Child Behaviour Play Therapy

Child Behaviour

Just like adults, children can also benefit from therapy. Psychotherapy can help children develop important interpersonal and problem-solving skills that will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives. Therapy can also help a child to deal with behavioural issues that affect family relationships and school performance.

Life can be tough for young ones, what with peer pressure, homework, school bullying and exam stress. A transition, such as a new baby in the house, divorce, death of a grandparent, moving to a new home, abuse or illness can cause a young child severe mental anguish.

Many young children are not equipped to deal with stress and express their emotions in a healthy way yet, and therefore they act out. Certain behaviours, though merely a cry for help, might be socially unacceptable and could have devastating results.

behavioural issues that warrant intervention include sudden bedwetting, developmental delays or regressions, significant drop in grades, social isolation or withdrawal, aggression, appetite changes, changes in sleep patterns, tardiness or absenteeism at school, eating disorders, mood swings, frequent complaints about feeling ill without a medical cause,  or substance use. Therapy can help prevent, or deal with these behavioural issues.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is the most common treatment option for children with behavioural issues, as well as teenagers who struggle to cope with stress, are feeling anxious or depressed. This type of therapy helps to restructure thoughts to produce effective, positive mindsets. It is often achieved along with learning and practicing stress management techniques, coping skills and relaxation skills.  In addition many other approaches are used and which one works is really a function of preference and learning style.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who offers behavioural psychology for children to address your child's stress, anxiety or behavioural issues you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Play Therapy, Satir Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Play therapy uses the client's internal self-healing mechanisms to access unconscious and conscious experiences. The therapist forms a relationship with the client and encourages him or her to explore life events that affect his or her current life experience.

During play therapy, the therapist works at the client's pace. Talking is secondary to play in this form of therapy, and as such the client is encouraged to play while the therapist observes.

Play Therapy is suitable for adults too, as it helps them to relearn self-exploration, which enhances physical and cognitive behaviours. Play therapy gives children and adults freedom, increased creativity and life experience.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Play Therapy, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Satir Therapy, or Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy (STST) deals with interactive and intrapsychic therapy elements. Unlike some other therapies, Satir Therapy is not limited to emotions, behaviour and cognition, but rather focuses on changes at the level of being, as well as the sensory experiences and behavioural changes.

The key to Satir Therapy is to help individuals discover a sense of peace and wholeness that comes from tapping into their personal universal desires when dealing with society and interpersonal relationships.

Only therapists with exceptional levels of congruence can offer Satir Therapy. They will provide skills development and resources during small group lectures or discussions. Clients will take part in structured exercises, skills practice, experiential learning, lectures and small group discussions.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Satir Therapy, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy has been rated as a highly effective therapy for treating PTSD, emotional reactivity disorders and dissociation, even in cases where people have been unable to successfully heal with other approaches. In cases of severe trauma, people are sometimes unable to access their cognitive processing centres indirectly, have found relief through Sensorimotor Psychotherapy which accesses it directly.

Somatic healing addresses the physiological elements of a traumatic experience. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy combines cognitive processing mechanisms with the emotional mechanisms  to deal with traumatic situations.

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy therapists guide clients through a physical healing journey where the client uses his or her own body as a resource for recovery. It offers a dynamic, elegant and fluid body therapy which allows clients to draw wisdom from their inner strength and knowledge for effective relief.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Patrick Myers

Ph.D., R.Psych
    • Online booking
Is life pushing you too hard?   Do you feel like you can't keep up?   Do you stay up late at night worrying?   Do you feel drained emotionally and/or  physically? Is your... Read more

Heather Mitchell

MCP, RCC
    • Online booking
I'm glad you are here! I provide individual and relationship counselling in Vancouver and virtually all over British Columbia. Therapy can be vulnerable, scary, and hard. I want to help people feel supported,... Read more

Nadia Neely

MCP, RCC
I believe that cultivating self-awareness and gaining insight is a crucial first step in bringing about change and facilitating healing. By engaging in self-exploration and becoming more mindful, we can develop a deeper... Read more

Andrew Herfst

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
*I provide an Online / Telephone counselling option* I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian... Read more

Fernanda Souza

Ph.D. (cand), RCC
Challenging events? Life changes? Overwhelmed? Stressed? Needing balance?  Struggling with anxiety, relationships, depression, grief, decisions, performance?  Looking forward to getting to where you want to be... Read more

Naoko Sasaki

M.A., RCC
    • In-Person Sessions
Are you struggling with high stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, or trauma and PTSD? Would you like to ease your emotional pain by gaining tools to self-regulate and... Read more

Alma Vaugeois

M.A., RCC
You Don't Have to let Anxiety Run Your Life! Are you struggling in your life with anxiety or fear that you can't manage ? Does your anxiety keep you from following your dreams and creating the life you... Read more

Clayre Sessoms

MCP:AT, RCC
    • Online booking
As a trauma therapist, I'm deeply dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of trans* and queer adults and older youth. My training encompasses Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment, EMDR, and... Read more

