Emotions can be hard for children to make sense of on their own. In child and family therapy, we create space for children to notice what they’re feeling, put words to it, and find ways of expressing it that fit their age and situation.

Play, art, and mindfulness-based approaches are often part of this process because they give children different ways to communicate when words aren’t enough. Over time, this can help children better understand their emotional responses and feel more able to manage them day to day, with support from their caregivers and therapist.

Behavioural challenges in children are often connected to underlying emotional needs, stressors, or difficulties with communication and regulation. In child and family therapy at Upstream Counselling, we work with families to better understand what may be contributing to these patterns and how to respond in supportive and developmentally appropriate ways.

Managing disruptive or oppositional behaviour:
Some children may struggle with frustration, transitions, or limits, which can show up as outbursts, defiance, or difficulty following expectations. Child and family therapy may support children in noticing triggers and exploring alternative ways of responding, while also supporting caregivers in responding with consistency and structure.

Supporting attention and focus challenges:
For children experiencing difficulties with attention, concentration, or impulsivity (including traits commonly associated with ADHD), therapy may focus on building practical strategies for regulation, organization, and emotional awareness that can support functioning at home, school, and in social settings.

Addressing withdrawal or heightened reactivity:
Some children cope with stress by withdrawing, shutting down, or becoming more reactive in relationships. Therapy may help explore what is happening underneath these responses and support more flexible ways of communicating needs and emotions.

Supporting routines and daily functioning:
Child and family therapy can also explore challenges with routines such as schoolwork, transitions, sleep, or daily responsibilities. Together with caregivers, we may look at strategies that support predictability, structure, and age-appropriate independence.

Working with caregivers as part of the process:
Caregiver involvement is often an important part of child and family therapy. We may work together on strategies that support consistency at home, strengthen communication, and help families respond to behavioural concerns in a way that feels more manageable.

Childhood stress and traumatic experiences can affect how children understand safety, relationships, emotions, and behaviour. In child and family therapy at Upstream Counselling, we use a trauma-informed approach that is developmentally appropriate and responsive to each child’s needs and family context.

Using trauma-informed, evidence-informed approaches:
Depending on clinical fit, therapy may include approaches such as EMDR-informed work, somatic awareness strategies, attachment-focused work, and other integrative modalities. These approaches may support children in processing experiences at a pace that feels safe and manageable for them.

Creating a safe and predictable therapeutic environment:
A consistent and supportive therapeutic relationship can be an important part of working with stress and trauma. Child and family therapy provides a structured space where children can develop trust, emotional safety, and a sense of stability over time.

Supporting coping and emotional regulation:
Therapy may help children build awareness of their emotional responses and develop strategies for managing distress. These skills can support children in navigating stressors in daily life with greater flexibility and support.

Making sense of experiences in a developmentally appropriate way:
When appropriate, therapy may involve helping children explore and organize their experiences in a way that fits their developmental stage. This can support understanding and integration of difficult experiences over time.

Supporting caregivers and family relationships:
Caregiver involvement is often an important part of trauma-informed child and family therapy. We work collaboratively with families to strengthen communication, support co-regulation, and reinforce a sense of safety within the family system.

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Some children and teens experience complex emotional and behavioural challenges that may include difficulties related to anxiety, low mood, self-harm behaviours, disordered eating patterns, or substance use. In child and family therapy at Upstream Counselling, we provide developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed support that focuses on safety, understanding, and emotional stabilization within the family context.

Supporting awareness and early identification:
Child and family therapy can help caregivers and young people better understand changes in mood, behaviour, or coping that may indicate distress. Where appropriate, we may support families in recognizing when additional care or coordination with other services could be helpful.

Creating a safe and supportive therapeutic space:
Therapy offers a non-judgmental environment where children and teens can speak openly about difficult emotions such as shame, fear, or confusion. Building trust in the therapeutic relationship is often an important first step in addressing complex concerns.

Using developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed approaches:
Depending on clinical fit, therapy may include approaches such as CBT, DBT-informed strategies, somatic awareness, and other integrative modalities. These approaches may support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and healthier coping strategies over time.

Supporting identity, self-understanding, and coping:
Child and family therapy may support young people in developing a stronger sense of self and increased awareness of their emotional needs and coping patterns. This process can help them explore alternative ways of responding to distress with support from their therapist and caregivers.

Working collaboratively with families and care systems:
Caregiver involvement and collaboration with other supports may be an important part of care, particularly when concerns are more complex. This helps ensure consistency, communication, and coordinated support around the child or teen.

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Upstream Counselling Clinic Policy: Child & Family Therapy

At Upstream Counselling, our therapists prioritize the wellbeing of your whole family.

Therapy involving or concerning children aged 15 years or younger is guided by our Child and Family Therapy policy. This means our approach to working with children takes into consideration their context within the family system.

We believe child and family therapy is most effective when custodial parties (i.e. parents / guardians) share a general agreement concerning the purpose of therapy, the goals of therapy, and the role of the therapist. Your therapist will insist on alignment before therapy can begin (or continue).

Please note: Upstream therapists do not act as mediator, investigator, assessor, or expert witness; neither do we provide legal documentation of any kind for use in family court.

