Overview



It is painful to see your child struggling.

No parent wants to see that their child is suffering, and it is hard to figure out how to get the help your child needs.

We have excellent psychologists who specialize in children’s therapy, and we are committed to ensuring that they have a variety of approaches to work with children.
Our psychologists are skilled at coming alongside of parents and children.

We provide a safe space for kids to express themselves, work through challenges, and build resilience. Using evidence-based techniques tailored to each child’s needs, we help them navigate life’s obstacles and foster healthy emotional growth. With our child-centred approach, your child will find the guidance and support they need to thrive.





Counselling Topics


ADD and ADHD

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is a disorder that appears in early childhood, and we now know it can continue on into adulthood.

The three primary characteristics of ADD:

  • Inattention, loss of focus, or short attention span
  • Hyperactive, impulsivity, high energy, difficulty stay on task, or fidgeting.
  • Inattention, hyperactive, impulsive, or quick decision making that may result in risky behaviour.

There are different types of ADD, and not all types look the same.  Whether or not your child’s symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are due to ADD, they can cause many problems if left untreated:

  • Struggles in school
  • Get into frequent trouble 
  • Find it hard to get along with others or make friends
  • Strain on family relationships

One of our psychologists can help you and your child make sense of their ADD and help to find positive coping strategies.


Bullying

Many parents are concerned that their child might be a victim of bullying. Some of the signs that a child is being bullied include:

  • Becoming withdrawn
  • Fear, anger, and/or procrastination when it is time to go to school
  • Depression and/or anxiety
  • Decline in school performance
  • Your child directly tells you they are being bullied
  • Your otherwise open child avoids talking about school or is fearful to talk about school
  • Low self-esteem, self harm, self anger
  • Bruises, scrapes and other marks

Signs that your child is a bully:

  • Views violence positively as the solution to most problems
  • Shows aggression toward adults as well as other children
  • Need to dominate others and control situations
  • Easily frustrated
  • Shows little sympathy to others who are being bullied, or who are having problems
  • Won’t help stop bullying
  • Easily Angered
  • Shares aggressive fantasies, stories, or draws aggressive pictures.

Bullies need to learn why they behave the way they do.  

Our Psychologists are here to provide a safe and supportive environment where you child can share their story and receive help.


Fears

It is common for children to express fear to their caregivers.  When fears persist this can be uncomfortable for the child and the caregivers.  If your child is gripped by persistent fears or you are concerned your child may suffer from a phobia, it is important to get support.  

Common childhood fears:

  • The dark
  • Dark spaces
  • Night time
  • New experiences
  • Strangers
  • Pain
  • Etc.

Friendship

Some friendship themes your child may face:

  • Being Bullied
  • Boundary Setting
  • Communication Skills
  • Conflict Management
  • Fitting In
  • Making Friends
  • Social Skills

One of our psychologists can help you and your child make sense of their friendship successes and difficulties, and help to find positive coping strategies. 


Self Esteem

There are many factors that can be at the root of struggles with self esteem:

  • Anxiety
  • Communication breakdown
  • Break up
  • Difficulty setting goals
  • Distractibility
  • Friendships
  • Goal Setting
  • Identity
  • Motivation
  • Personality
  • Procrastination
  • School Performance
  • Sexuality
  • Sports
  • Struggles at home

It is common for our therapists to have conversations with teens about who they are and how they can be the best version of themselves.  Individuals want to understand themselves, and once they do they want help developing strategies to perform their best and to have acceptance for their struggles.

Our psychologists enjoy supporting teens during these times.


Social Skills

Some kids seem to learn social skills very easily, but others can benefit from some extra coaching.  Social skills help children to enjoy the benefits of friendship and social settings.

Social Skills include:

  • Empathy
  • Understanding personal space
  • Understanding social cues and norms
  • Reciprocal relationships and taking turns

Children who struggle with social skills do for a variety of reasons.  Call for more information or to book an appointment with one of our cchildrens’ psychologists.


Anger

Anger is a normal reaction to frustration, stress or disappointment. And it is experienced at all ages:

  • Toddlers who often express anger through tantrums and other aggressive actions
  • School age children who may act out in a variety of ways
  • During puberty as hormones are racing and emotions run high
  • Children facing difficult circumstances (divorce, grief, transition, peer conflict, etc.)

When children lack skills for managing anger it can lead to aggressive behaviour. Usually, it is the aggressive action that cause the most concerns caregivers. 

Supporting children to manage anger involves: 

  • Developing social skills
  • Emotion management
  • Relaxation and calming strategies
  • Expressing angry feelings assertively
  • Communication skills and verbal cues for others

One of our childrens’ psychologists can help you and your child make sense of their anger and help to find positive coping strategies.


Anxiety

Anxiety can make a child feel scared, panicky, embarrassed or ashamed. 

Some of the signs to look out for in your child are:

  • Finding it hard to concentrate
  • Not sleeping, or waking in the night with bad dreams
  • Not eating properly
  • Quickly getting angry or irritable, and being out of control during outbursts
  • Constantly worrying or having negative thoughts
  • Feeling tense and fidgety, or using the toilet often
  • Always crying
  • Being clingy all the time (when other children are ok) 
  • Complaining of tummy aches and feeling unwell 

If you are concerned about your child’s anxiety one of our childrens’ psychologists can support you both.


Boundaries

Boundaries are hard to maintain at any age, however boundaries also can feel good for children and provide a sense of safety and predictability.