Jennifer Scott

M.A., RCC
    • Article(s) on profile
Please note I am now offering virtual counselling by phone or video as well as in-person counselling. Many clients have found virtual counselling just as effective as in-person counselling. I welcome you to give it... Read more

Lu Lam

M.Ed., CCC
I guide people to return to their fierce intelligence for healing, for thriving. You can free your heart no matter what atrocity you’ve endured. Whether it’s trauma that’s racialized, class-based,... Read more

Cory Arthurs

M.Couns., RCC
We all face challenges, obstacles, and the pain of our inner wounds- and you deserve a safe space to explore and heal from these experiences. I am here to support you in discovering what 'safe' means for you,... Read more

Chelsea Stenner

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (#15201) and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (#10002791). I have a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. The first thing I want you to know... Read more

Tannis Hugill

M.A., RCC
    • Article(s) on profile
I am a Dance-movement and Drama Therapist, BC Clinical Counsellor and Spiritual Director with an MA in Somatic Psychology. I bring over thirty-five years of experience to my work with individuals, groups, adolescents... Read more

Joy Schellenberg

M.A., RCC
Are you tired of feeling stuck or dissatisfied with how your life is going?  Maybe you’ve been struggling for awhile. You’re fed up or overwhelmed and you don’t know where to turn. It... Read more

Margaret Brennan

Ph.D., R.Psych
    • Online booking
Hello. My name is Maggie and I am a Registered Psychologist offering virtual services in BC.  As a fellow human being I understand how messy, challenging and painful life can be. Drawing on my training and... Read more

Debra Seeley

M.S.W., RSW
    • Online booking
Hello! I’m Debbie, from Inner Harmony Counselling Registered Social Worker (MSW & RSW), Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) I am currently offering both remote, and or in person counselling... Read more

Katherine Kortikow

M.Ed., CCC
I have been in the helping profession for over 30 years and have experience working in a variety of therapeutic and clinical settings. I have been in private practice for 26 of those 30+ years.... Read more

Ginnie Cramer

MC, RCC
**My practice is currently full. If you would like to be placed on my waiting list please e-mail me indicating this** ***Due to the Covid-19 circumstances I will be doing telephone and video... Read more

Cordelia Mejin

M.A., RCC
Are you struggling with how to go on living in the wake of a loss? Does the pain of losing your person continue to have significant impact on your life and you are at a loss as to how to process the deep pain? Are you... Read more

Kelsey Webster

MCP, RCC
Hello! I provide holistic, trauma-informed clinical counselling for adults and youth healing from mental health challenges, trauma and/or substance use issues. My counselling approach uses somatic (body based... Read more

Naomi Kolinsky

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Are you finding it hard to get past events that happened to you long ago? Do you find yourself turning to food, alcohol, drugs, or relationships to escape painful feelings and cope with your life? Do you find... Read more

Joelle Lazar

M.A., RCC
I love my work, and am passionate about helping people have more joy and fulfillment in their lives and relationships! I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with extensive training and experience providing... Read more

Linnea Saltel

MCP, RCC
    • Online booking
As a Registered Clinical Counsellor, my approach to wellness is holistic and trauma-informed; I seek to take into consideration the variety of factors that contribute to mental health and overall well-being. I view... Read more

Wenny Cheung

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Welcome! You may be here because you're experiencing a sense of being stuck or lost. It could be that the challenges life has presented seem overwhelming at the moment. Maybe you're seeking change and a sense of... Read more

Kendra Antony

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Hello! I'm Kendra (she/her), Registered Clinical Counsellor and owner of Hope Stone Counselling. I’m so glad you’re here.  Since 2006, I’ve had the privilege of being invited into people... Read more

Maureen McEvoy

M.A., RCC
Maureen McEvoy, MA, RCC has been in private practice for more than 25 years. She works with individuals, couples and groups. Maureen uses Imago Relationship Therapy in her work with couples. As an Imago... Read more

Olivia Kienzel

M.Couns., RCC
Olivia has more than a decade of experience as a counsellor working with clients to transform their relationship to themselves, their lives, and the people they care about. She can help you, gently, get to the root... Read more

Eva DeHaas

Ph.D., R.Psych
Dr. Eva DeHaas, Registered Psychologist (#2074) Eva brings warmth, compassion, and self-awareness to the therapy room. She draws from a broad skill set ranging from shorter term, skill based interventions to more in-... Read more

Roya Vojdani

M.A., RCC
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
Life is a journey full of twists and turns, but you don't have to face it all alone. Depression, anxiety, trauma and other emotional struggles take away from the joys of everyday life and might leave you feeling... Read more

Amanda Hamm

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
You're ready to stop feeling so overwhelmed and alone.  Sometimes your emotions feel like they take over, and you find yourself reacting to life in ways that just don't feel like you. Anxiety is running... Read more