FIND THE ANSWERS YOU NEED
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s normal to have questions before starting therapy. This page is here to give you clear, straightforward answers about how I work, what play therapy looks like, and what parents can expect along the way.
GETTING STARTED
How do I book an appointment?
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You can click the “Book Now” button at the top right-hand corner of the website to schedule a free phone consultation through JaneApp. You’re welcome to book whether you’re looking for support for your child or parent consultations. You can also use the contact information on this page to call or email me.
Can I book sessions just for parent support?
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Yes. Parent consultations are available on their own and can be a helpful space to talk through concerns, build strategies, and feel more supported in responding to your child’s needs. You don’t need to have your child in therapy to book these sessions.
What happens after I book a consultation?
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If you’re seeking support for your child, we’ll begin with a parent/caregiver intake session (just the adults). From there, we’ll start regular sessions with your child and stay in close contact throughout the process.
If you’re looking for parent support only, we can begin directly with parent consultation sessions tailored to your needs.
What appointment times are available?
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Appointments are available on weekdays between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM. At this time, I’m not able to offer after-school, evening, or weekend appointments.
How long are play therapy and parent support sessions?
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Sessions are typically 50 minutes for families in St. Thomas and Elgin County.
In some cases, extended sessions may be beneficial depending on your goals and needs, and we can decide that together as part of the process.
How often are play therapy sessions?
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Most families begin with weekly sessions. Consistency is especially helpful at the start, as children build a sense of safety, familiarity, and connection. We’ll check in regularly to make sure the pace continues to feel like a good fit.
Where are you located?
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I offer in-person child therapy and parent support sessions from a home office in Talbotville, Ontario (just outside St. Thomas). The full address is shared after booking your parent/caregiver intake appointment.
Do you only work with families in St. Thomas?
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While my office is located in the St. Thomas area, I support families from London, Aylmer, Port Stanley, Lambeth, and surrounding communities. I also offer virtual counselling sessions for parents across Ontario.
Do I need a referral to book an appointment?
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No referral is needed to book an appointment. You can directly schedule a free phone consultation through the website at any time.
This initial call helps us talk through your concerns, explore what support might be helpful, and decide whether therapy or parent consultation feels like the right next step for your family.
How do I know if your services are a good fit for my family?
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Many parents feel unsure at the beginning—that’s completely normal.
My work may be a good fit if you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to respond to your child’s emotional or behavioural needs, and you’re looking for support that includes both your child and you as a parent.
Some families begin with child therapy, others begin with parent support sessions, and some start with both. We’ll talk through what feels most helpful during your consultation so you don’t have to figure it out alone.
What if I’m not ready to start weekly therapy for my child?
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If ongoing child therapy doesn’t feel like the right fit right now, there are several flexible ways to get support:
Parent Support Sessions
One-on-one sessions for parents who want guidance, practical tools, or space to reflect on current challenges. These sessions can help you better understand your child’s behaviour and feel more confident in how you respond.
Play & Plan Mini Intensive
A one-hour, play-based parent-child session where I observe your interactions and relationship patterns. You’ll receive a personalized play plan to use at home to strengthen connection and reduce challenges.
Parenting Intensive Day
A one-day, in-depth experience focused on understanding your child’s behaviour, your nervous system responses, and how they interact. You’ll leave with practical strategies to support regulation and navigate big emotions with more clarity and confidence.
These options offer meaningful support, even if you’re not ready to commit to weekly therapy. You can learn more about parent support services or reach out directly—I’m happy to help you decide what feels like the best fit.
FEES, INSURANCE & PAYMENT INFORMATION
How much does each session cost?
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A 50 minute counselling session is $195.
Are sessions covered by OHIP?
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No, counselling and psychotherapy services are not covered by OHIP.
However, many families have extended health benefits through their employer that may cover services provided by a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). It’s best to check directly with your insurance provider to confirm your coverage.
You can confirm my status as a Registered Psychotherapist with the CRPO HERE
Do you direct bill insurance?
