Growing up is a difficult process , especially in today’s world where children are faced with many challenges that can be overwhelming. When faced with additional struggles or unexpected events, this process gets further disrupted and can lead to negative consequences that may last into adulthood. As a result, children can present as angry, anxious, uncooperative , struggle with social relationships or have difficulties at school and home.
At Gentle Pathways we are dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for children to explore their emotions and heal from painful experiences. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to feel heard, seen, and valued and we are committed to achieving by this making sessions meaningful and engaging..
Using child friendly approaches, including elements of play therapy and arts, but also CBT and EMDR we look beneath the presenting behaviours helping children develop their own coping skills toolbox to more effectively manage big emotions.
If you are a parent who is concerned about your child’s mental health or if your child has experienced trauma, we are here to help. We work closely with parents and caregivers to develop individualized treatment plans that address their child’s unique needs and goals. We provide guidance and tools to help their loved ones to support their child’s healing outside of therapy sessions.
We Can Help Your Child Grow and Heal
Anxiety
Excessive worry, fear, and anxiety about various situations or events, physical symptoms like stomachaches or headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, avoiding certain activities or situations. Therapy is often the first-line treatment, helping children learn to manage anxious thoughts and feelings.
Relational Trauma
Traumatic experiences that occur within the child’s important relationships and attachments, often with caregivers. We focus on helping the child develop coping skills and emotional regulation. In some cases we may look to trauma-focused therapy like EMDR.
Nightmares
Children experiencing frequent or distressing nightmares can benefit from specific child therapy approaches. The therapist will tailor the approach based on the child’s age, developmental stage, and the underlying causes of the nightmares. Parental involvement is crucial for the success of these therapy techniques.
Traumatic Events
Children that have experienced emotional or physical abuse, witnessing domestic violence, accidents, life-threatening illnesses, separation or loss of a loved one. With the right therapeutic interventions, children can learn to cope with the effects of trauma, rebuild a sense of safety and trust, and go on to thrive.
Life Transitions
Children often struggle with major life transitions; new school, moving to a new home, birth of sibling, loss of loved one and more. Our tailored approaches may involve family therapy, play therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. With the right therapeutic support, children can develop resilience, emotional regulation, and the skills to navigate life transitions more effectively.
Low Self Esteem
Child therapy can be very helpful for addressing low self-esteem in children, causes vary from rejection, bullying, unrealistic expectations, chronic stress, developmental delays, negative self-talk and distorted self-perceptions. With the right therapeutic support, children can learn to see their inherent value, develop healthier self-perceptions, and build the confidence.
Easily request an appointment by filling out our secure booking form to give us a bit more background about your situation and what days / times work best for your child or teen. We will do our best to try and meet your schedule needs. We are also available by phone to guide you further at 519-472-5366
Once your appointment is confirmed, we’ll ensure you’re fully prepared with a smooth orientation that includes all essential clinic details and intake forms.
Most children enjoy coming to their sessions and look forward to their appointments. As healing continues between the sessions, parents and other caregivers are considered an important part of their child’s counselling journey.
At our clinic, we are committed to providing high-quality care to our clients. We believe that every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment in which to heal and grow. Contact us today to learn more about our child therapy services and how we can support your child.