Child Therapy and counseling in Vaughan

What Type of Therapy Is Best for Kids?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to therapy for children — and that’s a good thing. Every child is unique, and the most effective therapy is the one that meets them where they are developmentally, emotionally, and socially. The “best” type of therapy depends on a child’s age, personality, and the specific challenges they’re facing.
Here’s a look at some of the most widely used and effective types of therapy for children:

1. Play Therapy
Best for: Younger children (ages 3–10), especially those who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally.
Children naturally process emotions through play. In play therapy, a trained therapist uses toys, art, games, and storytelling to help children express feelings, explore relationships, and work through difficult experiences in a way that feels safe and familiar.
It’s especially helpful for children dealing with:
Anxiety
Trauma
Grief or loss
Family changes (like divorce)

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Best for: School-aged children and teens who struggle with anxiety, depression, or behavior challenges.
CBT teaches kids how their thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. It helps them recognize unhelpful thoughts (like “Everyone at school hates me”) and replace them with more realistic ones, while also learning coping tools to manage stress or big emotions.
CBT is well-researched and effective for:
Generalized anxiety
OCD
Social anxiety
Depression
Anger management

3. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Best for: Children who have experienced trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence.
TF-CBT combines traditional CBT techniques with trauma-sensitive interventions. It helps children process difficult memories at their own pace, while also involving caregivers in the healing process. This model helps restore a child’s sense of safety and control.

4. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Best for: Young children (ages 2–7) with behavior issues or attachment challenges.
PCIT is a highly effective, evidence-based therapy that strengthens the parent-child relationship. A therapist coaches parents in real-time (often through a one-way mirror with a headset) to help them manage behavior, reduce power struggles, and increase emotional connection.

5. Family Therapy
Best for: Situations where family dynamics or conflict are impacting a child’s emotional health.
Family therapy works with the whole system — parents, siblings, and sometimes extended family — to improve communication, set healthy boundaries, and reduce tension. It’s especially helpful when a child is caught in the middle of family stress, like divorce, conflict, or blended family transitions.

6. Art or Music Therapy
Best for: Children who are creative, shy, or have trouble putting emotions into words.
Creative therapies use non-verbal expression to explore feelings, build confidence, and heal trauma. These approaches are great for kids with sensory needs, developmental differences, or emotional overwhelm.

So, Which Therapy Is “Best”?
The right type of therapy depends on:
The child’s age and developmental stage
Their specific symptoms or challenges
Their comfort level and personality
Family involvement and support
Often, a good therapist will blend different approaches to fit the child’s needs rather than using just one model.

At Tikvah Family Services, we believe therapy should never feel one-size-fits-all. Our experienced therapists are trained in a variety of child-centered modalities, and we take time to match each child with the approach — and therapist — that fits them best. Whether your child is struggling with worry, behavior, trauma, or big life changes, we’re here to help them (and you) find healing, hope, and growth.

How to Help a Child Who Worries Too Much
All children worry from time to time — it’s a normal part of growing up. But when worry becomes constant, overwhelming, or starts to interfere with everyday life, it can be a sign that a child needs extra support. As parents, caregivers, or educators, there are many ways we can help a child who worries too much feel safe, understood, and empowered.
1. Listen Without Judgment
The first and most important step is to really listen. When a child shares their worries — even if they seem small or irrational — it’s vital to take them seriously. Avoid saying things like “Don’t worry about that” or “That’s silly.” Instead, try:
“That sounds really hard. I’m so glad you told me.”
“It makes sense that you’re feeling that way.”
Validation helps children feel seen and heard, which often begins to lower anxiety right away.
2. Name the Worry
You can help a child externalize their worry by giving it a name — some families call it “the worry monster” or “the what-if voice.” This small act creates some distance between the child and their anxious thoughts. Instead of thinking “I’m scared”, the child can learn to say “My worry voice is telling me something scary” — and that shift gives them more power.
3. Teach Simple Coping Skills
Children benefit from tools they can use when they feel overwhelmed. A few techniques to try:
Deep Breathing: Teach them to breathe in slowly through the nose for 4 counts, hold for 2, and breathe out through the mouth for 4 counts.
Grounding Exercises: “Name 5 things you see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, 1 thing you taste.”
Positive Self-Talk: Help them create calming statements like “I can handle this,” or “Worry doesn’t control me.”
4. Create a Worry Routine
Some children benefit from having a scheduled “worry time” each day — 10–15 minutes when they can talk about anything on their minds. Outside of that time, you can gently remind them, “Let’s save that for your worry time.” This helps keep anxiety from taking over the whole day.
5. Model Calm and Confidence
Children often look to adults to gauge how serious a situation is. If they see you reacting with calmness and confidence — even if you’re worried too — they’re more likely to feel secure. That doesn’t mean you have to pretend everything is fine, but rather show them that it’s possible to manage feelings without being overwhelmed by them.
6. Stick to Routines
Predictability helps anxious children feel safe. Try to maintain consistent routines for meals, bedtime, school, and activities whenever possible. When a change is coming, give your child advance notice and talk it through.
7. Limit Reassurance-Seeking
It’s natural for worried kids to ask for constant reassurance — “Are you sure I’ll be okay?” While it can be tempting to keep answering, too much reassurance can actually feed anxiety. Instead, you might say:
“I think you already know the answer.”
“What do you think will happen?”
“Let’s talk back to the worry voice together.”
8. Know When to Get Professional Help
If your child’s worries are interfering with school, sleep, friendships, or daily functioning, it might be time to speak with a mental health professional. Child therapists can help kids learn new coping skills and uncover the roots of their anxiety in a safe and supportive environment.

