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

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..

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

Jess Lenihan

M.S.W., RSW
    • Online booking
People often come to see me to discuss problems related to depression, anxiety, climate anxiety, life transitions, grief, and parenting. My practice is narrative, gender affirming, neurodiversity affirming, anti-... Read more

Kelly Archer

M.A., RCC
Kelly Archer, MA, RCC (pronouns: she/her/hers) Kelly is a clinical counsellor with over 13 years of experience working in the social services field with children, youth and young adults within outreach, community... Read more

Sara Place

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
It is my honour to deeply listen and support your personal journey through whatever life circumstance brings you to counselling.  We can work through difficult life circumstances, relationship challenges (including... Read more

Danielle Green

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
It is frustrating and painful to get stuck in unwanted patterns in life.  Overthinking, relationship conflict, low mood and a deep sense of overwhelm can feel like issues that continue to recycle throughout your... Read more

Michele Maurer

M.Sc., RCC
    • Online booking
Appointments Available In-office and Virtually You invest yourself in your relationships. Individuals, couples and parents have done their best to cope throughout the pandemic, and it's taken a ... Read more

Colin Evans

M.A., RCC
Evans-Carlson Counselling believes in supporting individuals and couples in the growth that will help them take the next step towards health and wholeness.   Special Issues In-Focus: Each person coming to... Read more

Karen Ausejo

M.S.W., RCSW
    • Online booking
Karen is a Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) with over twenty years of experience in mental health and counselling with a focus on children, adolescents, and families.  She has worked as a... Read more

Denise Carter

M.S.W., RSW
    • Online booking
Life can be complicated no matter what your age is. Managing life transitions such as becoming a teenager or young adult, a parent, or change in any life routine can be difficult. You may be experiencing stress, anxiety... Read more

Ben Frizzo

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I'm here to guide, support, and maybe even share a laugh or two along the way. Let's be honest, if I'm doing my job well, we won't be seeing each other for long! But in the meantime, I consider it a... Read more

Ryan Leiderman

M.A., RCC
Congratulations on having the courage to work towards a better you.  As someone that has walked a similar path of self-improvement, I empathize with your struggle and truly appreciate the spark within you that... Read more

Staci Illsley

Ph.D., R.Psych
    • Online booking
For over 25 years, Dr. Illsley has continued to hone her therapy skills and weaves cognitive-behavioral, developmental, attachment-based, neurological, mindfulness and somatic approaches into her therapy. She prefers to... Read more

Curt DeWolff

M.Ed., CCC
In counselling sessions I work to maintain a safe environment for my clients. I strive to create a space free from judgment so clients feel comfortable to share openly. As I get to know my clients, I allow... Read more

Desiree Blume

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I am a registered clinical counsellor who has worked therapeutically with children, adults, couples and families for over a decade.  I will offer you a safe and caring environment where you can identify and... Read more

Omar Hussein

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
My name is Omar Hussein, MA, RCC (he/him). Currently, I practice Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with elements of Person Centered Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy. I was born and raised in Vancouver, BC... Read more

Sarah Anne Trivett

M.C., RCC
    • Blog on profile
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with a passion for helping individuals, couples and multi-person relationships connect to themselves and each other through a creative blend of Internal Family... Read more

Jay Hails

M.Ed., CCC
    • Online booking
My strength lies in helping you identify and celebrate your own unique strengths. The fact that you're looking here for help already tells me you're strong. If you’re overwhelmed or stuck, or you’... Read more

Mickey Stein

Ph.D., R.Psych
I am a registered clinical psychologist in Vancouver B.C. My mission is to provide professional psychotherapy and psychological assessments to assist and treat adolescents and adults of all ages, and their families.... Read more

Teresa Moseley

M.Sc., RCC
    • Online booking
Are you tired of thinking that everything sucks? Nothing will change and your Hogwarts letter will never come! Are you laying in bed with your junk food, not wanting to get up, downing Starbucks and Red Bulls like it... Read more

Kirsten Reid

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Would you like help to find some relief and an overall sense of lightness? Whether you believe your life challenges to be major or minor ones, including a specific event or a reoccurring problem pattern that you... Read more

Susanne Leach

M.S.W., RSW
Do you want to build a life that is worth living, filled with healthy balanced relationships with friends, family and important people in your life?  Do you want to build a stronger understanding of yourself and... Read more

Meredith MacKenzie

M.A., RCC
Meredith MacKenzie is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and owner of Parallel Wellness. She is a warm and genuine individual, couple and family therapist. She works with both adolescent and adult clients. She... Read more

Rebecca Shuen

MCP, RCC
    • Online booking
Hello! My name is Rebecca (she/her/they) :) I offer counselling to women, men, non-binary folks, and adults of all gender identities, with a special passion for working with teens. I believe that counselling can be... Read more

Ferma Ravn

M.S.W., RSW
Are you a parent who is concerned about your child or adolecent's mental and/or emotional health?  I am able to provide both in-person and online play therapy for children, as well as in person and and... Read more

Shelley Foster

M.A., RCC
Unique Family Coaching, Customized Individual Counselling and Online Consultation. Are you a family with teenagers looking for help?  Need something to change. Feel like you can no longer communicate or trust... Read more

Colette Mrazek

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
My counselling career began over 20 years ago and since then, I have worked in a variety of settings with many different populations, such as youth at risk, children who have been orphaned, young parents,... Read more

Christy Arsenault

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Christy Arsenault (Waisman) is a seasoned therapist with extensive experience working with complex issues and diverse populations.  Christy graduated with a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from the... Read more

Gerry Bock

M.A., RCC
    • Blog on profile
Gerry Bock earned his Masters degree in 1990. He has been practicing as a Registered Clinical Counsellor for over 30 years (since 1991).  The practice environment and philosophy offers committed, accountable,... Read more

Chelsey Thorpe

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I am a Certified Art Therapist and a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) serving the Oak Bay and Westshore communities. Prior to working at VICYFCS, I worked in private practice providing art therapy to children and... Read more

Johanna Abraham

M.S.W., RSW
I have a Masters Degree in Social Work and 25 years of professional experience helping individuals, couples and families from a range of backgrounds deal with a variety challenges. As well as providing counseling... Read more

Roma Palmer

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
Choosing a counsellor is a very personal decision.  Below please find some information to help you make the choice that is right for you. What is my philosophy of counselling and how can I help you? I believe... Read more