Initial Consultation

Your initial consultation is an opportunity to meet the therapist, discuss presenting concerns, share context, ask questions, and review the process.

Your child is welcome to join the video call at the beginning or end of the meeting for an introductory interaction. However, the primary value of the consultation is to establish rapport among the adults.

First session

Similarly, we ask that your child(ren) not attend the first session.

Experience has taught us the importance of ensuring the custodial parties and the therapist build a mutual understanding of the child’s needs prior to involving the child directly so that therapy can be informed by your unique family dynamic.

Both custodial parents (or legal guardians with decision-making authority) are expected to attend the initial child and family therapy session.

If one custodial parent is unable to participate due to exceptional circumstances (for example, incarceration, serious illness, a court order restricting contact), please discuss this with our clinic in advance so we can determine how therapy may proceed and what documentation (for example, agreements or court orders impacting parental decision-making), if any, may be required.

Before Therapy Proceeds

Depending on your family circumstances, Upstream Counselling requires certain information to support informed consent, appropriate care, and administrative clarity. This may include:

• Confirmation that all custodial parties (who are reasonably available to consent) are aware their child is attending sessions at Upstream Counselling
• Disclosure of custody agreements, parenting arrangements, decision-making authority, and / or court orders relevant to psychotherapy
• Disclosure of any ongoing or anticipated legal proceedings that may affect your family’s involvement in psychotherapy
• Confirmation of financial responsibility for services, including fees for sessions, late cancellations, and no-shows.

Except in very limited or exceptional circumstances, all individuals with legal custodial decision-making authority for a child must provide informed consent before therapy begins.

Participant Expectations

Child and family therapy is most effective when custodial parties participate collaboratively in support of the wellbeing of the child(ren).

This includes:

• Agreement on the goals of therapy
• Willingness to participate actively in psychotherapy
• Acceptance that the therapist’s role is to support the therapeutic process in a neutral and clinically appropriate way, rather than to act on behalf of either parent
• Acceptance that psychotherapy is for therapeutic support only, and is not intended to serve or advance any legal purpose

Legal Involvement

Where legal proceedings or court-related matters are concerned:

• Psychotherapy may be adjusted, paused, or discontinued to preserve therapeutic neutrality
• Psychotherapy may be adjusted, paused, or discontinued if the clinical focus of treatment cannot be maintained

Session Fees

All child and family therapy sessions are billed at the family therapy rate, regardless of whether one, two, or multiple family members attend. The fee is based on the type of service provided, not the number of participants present.

Documentation & Disclosure

Session notes are clinical records created to support therapeutic care. They are not legal, forensic, or standalone interpretive documents.

You have a right to access your client records. When information is requested, Upstream Counselling will consider your consent and input regarding what is being requested and how information is shared. Depending on the purpose of the request and what is clinically appropriate, information may be provided as full records or as a clinical summary. Clinical summaries are used to present relevant information in a clear and contextualized way that reflects the therapeutic work.

Therapeutic Alignment and Communication

Ongoing participation in therapy depends on the ability to maintain sufficient agreement between custodial parties to support the child and family’s therapeutic needs. Should a disagreement arise, your therapist will require a session with the custodial parties (without the child present) to clarify concerns and re-establish shared agreement on the purpose and goals of the therapeutic process. If this agreement cannot be re-established, the therapist will recommend adjusting the focus of services or pausing therapy.

Termination Criteria

Child and family therapy may be paused or ended under any of the following conditions:

• When ongoing conflict between custodial parties significantly interferes with the child’s ability to benefit from therapy
• When, in the therapist’s assessment, therapy is being leveraged primarily for legal purposes rather than therapeutic purposes
• When financial, consent, or administrative issues prevent the clinic from continuing services safely and ethically
• When the therapist is unable to maintain a neutral and clinically focused role in supporting the child

Exclusion Criteria

Upstream Counselling cannot provide psychotherapy services in situations involving significant ongoing conflict between custodial parties where this interferes with the ability to engage in a focused therapeutic process.

The clinic is also unable to provide services in situations involving active or anticipated court proceedings related to custody or access, including matters involving the Office of the Children’s Lawyer or similar legal processes.

If these circumstances are identified at intake or arise during the course of therapy, services may be paused or discontinued in order to maintain appropriate clinical boundaries and support the child’s wellbeing.

Intake Policy (Ages 16–17)

At Upstream Counselling, our goal is to provide flexible, developmentally informed care that supports the needs of the child while also recognizing the important role of the family.

If your child is aged 16 or 17, they have the autonomy to opt for private, individual therapy. However, your child will still be matched with a clinician from our child and family team who will still encourage your child to be open to parental involvement, where appropriate. This helps ensure your child is connected with a therapist who has specialized training and experience in adolescent and family dynamics, and who can provide both individual therapy and collaborative family involvement as treatment evolves.

Communication between sessions

At Upstream Counselling we understand that you may want to reach out to your therapist between sessions. While we welcome your correspondence, please note your therapist will not respond to clinical matters by email. Therapy-related questions, concerns, and reflections are best addressed in session so that your therapist can respond with the care, context, and attention required.

If something is urgent or time-sensitive, please reach out to our administrative team. In an emergency, please contact emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department.