counselling for children

counselling for children

The Child Psychologists and Counsellors at River’s Edge know that what parents most want for their kids is to be happy and healthy. They work closely with parents to understand what is developmentally normal for kids, identify areas of concern and find solutions that help kids thrive.

Our therapists use play therapy (including sand tray) and other therapies that help them connect with kids and develop trusting relationships, in a peaceful and caring environment. They work from a family-centered perspective, understanding that for kids to do well, parents and caregivers also need support and the right tools to meet their needs.

We also provide a full suite of child assessments and tests including specialized reading assessments.

Child Counselling can Help Kids:

  • Strengthen resiliency and coping through tough times

  • Learn how to regulate emotions (happy, mad, sad, worried, etc.)

  • Heal from trauma

  • Improve self-esteem

  • Develop better relationships with peers and siblings

  • Work through experiences of grief and loss

Child Counselling can Help Parents:

  • Understand the emotional needs of a child who is struggling

  • More effectively deal with behavior challenges

  • Support children facing transition or loss

  • Advocate for their child’s best interest at school

  • Improve sibling relationships

  • Introduce and support new coping strategies

Signs that Your Child May Need Help

  • Delay in developmental milestones

  • Abnormal amount of anger, temper tantrums, acting out, bed-wetting or changes in eating habits

  • Changes in academic or athletic performance

  • Child appears sad more than normal or has large swings in mood

  • Child isn’t social, or sees a change in social behavior

  • Changes in activities they once loved

  • Aggressive behavior

  • Changes in sleep patterns

  • Complains of: headache, stomachache, or not feeling well despite being healthy

  • Major changes to family life – i.e., divorce, re-marriage or death

  • Sexual, physical, or emotional abuse

_DSC3018_web.jpg

what is play therapy?

Children and adults experience the world and express themselves in very different ways. An adult’s natural form of expression is language, while children’s natural form of expression is play. Play is important to the development of children in many ways, including facilitating logical memory, abstract thinking, emotional regulation, mastery of language, and physical and motor development. 

Play therapy helps children to: 

•    explore emotions
•    identify and work through challenging experiences
•    organize thoughts
•    nurture mastery and resilience
•    improve relational abilities
•    make sense of self, other and the world, through the use of metaphor and symbol

Play therapy can help children work through many issues, including: 

•    difficult emotions, such as anger, worry and anxiety
•    grief and loss
•    divorce and separation
•    blended family adjustment
•    bullying
•    emotional regulation
•    problems relating to peers or siblings
•    trauma
•    self-identity and self-esteem

Play therapists are trained to work with children from a developmental perspective to identify themes in the children’s play, and then to creatively work with different interventions (puppets, sand, clay, games, books, art) to help the child work towards resolution and healing. 

At River's edge Counselling Centre, our child therapists understand the unique ways in which children process experiences and information, and how play can be used to help children to heal and grow. 

Our playroom is fully equipped with a sandtray, art materials, therapeutic toys and board games. Our approach is to work with children from a holistic perspective in a safe, respectful environment. Caregivers are always included in the process and are considered essential to a child’s therapeutic success. When required, other helpers (doctors, teachers) may be included in the therapeutic process. Our experience has shown that therapy is most successful on a long term basis when parents and guardians are actively involved in the process. 

To start counselling now:

resources for counselling for children

meet our child counsellors

[ Open All | Close All ]

Alissa Caskey
In my therapeutic work with children, I integrate principles of attachment theory with techniques designed to enhance emotional regulation. ...read more
...Recognizing the importance of secure attachments, I create a nurturing and accepting space that allows children to express themselves and learn to manage their emotions through play and interaction. This approach not only supports their immediate well-being but also lays the groundwork for healthy emotional development. Alissa's Full Bio

Amy Wolgemuth
Beneath every behaviour there is a feeling and beneath each feeling there is a need. When we meet that need rather than focusing on the behaviour, we begin to deal with the cause, not the symptoms.” - Ashleigh Warner. This is my philosophy in my work with children ages 3-12...read more
...Through my play-based, child-led approach I support children to recognize and express their emotions, develop positive coping skills, build self-confidence, nurture their curiosity and creativity, and gain resilience. Whether your child is experiencing school challenges, difficulties regulating emotions, having a hard time relating to siblings or peers, or navigating grief and loss, I provide a therapeutic environment that will hold space for all of their emotions. I use a variety of play-based techniques, interactive and creative tools, and cognitive-behavioral strategies to help your child process their experience in a healthy, developmentally appropriate way. Working with children and families has always been a passion of mine. My professional background includes working with hospitalized children and providing support to families of children with cancer. These professional experiences have helped me understand how adverse early childhood experiences can lead to challenges later in life if children are not supported with tools, resources, and a safe environment to process their experience.Amy's Full Bio

Brittany Imperadeiro
Children have this wonderful curiosity of the world and a resilience like no other. Pulling from my experiences of early childhood development and working as a behavior therapist within schools and preschools, I have come to appreciate the unique approach to working with children. ..read more
...Building on the foundations of a therapeutic relationship, I approach my work with kids through playfulness, curiosity, and providing developmentally appropriate information in a manner that supports your child’s own unique qualities and needs. Additionally, I feel it is important to work in collaboration with caregivers and parents in order to best support your child and their progress as a lot of growth and change happens outside of the therapy room and connection is a huge foundation for children.Brittany's Full Bio

