Grief and Trauma Therapy for Children and Teens

Our compassionate kids therapists in Edmonton specialize in grief and trauma therapy for children and teens. We provide a safe space where young people can process emotions, build resilience, and heal from difficult experiences. Whether it’s child therapy for a younger child or teen counselling for an adolescent, we tailor our approach to the developmental needs of each client.

Just like adults, children can experience a wide range of emotions after painful, distressing, or traumatic events. Many lack the emotional and cognitive skills to fully understand or cope with what has happened. If left to process these experiences alone, they may face long-term challenges that affect their social and emotional development, self-esteem, and view of the world. Through kids therapy and youth counselling, we help young clients find healthy ways to express themselves, understand their feelings, and strengthen their coping skills.

Please note, due to the legal requirements of our child intake process, all new child or teen (18 and under) bookings must be booked directly with our administrative team by phone, email, or through the contact page on our website.

• Grief and Loss

• Divorce or Marital Separation

• Adoption, Foster Care, or Kinship Care

• Blending of Step-Families

• Bullying

• Cognitive or Learning Disabilities

• PTSD or C-PTSD

• Childhood Abuse

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Aggression

• Difficulty with Social Skills or Peer Relationships

• Low Self-Esteem or Self-Confidence

• Parental or Family Substance Abuse or Dependence

• Parent/Caregiver-Child Attachment

• Relocation Issues

• Suicidal Ideation and/or Self-Harm

• Substance Abuse and Dependence

Theraplay®

Theraplay® is an interactive, relationship-based method of therapy designed to enhance attachment, promote self-regulation, increase trust, and strengthen engagement. It includes caregivers in a playful, structured process that addresses a range of childhood concerns. This approach is especially helpful when a caregiver is experiencing behavioural or relationship challenges with a child.

Play Therapy 

Play therapy fosters a supportive relationship between the child and therapist, using selected play materials to create an environment where the child feels safe to express and explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. This form of child therapy can help kids develop problem-solving skills, build empathy, improve social skills, and increase self-confidence. Play therapy is often used for children aged 12 and under.

Individual Therapy

We offer individual counselling for adolescents aged 12 and up. These talk therapy sessions are led by experienced youth counsellors and may include approaches such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and Harm Reduction.

Parent/Caregiver Consultation

Parenting can be challenging and exhausting. Our consultations provide practical strategies to strengthen attachment, support transitions, manage difficult emotions or behaviours, and guide your child through grief or trauma.

Circle of Security® Parenting Program

The Circle of Security® Parenting Program is a self-reflective, 8-week group for parents to support understanding of attachment and strengthening their relationship with their child. Circle of Security is a visual map of attachment that supports parents in reflecting on their child’s needs in order to promote a stronger, more secure relationship. We are hardwired for connection, and the Circle of Security program provides a model of how to connect better with our children, even when it’s hard to connect with them.

The Grief Recovery Method®: Helping Children Deal With Loss Program

The Grief Recovery Method®: Helping Children Deal with Loss Program is a 4-week educational program designed to teach parents and caregivers of children the tools to help children effectively process and heal from loss of any kind. A vast majority of parents and caregivers find themselves at a loss when trying to help their children deal with any grieving experience that impacts them. This program provides the action steps on how to equip children with lifelong tools for healthy grieving. No matter the reason behind a child’s grief or the degree of severity, if a child you care about is grieving, the guidelines explored this program can make a significant difference.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment to support children and adolescents in recovering from trauma. It incorporates both the child and caregiver(s) and is typically completed in 8-25 sessions. This therapy focuses on improving emotional, behavioural, and cognitive symptoms related to trauma, including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, although no formal diagnosis of PTSD is required. In addition, TF-CBT supports the caregiver-child relationship, the caregiver's personal distress related to the child's traumatic experience, and  education on effective parenting skills.