The following excerpt comes from our book, Counselling in Relationships: Insights for Helping Families Develop Healthy Connections. The chapter, “Engaging Fathers,” explores the importance of fathers in families and how counsellors can involve dads in the counselling process so they can get to know themselves better, improve their relationships, and feel empowered in their role. Regardless of why a father … Read More
Supporting Children in Times of Global Stress
Whether children hear the news directly or feel the impact of heightened strain through other people, they look to the adults around them to help make sense of their feelings and thoughts. With some thoughtful steps, we can support both ourselves and the children we care for to better manage the impact of the news and avoid being overwhelmed. Here … Read More
A 6-Step Framework for Counselling Children
I based my new children’s book, The Helping Rock, on this framework, as a way to share these concepts with children. The story and accompanying resources can be used in counselling sessions with children and their caregivers. Follow the six steps below to see how. Identify strengths Many children I support are referred to me because of behaviour and social/emotional … Read More
How to Teach Mindfulness to Young Children
When I introduce mindfulness to my clients in counselling, I often hear, “I don’t have time for that!” – especially from those who care for and support young children. Yet everyone can benefit from mindfulness, starting from the very first years of life. Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment, without judgement. It is becoming increasingly … Read More
4 Steps for Teaching Children to Manage Conflict
Whether it’s in my private practice, my work at a busy clinic, or as a teacher in a classroom, I encounter conflict. As a therapist, I have listened to couples talk about how they seem to have the same argument over and over again. In a family, conflict might look like disagreements between guardians and their children. At school, conflict … Read More
How to Support Children With Social Anxiety
COVID-19 has forced many of us to change our behaviours – for children and youth in crucial developmental stages, the pandemic has also had a devasting impact on their social development. In light of the health crisis and keeping people safe, many of us who work on the frontlines of the mental health field are starting to see the effects … Read More
How to Prepare Children for Going Back to School During COVID-19
Many children are about to go back to school after months of being at home with only parents and siblings to socialize and learn with. Each province and state has their own standards for what constitutes safety regarding COVID-19. A new way of socializing including staggered days and extended recess and outdoor times are just some of the ideas that … Read More
Supporting Your Family During COVID-19
COVID-19 has created a time of uncertainty, overwhelm, and family isolation. As parents, we put pressure on ourselves to work, parent, and homeschool, all while trying to keep ourselves mentally well. In the midst of the current pandemic, we are in a position where we must support our children amidst our own struggles. Here is what I have noticed in … Read More
5 Tips for Supporting Anxious Children
Pax woke up each morning to his father calling his name from the hall. Pax often woke breathless, unsure about what. They had visited the family physician, who could not find a cause for Pax waking this way. Pax would sit in bed paralyzed and could not move, despite wanting to. He knew his parents would be upset with him … Read More
How to Help Motivate a Child with ADHD
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have trouble paying attention and managing impulsive behaviour. This is why motivating a child with ADHD to succeed in school can be a tough task. How do you help them find their homework, much less complete it? As a psychotherapist and teacher, I’ve worked with numerous students and parents to help alleviate … Read More
