Our Services
Children 4 Years and Up
Play therapy designed to meet your child where they are — using creativity, imagination, and connection to support healing and growth.
Child Therapy Through Play
At intake, your counsellor will use that time to get to know your child through your eyes. Depending on goals and your child's developmental stage, different play therapy techniques will be introduced to meet your child's overall needs.
It is our experience that children learn best when counselling is facilitated with a playful approach. We often combine a directive approach — cognitive behaviour play therapy, narrative, sand tray, art, and guided imagery — with a non-directive approach that follows your child's lead.
Currently offering in-person sessions at both our Tillsonburg and Woodstock locations.
Why Play Therapy Instead of Traditional Talk Therapy?
Play therapy isn't just fun — it's a clinically effective approach that meets children at their developmental level.
Age-appropriate
Therapy delivered through play is presented at the child's developmental level, helping to reduce anxiety and make the process feel natural.
Freer expression
Through play, children can express themselves more freely and are therefore more likely to retain new learnings and coping strategies.
Processing through action
Sometimes kids just need play to be able to express and process changes happening in their world.
Builds real skills
Children develop healthy coping strategies they can carry into everyday life — at home, at school, and with friends.
Therapeutic Approaches We Use
Sand Tray Therapy
Children use miniature figures and sand to create scenes that express their inner world — a powerful, non-verbal processing tool.
Cognitive Behaviour Play Therapy
CBT principles adapted for children through play — helping kids identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns.
Narrative Therapy
Helping children re-author their story and separate themselves from the problems they face.
Art Therapy
Creative expression through drawing, painting, and craft as a pathway to processing emotions.
Guided Imagery
Relaxation and visualization techniques to help children manage anxiety and build inner calm.
Child-led (Non-directive)
Following the child's lead in play, trusting that children naturally move toward healing when given a safe space.
Who Benefits from Child Therapy?
Often there is a particular behaviour that prompts the call — overt or withdrawn — but these can be rooted in many things:
- Anxiety
- ADHD
- Family changes
- Trauma
- Grief (loss of a loved one)
- Learning disabilities
- Low self-esteem
- Social difficulties
What to Expect
Please remember that therapy is not a quick fix. Children often take longer to process changes and understand new learnings than adults do.
We typically recommend a commitment of 6 sessions to start: 1 for intake, 4 individual sessions, and 1 for a family check-in. Sometimes this is enough, and sometimes families will opt for further support.
If your child is younger than 4 years old, ask us about Theraplay as an option, or inquire about Parenting Support.
Recommended starting commitment
1
Intake session
4
Individual sessions
1
Family check-in
Therapists Who Work With Children
Ready to Support Your Child?
Reaching out is the first step. We'll help match your child with the right therapist and approach.