Boundaries provide: 

  • Guidelines for behaviour 
  • Help children to learn what is socially acceptable 
  • What is socially unacceptable behaviour
  • To learn self-control and self-discipline
  • To learn strategies to set limits for themselves. 

Boundaries are a form of social skills and the goal of good boundaries is for children to grow up into responsible, socially and emotionally intelligent adults.

Call for more information or to set up an appointment with one of our childrens’ psychologists. 780-449-1196


Childhood Mental Health Concerns

Sometimes a school or a doctor suggests to a parent that psychological counselling could benefit their child.

We have excellent childrens’ psychologists with a great deal of training and experience.  Our psychologists will help your child to gain understanding and coping tools, as well, the psychologists will help the parent(s) to develop strategies to come along side of their child.

Some concerns that children may face:

  • ADD/ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Autism/Asperger’s
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Giftedness
  • Infant Disorders
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Nonverbal Learning Disability
  • OCD
  • ODD
  • PTSD
  • Suicidal Thoughts
  • Separation Anxiety

One of our child psychologists can help you and your child make sense of their mental health concerns and help to find positive coping strategies.  Call today to book an appointment: 780-449-1196


Communication and Conflict

A child that knows how to build and maintain friendships will experience more happiness and self-esteem.

We see a variety of different children for a variety of communication needs.  Our specialized psychologists are well aware of the skills that can help children to meet their social goals. 

Some communication themes your child may face:

  • Boundary Setting
  • Communication Skills
  • Conflict Management
  • Fitting In
  • Making Friends
  • Social Skills
  • Being Bullied

Call for more information or to set up an appointment with one of our childrens’ psychologists.


Depression

Signs of depression to watch out for in your children:

  • A persistent sad or irritable mood 
  • Loss of interest in things that used to make your child happy.
  • A marked change in weight or eating (weight gain or loss).  
  • Sleep change – too much/little, sleeping through the day and not at night.
  • No longer wanting to be with family or friends.
  • A marked lack of energy.
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt. 
  • Low self-esteem.
  • Trouble with focusing or making choices (drop in school grades).
  • Not caring about what happens in the future.
  • Aches and pains when nothing is really wrong. 
  • And even thoughts of death or suicide.

Any of these signs can occur in children who are not depressed, but when seeing these symptoms together they are red flags for depression.  Our psychologists are here to help. 


Divorce

Families face a variety of transitions, challenges, and dynamics. Sometimes these can have a great impact on a child. Psychological counselling can help a child to understand the changes that are happening and to process their thoughts and feelings.

Our psychologists address many family related concerns and are skilled to support children to address these:

  • Divorce/Separation
  • Family Conflict
  • Family System/Roles
  • Grief and Loss
  • Parenting Issues
  • Sibling Rivalry
  • Life Transition of Family Member

Call today to evaluate if psychological counselling for your child..


Emotion Management

At times a parent may notice that their child is struggling with emotions.  

Psychologists will help evaluate the child’s experience and also will offer tools and resources for Emotion management.

Sometimes parents may question if their child really needs therapy for emotion regulation, stress and emotional concerns.  Your child may not fit the criteria for a mental health issue. We see many children who come in for an emotion check-up.  

Emotional concerns your child may face:

  • Aggression
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Bullying others
  • Embarrassment
  • Excessive Tearfulness
  • Fear
  • Guilt
  • Helplessness
  • Hopelessness
  • Overwhelmed
  • Passiveness
  • Rigidity
  • Sadness
  • Shame

One of our childrens’ psychologists can help you and your child make sense of their emotions and help to find positive methods for emotion management.


Grief and Loss

Unfortunately at times children go through very difficult times.  The experience of loss is difficult to navigate with children. Our psychologists are all equipped to provide trauma and grief therapy.

Difficulties children may face:

  • Abuse(s)
  • Changing Schools
  • Illness of a Loved One
  • Illness of the Child
  • Loss of a Loved One 
  • Loss of a Friend
  • Moving
  •  Parental Separation and Divorce
  • Trauma
  • Transitions

Helping your child understand and manage their feelings is difficult under normal circumstances.  During times of grief children can benefit from the support of one of our Psychologists.


School

Children respond to the school environment according to their own unique self.  If you notice a marked change in your child’s behaviour from home to school, or vice versa, it is important to pay attention.  When a caregiver receives notice from the school that their child is misbehaving it is important to remember that children use their behaviour to signal to us what is going on in their world.

Our specialized psychologists can provide a safe place for your child to better understand and communicate their thoughts and feelings about school, stress, and pressure they are facing.


Self-Esteem

Symptoms of Self-Esteem Struggles:

  • Distractibility
  • Goal Setting
  • Identity
  • Motivation
  • Personality
  • Procrastination
  • School Performance
  • Self-Esteem
  • Sexuality
  • Sports

It is common for our psychologists to have conversations with children about who they are and how they can be the best version of themselves.  Kids want to understand themselves, and to feel good about who they are as people.. Call for more information or to book an appointment.


Trauma and Abuse

Unfortunately at times children go through very difficult times.  The experience of loss is difficult to navigate with children. Our psychologists are all equipped to provide trauma and grief therapy.

Difficulties children may face:

  • Abuse(s)
  • Changing Schools
  • Illness of a Loved One
  • Illness of the Child
  • Loss of a Loved One 
  • Loss of a Friend
  • Moving
  •  Parental Separation and Divorce
  • Trauma
  • Transitions

When your child has faced trauma it is important to consider how to ask for support and what support will best benefit you and your child.  One of our psychologists can help you and your child through this process.

Our Therapists Specializing in Child Psychologist Sherwood Park