Child/Youth & Play Therapy Langley
Giving kids permission to play.
Child/Youth & Play Therapy is a fantastic way to engage children in feeling comfortable enough to share what they’re going through and feeling. At Transitions Counselling Centre, we give them permission to play and in return, they open up to us.
PLAY THERAPY CAN HELP
The use of play therapy as a tool helps children work through emotional issues. It allows children to form deeper self-esteem which helps improve their lives. Child/Youth & Play Therapy can be used to address these concerns and others:
- Behavioural concerns
- Attachment
- Emotional concerns
- Relationships
- Communication development
- Traumatic past experiences
Children are often not able to communicate their feelings in the same way adults do. This type of therapy allows children to recreate, and with the assistance of the therapist, discuss the feelings and emotions they’re feeling. Whether it’s sadness, anger, worry or extreme happiness, all feelings are welcome during play therapy.
TECHNIQUES USED IN SESSIONS
There are a variety of types of expressive play therapy including dramatic and fantasy play, sandbox play and art-focused play. When a child comes to us, we allow them to explore the office and select the play activities they want to do. This helps build trust and a therapeutic alliance between the child and therapist.
The child’s therapist may also choose certain activities to help certain types of emotions or reactions come out. For example, they may encourage the child to play with dolls to elicit emotions pertaining to family.
HOW WE WORK OUR MAGIC
This type of child therapy works best when it happens consistently. So, having a predictable schedule of the day and time remaining the same allows your children to get comfortable with us.
While a parent may want to ask questions to their child about the session, allow your child to reach out to share first. If the parent is tempted to ask, it could hurt the trust and comfortability that the therapist has worked to gain with the child.
We are here to support you along your journey.
MEET THE CHILD/YOUTH & PLAY THERAPY LANGLEY TEAM
LISA MOORE
MA Counselling Psychology, RCC, CCC
Clinical Counsellor and Certified Play Therapy Supervisor
It’s my goal to help people heal and grow through periods of transitions in their lives. Many of us experience loss, grief or unhappiness as we transition from one role to another in our daily lives.
It’s my honour to help counsel you during these difficult transitions and help you heal from any of these experiences:
- Dreams you don’t achieve
- Changes in career
- Diagnosis of a child with special needs
- A loved one entering long term care
- Divorce from a spouse
- Beginning of a new marriage
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I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) through BCCAC. I am also licensed through CCPA and hold a CCC license. I completed my Masters of Counselling Psychology at Trinity Western University and began working in my own private practice in 2016. Before going back to school to pursue my masters, I worked as a senior executive in sales and marketing. I believe that my unique education has allowed me to help people grow and develop and create change for themselves.
About 10 years ago, I became involved in helping a family with special needs children and it was through that journey that I came to the work I am most passionate about; helping parents of special needs families. Using play therapy, I am able to access children for ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Autism and other types of learning disabilities.
The following list below are my areas of specialization:
- Personal development
- Assertiveness / Boundaries
- Depression, anxiety & panic disorders
- Phobias
- Past or recent trauma or abuse
- Relationship and couples counselling
- Addictions
- Divorce, separation and blended families
- Eating disorders and addictions
- Life transitions
- Gender dysphoria, LGBTQ transitions & other issues
- Communication building
- Grief counselling
- Career planning
CHILD AND YOUTH THERAPY
- Child play therapy
- Self esteem and confidence coaching
- Anxiety and depression
- Career exploration with youth
- Dealing with separation and divorce from the child and parents perspective
- Helping parents and children with strategies to deal with ADHD and ADD
- Assessments for Autism, ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder
PARENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ADVOCACY AND MEDIATION:
- Access to assessments and diagnosis
- Psycho-educational, Autism, ADHD testing
- Referral to local psychologists for assessments and testing
- Referral to local behavioural consultants and creating a behavioural intervention team
- Mediation with school districts and IEP planning
- Access to 3rd party funding and Ministry of Children and Family case workers
- Completing government and agency paperwork to obtain funding, therapy and resources
- Family planning at transitional ages: birth, school age and adult
DESIREE DSILVA
MA Counselling Psychology, RCC, CCC
Clinical Counselor and Certified Play Therapist with a Specialization in Anxiety
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I have a Master’s degree in counselling psychology, and I will be licenced as a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) from the Canadian Psychotherapy Association in a few months.
