Parenting can be quite a rollercoaster, especially when your child has difficulty managing their emotions. Emotion regulation involves the ability to handle and respond to feelings in a healthy way, and for some children, this can be a real challenge. As a parent, it’s important to have a good understanding of your child’s struggles and provide the necessary support for their emotional well-being.  What is Emotion Regulation? Emotion regulation is all about recognizing, understanding, and managing our emotions. For children, this skill is still developing, and they often look to their ca ..read more

Connecting with your child during challenging times is crucial for their development and your relationship with one another. Children learn how to manage their feelings and emotions by practising with their family members, but also through modelling. It is important to check in with your own emotions during these challenging times as your children learn so much from you.  Listen actively: Create a safe space for your child to express their feelings without judgement. Listen to them attentively, validate their emotions, and show empathy. Be present: Spend quality time with your child ..read more

Navigating the Emotional Journey of Seeking Therapy for Your Child Taking the step to seek therapy for your child can be an emotional journey for any parent. It's natural to feel a mix of emotions - from concern and worry to hope and relief. As parents, we always want to do what's best for our children. Getting therapy is a brave and loving choice to help support their mental health." Navigating the world of child therapy can feel overwhelming at first, but remember that you are not alone. There are resources available to guide you through this process and support you every step of the way. I ..read more

Habits have a large impact on our everyday lives. You may often hear people say “humans are creatures of habit and routine”. It is very much true. Habits are behaviours we perform regularly, often without consciously thinking about them. Habits can either be beneficial or detrimental, depending on what they are. Habits can fall into a number of categories including, exercise, meditation, diet, reading, hygiene, sleep etc. In saying this, habits can affect our emotional, physical or psychological self.  If you think about some of your routines, such as a morning routine or nightly routine ..read more

Neurodiversity. Change our Words, Change the World! A Neurodevelopmental Psychologist Weighs in on the New Shift in Language! “Neurodiversity” has become a broad term that can be used to capture differences in how an individual's brain works. Neurodiversity is a term that can also be used to describe individuals with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Specific Learning Disorders. There is no right way for the brain to work, and variations of brain development should be thought of as "uniquely typical".  So why does this matter?? Because it matters!!! Although there is no right or wrong i ..read more

Anxiety can be exhausting for any individual. Ruminating thoughts and repetitive worries can be mentally draining. It is important to understand the biology of anxiety and why it happens. The more knowledge a parent has about anxiety, the more they are able to support their child.  Mental health challenges can arise for various reasons. Some possibilities are school issues, environmental stressors, including trauma, the death of a loved one, and bullying etc. It may be difficult to recognize anxiety in your child as more often than not, anxious children and teens may act “in” instead of ..read more

,,,,,Different Types of Play When adults go to counselling, they typically tend to acknowledge what their problems are and will sit with a therapist and talk about their issues, design solutions, and work towards wellness. For children, especially those who are young, acknowledging feelings and expressing them verbally may be nearly impossible. Certain children may exhibit shyness or feel hesitant about disclosing their concerns. Play is a natural, comfortable way for children to explore their thoughts and feelings while doing something that they enjoy. Toys and activities can be used as a bri ..read more

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is when an individual experiences consistent, intrusive thoughts and obsessions, as well as the need to repeat behaviours they feel necessary to perform due to the obsessions. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be divided into two parts. Obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are a result of unwanted and intrusive thoughts, whereas compulsions are characterised as repetitive behaviours. Some examples of obsessions are, worries about religious beliefs, worry about germs, disease or even death, and worries about doing actions that may cause damage to others or self ..read more

What is Self-Esteem?  Self esteem refers to the perception an individual has of themselves. This includes feelings of confidence, self respect, and self worth. Individuals can experience high self esteem or low self esteem and can be influenced by several factors. Some of these factors include, social relationships, body image, life experiences, personal achievements, internal dialogue and cultural and societal influences. It is significant to note, for all individuals, self esteem is dynamic and can change overtime based on experiences and personal growth. However, what may this look lik ..read more

When adults typically go to counseling, they tend to acknowledge what their problems are and sit with a therapist and talk about their concerns, design solutions, and work towards wellness. For children, acknowledging feelings and expressing them verbally may be nearly impossible. Certain children may exhibit shyness or feel hesitant about disclosing their concerns. Play is a natural, comfortable way for children to explore their thoughts and feelings while doing something they enjoy. Toys and activities can be used as a bridge between child and therapist which allows the client to communicate ..read more