At Tikvah Family Services, we understand how heavy worry can feel — not just for children, but for the whole family. Our team offers gentle, age-appropriate support for anxious kids and guidance for parents who want to help them thrive. You don’t have to walk this path alone — we’re here to help.

What Is Childhood Therapy?
Childhood therapy, also known as child counseling or pediatric therapy, is a specialized form of psychological support designed to help children understand, express, and manage their emotions and behaviors in a healthy way. It provides a safe space where children can work through challenges with the guidance of a trained professional, often using methods that are tailored to their age, development, and individual needs.
Why Children Need Therapy
Just like adults, children experience stress, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. However, unlike adults, children may not have the words or emotional skills to express what they’re going through. Instead, they may show their distress through behavior—such as acting out, withdrawing, changes in sleep or appetite, or regression to earlier developmental stages.
Therapy can help children:
Process difficult experiences (e.g., divorce, death of a loved one, bullying)
Develop emotional regulation skills
Improve communication and social skills
Manage anxiety, depression, or attention difficulties
Heal from trauma or neglect
Build self-esteem and resilience
How Childhood Therapy Works
Childhood therapy looks different from adult therapy. Depending on the child’s age, developmental stage, and presenting concerns, therapists may use a variety of approaches.
1. Play Therapy
Play is a child’s natural language. In play therapy, children use toys, art, games, or storytelling to express thoughts and feelings they might not be able to verbalize. The therapist observes and gently guides the process to help the child process emotions and resolve internal conflicts.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is an evidence-based approach that helps children identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with more constructive ones. It’s often used with older children and teens dealing with anxiety, depression, or behavioral issues.
3. Trauma-Focused Therapy
When a child has experienced trauma, therapists may use specialized approaches like Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) or EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help the child safely process and heal from traumatic memories.
4. Family Therapy
Sometimes, the best way to help a child is to involve the whole family. Family therapy focuses on improving communication, relationships, and patterns within the family system. It can be especially helpful when family dynamics are contributing to a child’s distress.
5. Parent Coaching and Support
Therapists often work closely with parents or caregivers, offering guidance on how to support the child at home, manage behaviors, and foster healthy emotional development. This collaboration is key to long-term success.
When to Consider Therapy for a Child
Every child has tough days or goes through difficult phases. But if you notice persistent emotional or behavioral issues that interfere with their daily life, relationships, or development, it may be time to seek professional support. Signs a child may benefit from therapy include:
Frequent meltdowns, aggression, or outbursts
Withdrawal from friends or family
Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
Decline in school performance
Excessive fears, worries, or sadness
Self-harming behaviors or talk of suicide
Difficulty adjusting to major life changes
Early intervention can make a big difference. Therapy helps children build emotional tools that will serve them not just now, but throughout their lives.
Creating a Safe and Supportive Space
At its core, childhood therapy is about helping children feel seen, heard, and understood. It’s about creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where they can express themselves freely and begin to heal or grow.
At Tikvah Family Services, we understand that every child is unique — and so is their healing journey. Our therapists are trained to meet children where they are and help them move toward where they want to be, emotionally and developmentally. Whether your child is facing big challenges or simply needs help navigating growing up, we’re here to walk alongside your family with compassion and expertise.

Sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, therapy doesn’t seem to “work” the way we hoped — especially for children. It can be frustrating and even disheartening for parents and caregivers who just want to see their child thrive. But it’s important to know that this doesn’t mean the child is “unreachable” or that therapy is a failure.
Here are some key things to consider when therapy doesn’t seem effective:
1. It may not be the right type of therapy.
There are many therapeutic approaches — play therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), art therapy, trauma-informed care, and more. A child might not respond well to one approach but could flourish with another. It’s okay to explore different methods.
2. The therapist-child match matters.
The relationship between a child and their therapist is foundational. If a child doesn’t feel safe or connected to the therapist, it’s hard for progress to happen. Finding the right fit can take time, but it makes a big difference.
3. Timing is important.
Sometimes a child isn’t ready to engage in therapy, especially if they don’t fully understand why they’re there. Therapy may be more effective later, when the child is more open or developmentally prepared to participate.
4. Progress might look different than expected.
Change in children can be slow and subtle. It might show up as increased emotional vocabulary, small behavioral shifts, or fewer outbursts — signs that can be easy to miss if we’re only looking for big changes.
5. A whole-family approach may help.
Therapy isn’t just about “fixing” the child — it’s about supporting the whole family. Sometimes working with parents or caregivers in parallel (or instead) leads to meaningful progress for the child. When the family system changes, kids often follow.
At Tikvah Family Services, we believe every child is capable of healing and growth — even if the journey looks different than expected. If therapy doesn’t seem to be working, it might be time to pause, reassess, and explore new paths together. We’re here to help you do just that.