Child and Family Therapy and Mental Health Services by Registered Psychotherapists

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.

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.

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).

You can find out more by reading our Upstream Counselling Clinic Policy: Child & Family Therapy: 

https://www.upstreamcounselling.com/child-family-therapy-policy