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At this time I do not offer direct billing but you will be given a receipt after each paid session that you can submit to your insurance company. It is recommended to first check with your insurance provider about the services covered.
Payments are due at the time of service and can be made by credit card or e-transfer.
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How do I pay for services?
Do you have a sliding scale for services?
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I do not offer a sliding scale at this time.
I understand that cost can be a significant consideration when accessing therapy. If this is something you’re navigating, I encourage you to bring it up during our initial consultation. We can explore options such as focusing on a limited number of sessions to address your most pressing concerns, or discussing additional community supports that may be helpful for your family.
What is your cancellation policy?
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I require at 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. This allows me to offer the time to another client. Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice, or missed appointments, will be charged the full session fee.
PRIVACY, CONSENT & FAMILY DYNAMICS
Are sessions confidential?
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Yes. I follow all professional privacy laws and standards of practice. Confidentiality is maintained in therapy, with exceptions only in situations where there are safety concerns or where disclosure is required by law.
Will you share what my child says in therapy?
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I share general themes, progress, and clinical recommendations, rather than detailed session content. In some cases, and when appropriate, I may also involve your child in deciding what is shared. This approach helps protect their trust while still supporting parents in understanding what is happening in therapy.
How do you work with families who are separated or divorced?
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At the start of services, I work with parents to clarify expectations around involvement in the therapy process, including communication, scheduling, and consent.
If both parents have legal custody or joint decision-making rights, written consent from both parties is required before treatment begins. A current parenting plan or court agreement is also required at intake. Any changes to consent must be provided in writing
What do you provide in therapy?
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Play therapy for children
Parent counselling and support sessions
Collaboration with other professionals (with consent)
Mandatory reporting when there are safety concerns (as required by Ontario law and CRPO standards)
Attendance documentation when court-ordered
What do you not provide?
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Legal mediation
Custody or access recommendations
Court testimony (unless legally subpoenaed)
Psychological assessments or formal investigations
Can you talk to my child’s school or teacher?
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Yes. With your written consent, I can collaborate with educators to support your child’s emotional and behavioural needs across environments.
What do I do if my child is in crisis?
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I do not provide crisis or emergency services.
If you are concerned about immediate safety, please go to your nearest Emergency Department or call emergency services.
You can also contact:
Kids Help Phone
Call: 1-800-668-6868 (available 24/7)
Text CONNECT to 686868 or use live chat through their website.
Wellkin Child & Youth Mental Wellness (local support)
Call: 1-877-539-0463 (24/7)
Wellkin provides short-term crisis support for children and youth experiencing suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or behaviours that place themselves or others at immediate risk.
THERAPY APPROACH & EXPERIENCE
What is play therapy?
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Play therapy is a specialized form of therapy for children aged 3-12. It uses toys, sandtray, art, games, storytelling, and imaginative activities to help children express thoughts, feelings, and experiences they may not yet have the words for.
A trained therapist guides the process, creating a safe space where children can explore challenges, build confidence, and strengthen emotional and social skills through the language they know best: play.
Why is it important that you’re a Certified Play Therapist (CPT)?
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A Certified Play Therapist has completed advanced, specialized training in how to use play as a therapeutic tool for children’s emotional and psychological development.
To become certified through the Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT), I completed:
A Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification
180 hours of specialized play therapy training
500 hours of supervised clinical practice using play therapy with children
50+ hours of clinical supervision focused specifically on play therapy
A written application and competency review process
Certification also requires ongoing professional development and supervision to ensure continued ethical and effective practice.
This means you can trust that I have the training and clinical experience to support your child in a safe, developmentally appropriate way through play.
You can see my listing with the Canadian Association for Play Therapy HERE
What kinds of challenges can play therapy help with?
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I support children and families experiencing a wide range of emotional and behavioural challenges, including:
anxiety and worry
emotional regulation difficulties
anger and aggressive behaviour
big emotional outbursts or shutdowns
trauma and stressful life experiences
grief and loss
separation and divorce
attachment and relationship difficulties
low self-esteem
social and peer challenges
difficulty with transitions or change
attention and impulse control challenges
parent-child relationship strain
Support is always tailored to your child’s developmental stage and your family’s unique needs.
