
Want to learn more about tele-play therapy or online counselling? Book a free consultation and we can discuss how these services might be a fit for you and your family!
Sandplay
While it does have the word “play” in it, sandplay is a modality that can be helpful for children, teens and adults. Individuals are invited to choose from a large selection of miniature toys available to them and to create worlds in a sand tray. These “worlds” reflect aspects of the individual’s life and the therapist acts as an observer and guide as the individual begins to learn more about what the tray reflects about their inner world. And by being able to make changes to their sandtray, this can leave them feeling empowered to make changes in their real world. Children and youth are always drawn immediately to the sandtray in my office, especially for those who are sensory-seeking!
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has been well-researched and is proven to be an effective treatment for trauma. Traumatic or upsetting experiences affect each child and individual differently. When these experiences aren’t processed properly, certain things such as sights, sounds, words, or smells can bring up these upsetting memories and it can feel like it is happening all over again. This can be quite distressing and EMDR’s aim, therefore, is to help process these difficult memories, thoughts and feelings so that your child can engage in life like they used to.
As a Certified Play Therapist, I am able to incorporate EMDR right into your child’s play. This can allow for a safe distance for them to work through and process their upsetting experience(s).
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT has been heavily researched as an effective therapy for helping improve symptoms of both anxiety and depression. In my program I focus on teaching children and youth how our thoughts, feelings and behaviour are all connected. We spend time figuring out your child’s patterns of thinking and help them to both notice and change their thinking from “unhelpful thoughts” to more “helpful thoughts.” CBT can teach your child problem-solving skills and new ways of thinking and coping with challenging situations. It can also increase your child’s self-control and help them to view themselves in a more positive way.
While adults and older youth may be able to learn CBT skills through the more traditional “talk therapy” approach, at Courageous Counselling I am able to teach this to younger children right in their play! These skills can be taught, modeled and practiced through the use of specific toys, puppets, artwork and more.
Parent-Child Relationships
A lot of my work with parents and children is based off of principles from Circle of Security Parenting, DDP and Theraplay.
Circle of Security Parenting is a parenting group that focuses on strengthening and supporting secure parent-child relationships. I will be offering this as a parenting group but also use a lot of the information in individual parent support sessions as it can be helpful to learn a new way of looking at your child’s behaviour and discovering what they really need from you moment to moment.
Circle of Security Parenting
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)
DDP is an approach where the therapist prepares the parent to have joint parent-child sessions that focus on deepening our understanding of your child’s experience. This approach is especially helpful for children who may have experienced hurt or neglect in family relationships in their early years. The goal is to help children feel safe and secure in their current family relationships.
The goal of Theraplay is to build and strengthen a secure attachment between a parent and child. Through fun and engaging games, developmentally challenging activities and nurturing interactions, parents can help their child with managing their emotions and behaviours while communicating love, playfulness and safety to their child. As a result your child will feel more secure and connected in your parent-child relationship.
Theraplay
Questions?
Zoom over to my FAQ page!
Let’s Meet!
Asking for support is always the hardest step, so let me make it a bit easier. The first meeting is always a free 15 minute consultation. We can chat and get to know each other and discuss how I can best support you and your child. You can book this consultation by clicking on the button below, calling me directly, or sending me an email.