NADINE VIKER
Certified Play Therapist | Behavioural Technician
As parents we sometimes feel at a loss as to how to help our child, particularly when they are experiencing difficulties in more than one area of their lives: at school, with friends, regulating emotions, academically, socially or behaviourally. My personal experience and my love for children has helped me to realize that many parents need support and I have a passion for helping children and parents navigate these challenges.
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My drive and my passion for helping children took me to Stenberg College where I worked on and completed my certification as an Education Assistant. I took my passion for working with children and started working in the school-based system where I enjoyed 5 plus years. My time in the school-based system opened my eyes to the increasing behaviors in the classroom, but most of these children had no support as they were diagnosed with ADHD or other behavioural issues. I felt there was a need to understand and help these kids to understand themselves and to navigate the school setting that was so turbulent for them, so I designed a program based on accountability and awareness that has been extremely successful. I felt there was so much more to learn so I broadened my scope and took Expressive Play Therapy and Play Therapies at the Justice Institute Of BC. I have also attended Sand Play Therapy at Trinity Western University. I have been working as a Behavioral Technician at Crossroads Collective and with my added training can also offer Play Therapy Counselling in addition to my skills as a behavioural specialist. I am excited to share my training, education and passion for helping children. It is a pleasure for me to work with a child, inclusive and alongside the families, to give a comprehensive and overall panoptic treatment plan
SHANNON LAWRENCE
Certified Play Therapist | Behavioural Programmer
Are you stuck at a crossroad in your life, and you are not sure which road to take? Let me assist you in teaching you the skills you need to grow yourself and or your children. I can help your child deal with unexpected life struggles and behaviors. Or are you struggling with a recent separation/divorce? I can help! I have experience in Play Therapy, CBT, Grief Therapy, and run Grief Support Groups. I can be utilized as a Behavioural Consultant, Play Therapist, or Grief Therapist. My goal is to help you support your child or support you in your journey right now.
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As an empathic listener for my clients, I treat them with kindness and a non-judgemental approach. I believe that all people pose an internal drive towards positive change and growth. Let me assist you in reaching new goals for your child/youth and family. I have had experience working with a wide range of children and families, blended, or separated.
Some of the diagnoses that I have worked with are Anxiety Disorders, ADHD, ODD, OCD, Behavior Issues, Stress, Autism, Grief. I have helped families in all these areas, plus more. I have a passion for teaching, playing, learning, and bringing out the best in all. Let me assist you on your journey or your child’s journey. We are in this together!
CASSANDRA HILDEBRAND
Clinical Counsellor | Behavioural Programmer
Play is a crucial factor in healthy child development. Play therapy helps children work through difficult life issues and experiences. The best outcome to my intervention is looking for strengths in each individual child and using those to support their specific area of need. I will create a comfortable, safe environment that will allow your child to express their feelings and develop healthier behaviours; such as promoting healing, encouraging creativity, introducing new ways of thinking, learning problem solving and developing better social skills.
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Through collective collaboration I will support your child with practical techniques that can be implemented into daily life. My goal is to build a strong foundation for the now and future by incorporating play and having fun into our sessions. I love finding ways to disguise work as games to create a positive and enriching experience for your child. I can ensure you peace of mind knowing your child will enjoy their time with me and look forward to coming back.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology with Trinity Western University.
For the past ten years I have worked with children in a variety of settings including, home-based, swim instructing, and community-based programs. I was employed with Langley School District as both a Special Education Assistant and a Child and Youth Care Worker supporting students in elementary schools.
TRACY TILLAPAUGH
Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
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I have training in Satir family systems, EMDR, CBT (Cognitive behavioural therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), and I work from a holistic perspective.