How many sessions will my child need?
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The number of sessions will vary for each child and parent depending on your needs and goals for counselling. I recommend committing to a minimum of 15 sessions to give enough time for assessment, relationship-building, and learning a few skills, while 25-230 sessions would be a more ideal range for play therapy.
Most families come to Courageous Counselling because they know their child needs more than general child therapy. My experience has shown that it isn’t possible to estimate length and instead it’s an ongoing discussion throughout the process. Some families see major shifts in 3-4 months and other children have more layers to work through, requiring more time. Children may also need to return to therapy at different stages of their life.
Is my child too young for therapy?
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I work with children as young as 3. At this age, therapy focuses on play, connection and working closely with parents.
What if my child doesn’t want to go to therapy?
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That’s completely normal — a lot of kids feel unsure or even say "no" at first. Starting something new, especially with someone they’ve never met before, can feel scary. Even grown-ups feel that way sometimes.
In my sessions, there’s no pressure and nothing your child has to talk about or do. I go at their pace, and I use play, sandtray, art, games or whatever medium is the best fit for them to feel comfortable and safe. Most kids feel more relaxed after just one visit.
If your child is strongly resistant, it can help to give them some choice and a sense of involvement. One strategy is to say something like: "We’re going to meet someone who helps kids and parents with tricky feelings. I understand you don’t want to go. We’ll try three sessions and then decide together what we want to do next." This approach gives your child some say in the process, which can help reduce resistance and build trust. And if you ever feel stuck, I’m always here to talk through what might help make those first steps easier.
Do you work with teens or youth?
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Yes, I do sometimes work with youth — especially when there’s a need for continuity in care or when it’s a good relational fit.
That said, I want to be upfront: supporting teens is not my current specialty. While I have experience working with adolescents, my training, clinical focus, and supervision are currently centered on working with younger children who have vulnerable nervous systems, and on supporting their parents.
If you're looking for support for a teen, I’d be happy to chat and help you decide whether I’m the right fit — or offer referrals to trusted colleagues who specialize in adolescent care.
What specialized training do you have to support children and families?
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I have completed specialized training in a variety of evidence-based and relational approaches, including:
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions):An evidence-based, parent-focused approach that helps caregivers respond to childhood anxiety and OCD in ways that build confidence, flexibility, and independence while reducing accommodation patterns that can unintentionally maintain anxiety. Kristi is listed in the official SPACE provider directory through the Yale Child Study Center.
Synergetic Play Therapy (Level 1, working toward Certification): A neuroscience-informed approach that helps children process experiences through play while building emotional regulation, self-awareness, and connection with themselves and caregivers.
Robyn Gobbel’s Immersion Program (currently enrolled): A 12-month program focused on relational neuroscience and practical, brain-based tools to support parents with connection, regulation, and felt safety.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A trauma-focused therapy that helps children process difficult memories using bilateral stimulation—often integrated into play to support safety and emotional distance.
Theraplay®: A playful, attachment-based approach that strengthens parent-child connection through structured, nurturing activities.
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP): A therapy that helps parents build trust and emotional safety with their child through empathy, playfulness, and understanding.
Circle of Security® Parenting: A relationship-based parenting program supporting caregivers in recognizing and responding to their child’s emotional needs to promote secure attachment.
This diverse training equips me to tailor support uniquely to your child’s needs and your family’s strengths.
What is the difference between child therapy and parent support?
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My approach in child therapy is play therapy, a research-supported approach that I am certified in. In play therapy, children express and process emotions through play rather than words, helping them work through experiences and build emotional regulation and coping skills.
Parent support focuses on you as the caregiver. These sessions help you better understand your child’s behaviour, respond in ways that support regulation and connection, and strengthen your relationship at home.
Many families benefit from a combination of both, depending on their needs.
Have more questions?
LET’S CONNECT