Child & Youth Counselling
Navigating the challenges of childhood and adolescence can be tough. If your child is feeling anxious, stressed, or reluctant to attend school, they may need a safe space to express their feelings and find support.
Many children and youth don’t have a non-judgmental person to talk to about their worries. As a counsellor, I provide that safe haven. With over 10 years of experience working with children, preteens, and teens in various roles, I use a compassionate and engaging therapeutic approach to help them rediscover their spark!
In my sessions, I create a fun and supportive environment where kids and teens can openly discuss their feelings, fears, and challenges. Often, with the right guidance, they can resolve their issues surprisingly quickly, thanks to the remarkable plasticity of their developing brains.
Therapy Interventions Used with Children & Youth:
Play Therapy
Play therapy is a structured, theoretically based approach to therapy that builds on the normal communicative and learning processes of children (Carmichael, 2006; Landreth, 2002; O'Connor & Schaefer, 1983). In play therapy, toys are like the child's words and play is the child's language (Landreth, 2002).
In my work, I utilize the model and techniques from 'Synergetic Play Therapy' founded by Lisa Dion. Synergetic Play Therapy (2008) is a researched-informed model of play therapy blending the therapeutic power of play with nervous system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, physics, attachment, mindfulness, and therapist authenticity.
To read more about play therapy visit 'Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy'
CBT & DBT Skills
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can be highly beneficial for children and teens facing emotional and behavioral challenges.
CBT helps teens identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. By teaching them to recognize distorted thinking, CBT empowers them to develop healthier coping strategies, manage anxiety and depression, and improve problem-solving skills.
DBT, originally developed for individuals with intense emotional dysregulation, focuses on building emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. For teens, DBT teaches them how to manage overwhelming emotions, improve relationships, and navigate conflicts more effectively.
EMDR & IFS
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and IFS (Internal Family Systems) can be effective therapeutic approaches for children and teens, each addressing different aspects of emotional and psychological well-being.
EMDR is particularly beneficial for young people who have gone through negative experiences such as bullying, divorce, accidents, loss of a loved one, violence in the home, among others. It helps them process distressing memories by using bilateral stimulation, which can reduce the emotional charge associated with these events.
IFS focuses on understanding the various “parts” of a person’s psyche. For children and teens, this approach allows them to explore different aspects of themselves, such as the inner critic or the scared child, fostering self-compassion and emotional awareness about their experiences and feelings.
To read more about IFS visit here.
To read more about EMDR with children/youth visit Ana Gomez's website here.
