Counselling is available for you and your children, as well as for you and your extended family. Here are a few things you may need to know before you book an appointment:

Children: Before seeing children under the age of 16, we require a 15-minute consultation with the parent/parents to understand the nature of the problem, what you have tried already and what you believe are the contributing factors. At the first session, the child will accompany the parents, and it will be determined how to proceed.

Play therapy and other specialized forms of therapy are available for all children, particularly those with special needs: ASD, ADHD, adoption pre and post-care, and high-risk children. As part of the treatment, parents will be involved, informed and drawn into the counselling when needed.

Families in conflict: If you bring your family for counselling, it is important to realize that each person will be treated respectfully and allowed a voice. The goal in counselling is not to reinforce a parent’s power, strong-arm a child into obedience or shame them for behaviours, rather to create connection and help foster cooperation in a context of love.

Appointment times will be about one hour. It is possible that counselling will occur out of the office, or during a home visit IF the clinician believes it would be helpful.

Before the appointment involving your children: Please be sure to inform your children that you are bringing them and help them understand the nature of counselling. DO NOT imply they are bad and need to be fixed, or they are sick and need to be treated. Present counselling as an opportunity for mom/dad and kids to seek help to work through some things and become a better family.