Play Therapy & Child Counselling for Pender Island Families
A little extra care for the community I call home.
Play Therapy for Childen 2-12
IN-PERSON ON PENDER ISLAND
Living on Pender Island offers children something pretty wonderful: forests to explore, beaches to wander, and a community where people look out for one another.
But growing up can be hard, even in a beautiful place. Children still experience anxiety, grief, overwhelming emotions, friendship struggles, and changes that can turn their worlds upside down. And sometimes parents need a little support, too.
I'm a Pender Island resident, a Registered Clinical Counsellor, and a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist. I specialise in helping children and their families understand what's happening beneath challenging behaviours, big feelings, and the struggles that don't always have words.
Pender is my home, and I want to contribute to the wellbeing of the families who live here.
That's why I've set aside Mondays for Pender Island families, with special community-based fees to make specialised child therapy more accessible to my neighbours. My sliding scale starts at $125. If you can afford a higher rate, it helps those who cannot.
Little Islanders, Big Feelings
When your child is having a hard time
Sometimes children tell us they're struggling. Other times, they show us.
Maybe your child explodes over seemingly small things, worries about everything, or falls apart after holding it together all day at school. Maybe they've experienced a loss, are struggling with friendships, or seem to have lost some of their usual spark.
And sometimes nothing has obviously gone wrong. You just know your child is having a hard time.
I work with children experiencing:
Anxiety, worry, and perfectionism
Big emotions, meltdowns, and explosive behaviour
Grief, loss, and difficult life changes
Friendship and relationship challenges
Low confidence, people-pleasing, and masking
Challenges related to neurodivergence, including ADHD and autism
Stress, overwhelm, and difficulty feeling understood
I don't see children as problems to be fixed. I see their behaviour as communication, and therapy as an opportunity to understand what they need, strengthen their sense of self, and help them feel more capable of navigating their world.
Play is how children make sense of their world
Children don't always have the language to explain what they're experiencing. But they communicate through play, creativity, movement, stories, and relationships.
As a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist, I bring an understanding of children's nervous systems, emotional development, and the importance of play into my work.
Therapy isn't about teaching children to be more compliant or making their difficult feelings disappear. It's about helping them develop the capacity to experience those feelings, understand themselves, and move through challenges with greater confidence and support.
Parents are an important part of that process. Together, we can explore what your child's behaviour might be communicating and find ways to support them without losing sight of who they are.
How does therapy work?
For Pender Island families, I'm delighted to offer in-person play therapy in a cosy, dedicated space adjacent to my home in magic lake.
Children don't always need to sit and talk about what's troubling them. In play therapy, they can explore their experiences through toys, stories, imagination, creativity, and movement. Play gives children a way to express what they may not yet have the words to explain.
My approach is child-centred, relationship-based, and grounded in an understanding of children's emotional development and nervous systems. I follow your child's lead, paying attention to what emerges through their play rather than directing them toward a particular outcome.
Parents are an important part of the process, too. Depending on your child's needs, we'll meet regularly to explore what you're noticing at home, deepen your understanding of your child, and consider ways to support them.
Online parent consultations are also available when meeting from home is more convenient.
We'll begin with a free consultation to talk about your child, what you're hoping for, and whether working together feels like a good fit.
Ready to begin?
Start with a free virtual consultation.
We’ll talk about what’s been happening, what you’re seeing at home, and what your child might need—and whether I think I’m a good fit to help.
You don’t need to have the whole story figured out before we talk.
