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Child Therapy

Does Your Child Seem Overwhelmed By Their Emotions?

  • Do you notice your child getting easily frustrated, having emotional meltdowns, or reacting intensely to everyday situations? 
  • Are they struggling to connect with friends, acting out at school, or withdrawing from activities they used to love? 
  • Perhaps they often seem “on edge,” overwhelmed, or unable to wind down, and despite your best efforts, nothing seems to calm them.
  • Are they struggling to go to sleep or always need you right beside them to fall asleep?

As a parent, it’s normal to feel uncertain, especially when your child’s emotional needs seem to change from one day to the next. But if you’re concerned that they’re struggling more than usual, it might be time to consider seeking extra support.

It’s Hard To Watch Your Child Struggle

When your child is having a tough time, it can feel like you’re constantly on high alert, waiting for the next meltdown or outburst. Maybe you’ve noticed more conflict at home, difficulty getting them out the door for school, or trouble focusing in class. You may be feeling drained and frustrated, wondering if you’re missing something or if there’s more you could be doing.

If your child’s shifts in mood or behavior are affecting your whole family, it can feel overwhelming. You might also be wondering if these changes are temporary or if something deeper is happening. While it’s normal for children to experience ups and downs, ongoing emotional and behavioral changes can be a sign that they’re struggling to manage their big feelings and need help developing healthy ways to cope.

At Thriving Family Co., we’re here to support you and your child through these challenges. With the right guidance, your child can learn to regulate their emotions, improve their social connections, and develop strategies that will help them thrive 

How to Know When Your Child May Benefit from Therapy?

You are on this page because you are seeing and experiencing challenges at home and/or school or other environments. You may be observing the following:
  • Persistent anxiety and sadness – they may want to avoid certain situations (school refusal), not want to leave the house, ask lots of questions about what to expect when going somewhere new
  • Increased aggressive behaviours (hitting, kicking, punching) towards others, including you, siblings, peers, family members and more
  • More intense emotional outbursts (yelling, screaming, growling) that last longer than before
  • Decrease in cooperation and listening
  • Struggles with listening, follow-through, focus, poor grades, difficult relationship with their teacher, school avoidance
  • Less interest in activities they previously enjoyed
  • Struggles with making and/or maintaining friendships
  • Talks about wanting to hurt themselves, run away or dying – these should be taken very seriously and require immediate attention

Emotional Ups and Downs Are A Part of Growing Up

Every child has unique strengths and faces different challenges as they grow. Emotional and behavioral shifts are a natural part of childhood, and kids often show us what they’re going through in unexpected ways. While many children “act out” or become more emotional when they’re adjusting to new experiences, these behaviors can sometimes be a sign of underlying stress or difficulty processing their feelings.

As a parent, it’s important to recognize when these changes may be more than a passing phase. Therapy can help you understand what’s happening for your child and offer tools to support them during these difficult moments. By taking early action, you’re giving your child an opportunity to build lifelong skills that will serve them well into adolescence and beyond.

Therapy Can Help Your Child Navigate Big Feelings and Build Resilience

If your child is experiencing ongoing emotional or social challenges, therapy can provide a safe space for them to explore their feelings and practice new skills in a nurturing environment. At Thriving Family Co., our therapists are experienced in working with children and adolescents, helping them develop healthy coping strategies that are appropriate for their developmental stage.

We offer support for children who are:

  • Struggling with strong emotions like anxiety, anger, or sadness.
  • Having difficulty managing stress related to school, friendships, or family changes.
  • Navigating social challenges, such as making friends, fitting in, or handling peer conflicts.
  • Coping with family transitions, including separation, divorce, or the blending of families.
  • Dealing with perfectionism and self-criticism that may stem from underlying worries.
  • Recovering from a significant loss or trauma and needing help to process their emotions safely.
  • Grief and Loss of a family member, pet, or any other type of loss

How Therapy Can Support Your Child and Family

We believe that a child’s well-being is closely linked to their family environment. That’s why we involve parents throughout the therapy process, offering insights into your child’s development and helping you create a supportive space where they feel understood and valued. By working together, we can help decode what’s behind certain behaviors and give you tools to respond in ways that foster your child’s emotional health.

