Because children experience the world and express themselves differently than adults, counselling with younger populations takes a different form than traditional forms of talk therapy used with adults. Children often communicate in ways that are not purely verbal, such as play, art, and story. Counsellors are trained to understand the important emotions and themes that children convey through various mediums. In this way, therapy is able to meet children at their own level and help them use their imagination as a vehicle for processing difficult experiences and healing.
Therapists focus on building relationships with their young clients that are characterized by trust and safety so that they feel comfortable expressing themselves. The relationship with the therapist can also be a way to learn and practice setting boundaries and expressing their needs and wants in healthy ways.
Signs your child might benefit
Parents often reach out when they notice:
- Ongoing worry, fears, or childhood anxiety that doesn't ease with reassurance
- Bullying, whether your child is on the receiving end or struggling with their own behaviour toward others
- A sudden change in mood, sleep, or appetite with no clear cause
- Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy
- Signs of childhood depression or childhood phobias
- A hard adjustment to a big change, like becoming part of a blended family, a divorce, or a loss
You don't need a clear diagnosis to reach out. If something feels off, that's reason enough.
Therapies we use for children's counselling
We match the approach to the child, not the other way around. Depending on age and what they're working through, our therapists may draw on:
- Play therapy, using toys, sand trays, or puppets so children can work through feelings without needing the words for them
- Art therapy, where drawing and creating become a way to express what's hard to say out loud
- Expressive therapy, which blends creative mediums like movement, music, or storytelling into sessions
- Attachment-based therapy, which helps children rebuild a sense of safety and trust with the people around them
- Trauma-informed approaches, for children who've been through a frightening or overwhelming experience
What to expect in sessions
Sessions move at your child's pace, not a script. Expect a mix of play-based activities, storytelling, and simple conversation depending on age and comfort level. Therapists keep parents in the loop through regular check-ins so you know what's coming up and how you can support your child between visits, without asking your child to break their trust in the process.
How Childern Counselling connects
Children's counselling often works best alongside support for the rest of the household. If tension is showing up across the family, our family counselling page covers how that works. If your child is heading into their teenage years, our youth counselling page explains how the approach shifts for adolescents. No Fear Counselling offers children's counselling in person and online across Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver, Coquitlam, Burnaby, and Surrey.
Contact No Fear Counselling
If you're noticing changes in your child's mood, behaviour, or confidence, reaching out early tends to make things easier for everyone. Contact No Fear Counselling to be matched with a children's counsellor, or book a consultation directly.
References:
Landreth, G. (2012). Play therapy: the art of the relationship (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge.
Bratton, S., Ray, D., Rhine, T., & Jones, L. (2005). The efficacy of play therapy with children: A meta-analytic review of treatment outcomes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36, 376-390.
