Therapy can be highly beneficial for children and adolescents for various reasons, as it provides a supportive and structured environment for emotional, social, and cognitive development.

1) Emotional Expression and Regulation: Children and adolescents may struggle to articulate and understand their emotions. Therapy provides a safe space for them to express their feelings, helping them develop emotional awareness and regulation skills.

2) Coping Skills: Therapy equips young individuals with effective coping mechanisms to deal with stress, anxiety, and other challenges. Learning healthy coping skills early in life can contribute to long-term emotional well-being.

3) Behavioural Issues: Therapists can help address and manage behaviours such as aggression, defiance, or attention difficulties. Gaining an understanding of the ‘why’ behind behaviours, and replacing maladaptive coping strategies improves functioning at home, in school and in social settings.

4) Social Skills Development: Children and adolescents may face difficulties in forming and maintaining positive relationships. Therapy can provide guidance on social skills, empathy, communication, and conflict resolution, fostering healthier interactions with peers and family members.

5) Academic Performance: Emotional and mental well-being is closely linked to academic success. Therapy can help address issues such as stress, perfectionism, and test anxiety, thereby enhancing a child's overall academic performance.

6) Family Dynamics: Therapy can involve family sessions, allowing for the exploration and improvement of family dynamics. Addressing family issues can positively impact a child's emotional and psychological well-being, as the family environment plays a crucial role in a child's development.

7) Trauma and Grief Support: Children and adolescents may experience trauma or loss, and therapy provides a space to process and heal from these experiences. Therapists can offer guidance on understanding and coping with difficult emotions associated with trauma and grief.

8) Identity Development: Adolescence is a critical period for identity development. Therapy can assist adolescents in exploring their identity, values, and beliefs, helping them navigate the challenges of self-discovery.

9) Prevention of Mental Health Issues: Early intervention through therapy can help prevent the development of more severe mental health issues later in life. Identifying and addressing concerns early on can mitigate the risk of long-term psychological challenges.

10) Enhancing Resilience: Therapy can contribute to the development of resilience in children and adolescents, helping them bounce back from setbacks and navigate life's challenges with a more positive mindset.

Initial Contact and Assessment:

Contact: The process often begins with an initial contact between the potential client or their parents (in the case of children) and the therapist. This can be a phone call or email.

Assessment: An initial assessment is completed to understand the client's or child's concerns, background, and goals for therapy. This may involve discussing presenting issues, personal history, and any relevant information.

Establishing Trust and Rapport:

Building a strong therapeutic alliance is crucial. The therapist works on creating a safe and trusting environment where the client feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings.

Goal Setting:

Based on the assessment, the therapist and client collaboratively establish goals for therapy. These goals help guide the therapeutic process and provide a framework for measuring progress.

Therapeutic Interventions:

Depending on the therapeutic approach (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy), the therapist employs specific interventions and techniques to address the client's concerns. These may include discussions, activities, and exercises to provide opportunities to practice new skills and strategies.

Ongoing Communication:

Regular sessions are scheduled for the client and therapist to meet. The frequency of sessions can vary, typically ranging from weekly to bi-weekly. Individual therapy is 50 minutes in length (plus 10 minutes for documentation).

Feedback and Adjustment:

Throughout the therapy process, feedback is provided, and the therapist and client collaboratively assess progress. If necessary, goals and treatment strategies may be adjusted to better meet the client's evolving needs.

Skill Building and Coping Strategies:

Therapists often teach clients coping skills, stress management techniques, and strategies to navigate challenges. This is particularly important for children and adolescents who may be learning these skills for the first time.

Exploration and Insight:

In therapy, individuals explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The therapist helps clients gain insights into patterns of thinking and behaving, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves.

Termination and Transition:

As therapy progresses and goals are achieved, the process of termination is discussed. This involves preparing the client for the end of formal therapy, acknowledging progress, and discussing strategies for maintaining gains in the future.

Follow-Up and Maintenance:

Some individuals may benefit from periodic follow-up sessions or check-ins to ensure that they are maintaining progress and managing challenges effectively.

Alberta Health Care does not cover psychological/counselling services. You might find coverage through extended health care insurance, a personal health spending account, or an employee and family assistance plan. Contact your Human Resources department or insurer for details on available coverage.​ Insurance companies will not be billed directly. An invoice and receipt will be provided so you can work with your insurance company to seek coverage for expenses. Payment is required at the time of the session.

Individual therapy: $220.00 per hr (50 minute session).

Cancellations: Stephanie requires 24 hours notice to cancel appointments. Cancellation with less than 24 hours notice is subject to $100.00 fee.

*The full fee of the session will be charged if an appointment is missed or forgotten. To move or cancel an appointment, please contact Stephanie directly by email or phone.