During therapy, we help your child:

  • Identify and understand their emotions: We teach children to recognize their feelings and communicate them effectively, building emotional awareness and self-regulation.
  • Develop healthy coping skills: Your child will learn strategies to manage big feelings, whether through mindfulness, movement, or sensory tools tailored to their unique needs.
  • Build stronger social connections: We support your child in navigating social dynamics, understanding boundaries, and fostering positive relationships with peers and family members.
  • Enhance self-esteem and resilience: Through strengths-based approaches, we encourage your child to see their value and build confidence in their ability to handle difficult situations.
  • Strengthen family relationships: We help parents understand what’s happening in their child’s brain, normalize many “behavioral challenges” as part of development, and create space for open communication and connection.

What To Expect In Child and Adolescent Therapy

We understand that every family has unique needs and concerns. During our initial session, we’ll take the time to get to know your family, explore your child’s experiences, and discuss your hopes for therapy. We’ll work together to develop a plan that aligns with your goals and makes your child feel safe and supported.

Therapy with children looks different from traditional talk therapy—depending on your child’s age, we may use play, art, and creative activities to help them express themselves and work through their feelings. We’ll follow your child’s lead, creating a space that feels comfortable and engaging so they can share at their own pace.

How Therapy Can Support Your Child and Family

We believe that a child’s well-being is closely linked to their family environment. That’s why we involve parents throughout the therapy process, offering insights into your child’s development and helping you create a supportive space where they feel understood and valued. By working together, we can help decode what’s behind certain behaviors and give you tools to respond in ways that foster your child’s emotional health.

During therapy, we help your child:

  • Identify and understand their emotions: We teach children to recognize their feelings and communicate them effectively, building emotional awareness and self-regulation.
  • Develop healthy coping skills: Your child will learn strategies to manage big feelings, whether through mindfulness, movement, or sensory tools tailored to their unique needs.
  • Build stronger social connections: We support your child in navigating social dynamics, understanding boundaries, and fostering positive relationships with peers and family members.
  • Enhance self-esteem and resilience: Through strengths-based approaches, we encourage your child to see their value and build confidence in their ability to handle difficult situations.
  • Strengthen family relationships: We help parents understand what’s happening in their child’s brain, normalize many “behavioral challenges” as part of development, and create space for open communication and connection.

Our Approach to Child Therapy

Our therapists use a variety of evidence-based approaches to support your child’s emotional and social development, including:
  • Play Therapy: Engaging younger children through play to help them explore their feelings and experiences in a way that feels safe and natural.
  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helping children and teens reframe negative thoughts and develop healthy responses to stress.
  • Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Teaching strategies for calming their mind and body, such as breathing exercises and visualization.
  • Parent Coaching: Providing parents with the tools to understand their child’s unique needs and strengthen the parent-child relationship.

You May Have Questions About Child Therapy…

It’s common for children to feel nervous about starting therapy. That’s why we build trust gradually through play and conversation, allowing your child to open up at their own pace. Our goal is to make therapy a positive and engaging experience for them.
Therapy isn’t about changing your child’s personality. It’s about helping them gain confidence, manage their emotions, and feel more comfortable being themselves. We work with your child’s strengths, supporting them in becoming the best version of who they already are.
While some behaviors are a normal part of growing up, if your child’s struggles are ongoing or impacting their well-being, seeking support early can make a big difference. Therapy can help your child develop skills and strategies that set them up for success in the future.

Ready To Support Your Child’s Well-Being?

If you’re ready to learn more about how child therapy can support your family, please schedule a free consultation by clicking on the button below or giving us a call at 647-360-8440. Or, if you’d like to book your child’s first session, you can make an appointment via our scheduling page.

We’re here to help your child feel confident, connected, and empowered to navigate life’s challenges.

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Land Acknowledgment – We respectfully acknowledge that we are uninvited settlers living and working on the traditional, stolen, and unceded territories of the Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, the Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee), the Attiwonderonk, the Mississauga and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, known colonially as Milton and Oakville, Ontario. We are committed to understanding the ongoing impacts of colonization and working towards decolonization.

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