CHILD COUNSELLING SERVICES
Child Counselling & Play Therapy in St. Thomas, Ontario
Specialized support for children ages 3–12 experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and behavioural challenges.
Play isn’t a distraction from therapy. It is the therapy.
Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling, but they do have play. In play therapy, toys, stories, and creativity become their language. In the safety of play, children can explore emotions, practice new ways of coping, and process experiences that may feel too big to put into words. The therapeutic relationship, the play itself, and the environment all work together to support your child.
Through this process, children begin to:
Safely express big emotions
Build coping skills for daily life
Grow confidence in relationships
Strengthen resilience and emotional regulation
Make sense of their experiences and the world around them
When play therapy can help
Play therapy can be especially helpful for children who are:
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Anxiety and excessive worry
Separation anxiety and fears
Anger, frustration and aggression
Frequent meltdowns and emotional outbursts
Emotional regulation difficulties
Impulse control and attention challenges
Behavioural challenges that don't respond to typical strategies
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Bullying and peer difficulties
Grief and loss
Separation and divorce
Difficulty with transitions and changes in routine
Adjustment to major life changes
Experiences of physical, sexual or emotional abuse
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Low self-esteem and lack of confidence
Attachment challenges and difficulties with trust
Parent–child relationship difficulties
Peer conflict and friendship challenges
Social skills and relationship difficulties
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Limited verbal expression
Selective mutism
Difficulty identifying and expressing emotions
Difficulty communicating thoughts, feelings and needs
Individual Play Therapy Sessions
Regular child counselling sessions provide your child with a consistent, supportive space to process hard things and grow at their own pace. As a Certified Play Therapist, I don’t just watch your child play. I pay close attention to the themes, patterns, and emotions that emerge — and how your child regulates (or struggles to regulate) in the moment. By noticing these patterns, we can better understand your child’s inner world and guide growth that’s natural and sustainable.
Appointments are available weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Evening and after-school appointments are not available.
Play therapy honours who your child is right now, while creating space for healing and new ways of coping.
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Step 1: Parent Intake & Background Session
A parent-only meeting to talk through your child’s history, concerns, and needs.Step 2: Child Sessions Begin
Weekly play therapy sessions led by your child’s developmental stage and unique personality.Step 3: Ongoing Assessment
I continually observe and adapt sessions to your child’s progress.Step 4: Parent Collaboration
Regular check-ins so you feel supported, informed, and confident at home. -
Is your child registered with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)? Eligible psychotherapy services at Courageous Counselling and Play Therapy may be accessed through OAP Core Clinical Services funding.
As a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) in good standing with the CRPO, I provide psychotherapy services that may qualify under these guidelines.
If your child has received Core Clinical Services funding, you're welcome to reach out to discuss whether my services may be a good fit for your child and family.
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$195 per 50-minute session
Have questions?
Starting counselling can feel like a big step, and questions are often part of that process. I’ve put together answers to some of the most common ones.
LOOKING FOR A SHORT-TERM PLAY THERAPY OPTION?
The Play Therapy Intensive
For some families, a more focused and time-limited approach can be helpful alongside (or instead of) weekly play therapy.
The Play Therapy Intensive is a structured two-week program that includes multiple play therapy sessions per week along with dedicated parent support. This format is designed to build therapeutic momentum quickly during times of transition, increased stress, or when families are looking for more immediate support.
Rather than spreading sessions over several months, this approach allows for more frequent connection, faster relationship-building in therapy, and more consistent support for parents throughout the process
PARENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Parents are always part of the process
Part of my role is making sure parents feel supported, too. We’ll check in regularly, share insights, and build strategies you can use at home.
And if you’d like more focused guidance, you can explore dedicated Parent Support Services for personalized tools and intensives designed just for you.
The difference play therapy makes in your child’s counselling journey
Parents often tell me they notice the difference first at home: fewer meltdowns, calmer evenings, and a stronger sense of connection with their child. Over time, play therapy helps children feel more comfortable in their own skin, more courageous with peers, and better equipped to handle life’s challenges.
As the only Certified Play Therapist in the St. Thomas area, I work to understand what’s beneath your child’s behaviour. I’ve been practising therapy full-time since 2015 and established Courageous Counselling in 2024. I’m a Registered Psychotherapist (RP), Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), and Certified Play Therapist (CPT), with additional training in EMDR, DDP, Theraplay, Circle of Security Parenting, SPACE, and TF-CBT.
My approach is child-centred, which means I meet your child where they are rather than expecting them to have the words to explain what they're feeling. As we work together, parents remain an important part of the process, helping build understanding and connection that can continue at home.
Change doesn’t happen all at once, but the process builds steady, meaningful growth.