Chad Bodnar
“The greatest gift a parent has to give a child - is emotionally attuned attention and timely responsiveness.” – Dr. Sue Johnson
As a trauma-focused psychologist with a specialization in working with children, my mission is to establish a safe and engaging space for young ones to express themselves, employing play therapy and developmentally appropriate techniques. ...read more
In our sessions, I seamlessly integrate play therapy, recognizing the significance of play as a natural medium for children to communicate and process their emotions. Through carefully selected activities, I tailor interventions to match the unique developmental needs of each child. Emotionally focused therapy forms a cornerstone of my practice, allowing me to delve into the emotional landscape of children, fostering a secure and trusting therapeutic relationship. This approach enables us to navigate through their experiences, helping them build resilience and emotional intelligence. Acknowledging the vital role of parents, I actively engage in building strong parental relationships. I provide parental support through psychoeducation and guidance, equipping parents with tools to understand and respond to their child's needs effectively. Our collaborative journey is grounded in a commitment to building a supportive environment both within and outside the therapy room. I strive to create a bridge between the child's therapeutic experience and their home life, promoting continuity in their emotional development. “Play is the work of the child” – Maria Montessori Chad's Full Bio

Christine Crocker
As a Registered Psychologist trained in Marriage and Family Therapy, I believe that relationships are central to the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities... read more
Christine Crocker is a Registered Psychologist who has been providing services to families, couples and individuals since 2007, both in private practice and for agencies. Christine has a Masters in Science in Marital and Family Therapy through Loma Linda University and a Bachelor of Science Specialization awarded from the University of Alberta. Christine holds membership in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologists (Reg# 3311) and the Psychologist Association of Alberta. Christine's Full Bio

Cynthia Smith
Play is a child's medium through which they best communicate, and through which they can express their inner thoughts and feelings. This expression is important to their healing and growth. As such, my work with children uses play-based therapy approaches. I have worked with children and their families for almost 20 years... read more
I believe that my role in working with children and their families is to help families be a happier and healthier family unit. It is very important for parents to be part of the counselling journey with their children, as not only are they the experts on their own children, but they are also their child's main source of support and comfort. As such, I encourage a high level of involvement to help facilitate healing and growth, but to also ensure that parents also feel supported, and that they have the information and tools to support their child.Cynthia's Full Bio

Jennifer Charlicki
My approach in working with children is quite similar to my approach in working with adults. I think oftentimes we don't give children enough credit for how much they understand and just how much they're capable of...read more
think the important part is to be developmentally appropriate in how we have certain conversations with children. My approach is quite playful, and I work at empowering children to be open about how they're feeling, challenges they may be facing, and how to express their needs.Jennifer's Full Bio

Lindsey McColl
I work with children as young as four years old, primarily through play and hands-on activities... read more
With this age range, I work closely with caregivers to support development and behaviour. I also work with parents on topics such as building relationships and parenting. “Why follow a child’s lead? That’s our ultimate goal for entering their shared world- to help them be empathetic, creative, logical, reflective individuals” – Dr. Stanley Greenspan Lindsey 's Full Bio

Marti Lysek-Behiels
I am a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and a member of the Psychologists Association of Alberta. I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, families and couples in a variety of settings including non for profit and school settings... read more
I work with children using the PACE (playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy) approach. I incorporate art, mindfulness and Theraplay techniques in order to support children to express and to process how they are feeling, and to guide them to better regulate their emotions and to manage their behavior for their developmental age. Marti's Full Bio

Nicole Wheaton
I work with children aged 4-12. Through my play-based, child-centered approach, I support children to express and recognize their emotions, develop coping skills, build resilience, self-confidence and communication skills that serve them. ...read more
...I am here to work with parents to create a team of support for their child. Whether your child is facing difficulties with life transitions, emotional regulation, bullying, self-esteem, communication, or navigating grief and loss, I provide a safe therapeutic environment that holds space for them to process and grow. My professional background includes working with children and families through Children’s Services creating safety and promoting health and wellness as well as working with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, and delays in speech in a home setting. Every day, in a 100 small ways, our children ask, ‘Do you hear me? Do you see me? Do I matter?’ Their behavior often reflects our response.” ~ L.R. Knost.Nicole's Full Bio

Viktoriia Brzhezytska
Childhood is a special time of life. This is a time of rapid development of body, brain, and psyche. A time when family in which a child grows up, relationships and the atmosphere in it are so important. ...read more
...We know from research on human development how important the experience of child attachment with parents is, how important for a child to have their basic emotional needs fulfilled early on within their family. My focus in therapy with children is to help the family in a safe and caring atmosphere, to understand the behavior and needs of the child. I work with parents so that together, we can help the child with whatever challenges they may face at school, in relationships with peers, in discovering the world, their emotions and themself.Viktoriia's Full Bio

the right fit

At River’s Edge Counselling Centre, we work with each new client to ensure they are matched to the right therapist. See how we do it: