Child Psychologist Edmonton

Here are some key signs that a child might need additional help or support:

• Sudden changes in behavior or mood
• Difficulty concentrating or declining academic performance
• Social withdrawal or isolation from friends and family
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Excessive worry, anxiety, or fearfulness
• Aggressive behavior or frequent outbursts
• Physical complaints with no apparent medical cause
• Talk of self-harm or suicide
• Substance use or risky behaviors
• Regression to earlier developmental stages

If you notice several of these signs persisting over time, please give us a call today.

Counselling gives your child a safe, engaging and comfortable space where they can express themselves. Counselling can help your child:
• Heal from trauma
• Work through experiences of grief and loss
• Manage and cope with challenging emotions
• Boost their confidence and self-esteem
• Develop problem-solving skills
• Identify the root causes of their behavioural issues and guide them toward positive patterns
• Develop better social skills
• With support during major life changes or transitions

Counselling for a child can also provide significant benefits for parents, helping them in various ways:
• Help parents better understand their child’s emotional and psychological needs
• Strengthen the bond between parents and child through healthy communication patterns
• Support children during times of change, transition or loss
• Offer practical strategies and tools for managing behaviours, setting boundaries, and fostering a positive home environment
• Introduce and support new coping skills and problem-solving skills
• Empower them to make informed decisions and advocate for their child’s needs
• Relieve some of the worry and anxiety parents may be facing about their child

Counselling can be intimidating at any age, especially for children who may feel afraid to talk to someone they don’t know or be scared of the process. It is understandable that children may be hesitant to try something unfamiliar, but there are several approaches you can take to help your child feel more comfortable with the idea:
• Have an open and non-judgemental conversation with your child about counselling and how it can help
• Normalize therapy for your child, talk about how it is a common and helpful way for people to talk about their emotions and find solutions to their problems
• Allow your child to be involved in the process (finding the therapist, deciding on the topics they want to talk about/what they don’t want to talk about)
• Be supportive, let your child know they can talk to you about how they feel and how they feel about therapy
• Start gradually with therapy, suggest one session to see how it goes
• Consider alternative formats of therapy, like art therapy, play therapy, etc.
• Utilize positive reinforcements if needed, offering a small incentive can motivate a reluctant child to attend therapy. Use it as a reward, not a bribe.

At Insight Psychological, we provide services for children and adolescents between the ages of 3 to 17.

For children aged 3-9, therapy sessions will always include a parent. For those aged 10-12, parental involvement is typically included. For children aged 13-17, parents may be involved depending on the situation.

Various treatment methods are effective for children and youth, they include:

• Play Therapy refers to a large number of treatment methods, all of which make use of one or more of the natural benefits of play, using toys, dolls, games, etc. Play allows children a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows them to express their true thoughts and feelings in ways best suited to their developmental level.
• Art Therapy clients use their imagination to approach and explore their emotions, feelings, and thoughts. Especially useful in young people and people with developmental delays, when their motor skills exceed their verbal skills.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach to treatment that focuses on how people’s thoughts, emotions, and beliefs influence their behaviour and how they perceive themselves.
• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is defined by EMDR Canada as an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma and many other mental health problems that utilize bilateral eye stimulation or somatic responding.

Treatment methods that involve parents can include:
• Family Systems Therapy looks at the family as one emotional unit. This therapeutic approach looks at the relationships within the family and the structure as a whole.
• Structural Family Therapy involves looking at the structures within the family unit. Changing the underlying structure tends to cause a ripple effect on the family. This therapy analyzes the hierarchical structure, subsystems, and boundaries within the family.

The duration of counselling can vary depending on your child’s needs and the issues that are being addressed. Some children may benefit from short-term therapy, lasting only a few months, while others might need ongoing support over a longer period of time. Our therapists will regularly assess your child’s progress and discuss any sort of changes in the process. Our goal is to ensure your child receives the proper support they need to achieve the best outcomes.

Our standard counselling service fee is $225 per hour and the respective no show or late cancellation fee is $112.50.

For Senior Registered Psychologist our rate is $250 per hour.

A reduced rate is available counselling with any Master’s Level Practicum Student Interns:
• Practicum Therapists: First 3 sessions are $75.00 per hour and any sessions after are $100 per 1 hour session
• Post-Practicum Therapists: $150 per 1 hour session
• Canadian Certified Counsellors: $180 per 1 hour session

Session fees can also be claimed or arranged through one of the following:
• Child and Family Services
• Certain Employee & Family Assistance Programs
• Extended Health Care Coverage
• First Nations & Inuit Health Branch

DIRECT BILLING is available for Great West Life, Blue Cross and Greenshield clients.

PLEASE NOTE: with the reduced fee, since you will see a Practicum Intern (Student) Therapist and the FEES WILL BE NON-REIMBURSABLE by Extended Health Care Benefit Plans.