Compassionate therapy to help your child manage anxiety, behavioural issues, school struggles, and more. Get the support your child needs.
There doesn’t have to be something wrong for your child to come into therapy. Developing a relationship before there’s a bigger issue is an excellent way to help your child benefit from the support and connection they can feel with their therapist. It’s also a place where they can learn and practice the skills needed to manage challenges now and in the future.
Our approach to therapy is as unique as your child themselves! Just as kids learn in different ways, they also express themselves differently and have differing comfort levels about how much they share directly.
As we get to know your child, we determine which methods will allow them to best express their thoughts and feelings and learn coping skills. We integrate multiple approaches to create a treatment plan tailored specifically to your child.
The therapist and the child engage in conversation to explore and address the child’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It is usually more appropriate for older children and adolescents who have the verbal skills to express their feelings and comprehend the therapeutic process.
Play therapy is most often used with children and involves using play as a way for children to communicate and express themselves. Kids naturally use play to explore their environment and emotions. Thus, it is a great way to help children express their feelings and work through emotional struggles. As part of play therapy, the therapist may use a variety of materials and techniques that are engaging for children. For example, puppets, dolls, art materials, or sand play.
Art therapy uses creative methods to help children express their thoughts and feelings when words are not enough. This could involve drawing, painting, sculpture, or other forms of artistic expression. The child’s artwork can be a gateway to discussion, allowing them to express their feelings indirectly and helping the therapist understand their emotional state.
This approach involves the therapist explicitly teaching the child new skills or strategies to cope with their difficulties. This can include social skills, problem-solving strategies, emotional regulation skills, or coping mechanisms for managing stress and anxiety. The therapist then helps the child practice these skills and integrate them into their daily life.
CBT helps children understand the link between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It encourages them to identify and challenge negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier, more positive ones. CBT can be especially effective in treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
DBT is a type of cognitive behavioural therapy that focuses on helping children manage their emotions and cope with stress. DBT teaches skills in four areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. It’s often used for adolescents who have difficulties with emotion regulation or are exhibiting self-harming behaviours.
This approach to therapy is meant to help children and their parents better understand and manage their emotions. It encourages children to express their emotions in a safe and supportive setting, and it teaches them how to identify and respond to their emotional needs in a healthier manner. It can be especially beneficial for children who have experienced trauma or emotional disturbances.
This strategy is based on the notion that challenging behaviours in children are frequently the result of lagging skills rather than willful disobedience. Using this approach, we collaborate with the child and their family to identify the skills the child is lagging in and come up with collaborative solutions. This can help children improve their problem-solving abilities as well as their relationships with others.
ERP is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy that is often used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children. The therapy involves teaching relaxation skills and then gradually exposing the child to the thoughts, images, objects, and situations that make them anxious and preventing the accompanying compulsive behaviour. Over time, this can help children manage their anxiety and reduce their obsessive-compulsive behaviours.
This form of therapy teaches children to accept their feelings and thoughts without judgement and to take action based on their values rather than their fears. ACT helps children develop psychological flexibility and can be particularly useful for those who are struggling with anxiety or depression. The focus is less on reducing symptoms and more on promoting positive behaviours and experiences.
This form of therapy is used to help children process traumatic or upsetting events that have occurred in their lives. It helps their brain reprocess these memories and reduce distressing thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and sensations associated with these memories. Child-friendly techniques such as play, sand tray, or art are often incorporated to make the process developmentally appropriate and engaging for kids.
We believe therapy is part of living a healthy life; you don’t have to be in crisis or facing an emergency to seek support. Our practice is built on long-term connections and we walk with you as you navigate the different phases and challenges in your life.
While working with children and adolescents is what we’re best known for, we extend our specialized assessment and therapeutic support services to parents, adults and couples who are on their own path to healing and living a life they love.
We listen to understand your story, concerns, and goals and determine if therapy is right for your child.
We use an integrated approach to build a personalized plan, taking a strength and evidence-based approach to therapy.
We assess what’s working and track the progress being made so we can keep working towards your goals.
Children’s actions frequently reveal their emotions and how they are coping with different situations. It’s possible that your child is dealing with difficult circumstances, stress, or emotions that they aren’t yet able to hold and handle. Their behaviours serve as an outlet for these emotions.
Just like physical growth, emotional and behavioural development varies between children. Some behaviours may be part of typical development, while others might indicate a potential concern. During our initial assessment, we can provide insight into whether the behaviour is developmentally appropriate and if intervention might be helpful.
As child therapists, we have various tools and techniques to help children express their feelings, understand their behaviour, and develop healthier coping strategies. Through different therapies such as play, art, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, we can provide a safe and supportive environment for your child to explore and overcome their difficulties.
The frequency of therapy sessions often depends on the specific needs of the child. Typically, sessions are every other week, but this can fluctuate based on the severity of the issues being addressed and how your child is responding to therapy. It’s a decision best made in collaboration with the therapist, considering the child’s needs and the family’s schedule.
That’s perfectly okay and quite common. Our therapists are skilled at building rapport and trust with children, and not all therapy involves talking. Play and art therapy can be especially helpful for children who find it hard to express their feelings with words. It may take time, but the goal is to create a safe space where your child feels comfortable.
The results of a therapeutic journey are different for each child, but in general you can expect to see certain improvements to differing degrees. You may notice that your child:
If you’re looking to get started with J. Gordon Psychology Group, get in touch! You can email, call or submit a message using our contact form.
780-938-4473
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4710 99th st. NW Edmonton,
Alberta T6E 5H5