How therapy with a child works
Therapy with a young child does not look like two people talking in chairs. Our clinicians use play therapy, art, and other developmentally appropriate approaches, because play is how children process and communicate what they cannot yet put into words. With teens, sessions look more conversational, but the pace is always set by what the young person can manage.
For younger children, the first appointment usually begins with parents only. This gives you room to speak openly about your concerns, share history, and ask questions without your child in the room. It also lets the clinician plan how to introduce therapy in a way that feels safe for your child. You are not handing your child over to a process you cannot see: parents are part of the work throughout, with check-ins and guidance along the way.
When family therapy fits
Sometimes the most useful place to work is not with the child alone but with the family system around them. Conflict at home, a separation or divorce, a sibling struggle, or a pattern everyone is stuck in can all be reasons to consider family therapy. In these cases the clinician works with the relationships and routines, not just one person, because a child's wellbeing is shaped by the system they live in. Our intake team can help you think through whether individual therapy, family therapy, or a combination makes sense as a starting point.
Our child and youth team
Our child and youth clinicians are Dr. Lisa Ferrari, Dr. Gail Krivel-Zacks, Natalie Sweeney, Lesley Holm, Emily Reaser, and Dr. Katrina Milani. Each brings a different mix of training and focus, and our intake team will match your family with the clinician whose scope and availability fit your situation.
Working with your child's school
With your written consent, our clinicians can collaborate with your child's school: speaking with teachers or counsellors, contributing to support planning, and providing letters or reports where appropriate. If learning or attention questions come up along the way, our assessment team can complete a psychoeducational assessment, and the resulting report can support school accommodation requests.