Frequently Asked Questions

Once we decide to work together, usually after a 15-20 mins consultation, the intake and consent forms will be electronically sent to you to fill out, sign and then send back to me. The forms will be reviewed prior to your meeting to ensure we are able to get a full picture. It’s extremely important that you read all the informed consent carefully and write down any questions you may need answered at the intake. Coming to your first meeting prepared to talk not only about your child’s issues but also about their background, what they were like before you became concerned, key stressors or events that may have triggered a change, and what your priorities are for treatment. “It’s helpful if you can explain what you’ve already tried, what has worked and what hasn’t,” The more context you provide, the better. Information from schools can also be valuable, and I can guide you on ways to request it without disclosing why it is needed. It is recommended at this initial intake session to book six-eight weekly consecutive sessions to start, which will then be followed up by another parent session.

It is very important to find the right therapist. The relationship between the therapist and client is one of the most important predictors of success. You can encourage your child to try a few sessions before deciding if the fit is right or not. Youth and/or parents should discuss concerns about the therapy with the therapist as a first step. If it really doesn’t seem like it will work out, then look for another option, but don’t give up on therapy.

Once your child is engaged in the therapy process there can be some indicators that therapy is working Your child mentions or talks about their therapist Referencing their therapist while outside of sessions means that they are continuing to internalize and consider the work and expression of self they had with their therapist in their daily life. The therapist is an excellent communicator, includes you in the process where important and can provide general updates. With kids, client-therapist confidentiality is essential. Kids must trust they can talk openly with their therapists without a parent knowing every detail, aside from emergency threats or situations. But that doesn’t mean the therapist should never include you in the process. An effective therapist will initiate check-ins and meetings with you, especially if you have young children, to gather more information about what’s been going on in your child’s life outside of therapy, the progress they seem to be making, and whether the process is working well for everyone involved. If they aren’t, you can ask for and reasonably expect this from your child’s therapist.

We would all like to have an answer for these questions, but everybody is unique. Each therapy is different and is adapted to help the individual and their family. If you have tried one type of therapy and have not seen any progress after 3 or 4 months, you might want to see if another type of therapy helps. Always talk with the therapist about your concerns and include (where relevant) your child’s opinion on whether therapy is helpful. Sometimes changes within your child are not obvious to others, even to parents

One of the most challenging things therapists see parents struggle with is the idea that their trauma and stress could impact their child. This could be experienced as intergenerational trauma, having experienced attachment and childhood trauma, or systematic issues that have led to chronic stress. It can also be parental trauma, medical interventions, or family conflict. I use specialized EMDR protocol and Expressive Arts with clients, families and parents.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): is based on Francine Shapiro’s adaptive information processing (AIP) model and is effective for resolving symptoms caused by disturbing, difficult, or frightening life experiences. EMDR helps process the troubling thoughts, feelings, and sensations that are disrupting daily functioning.

You may notice that therapy is working when you notice progress toward your goals, improved emotions, behaviors, and relationships, and feel supported by your therapist. At the beginning of therapy, you and your therapist will likely set some goals (e.g., reducing anxiety, improving relationships, building nervous system awareness/self-regulation and healing from past trauma/parenting triggers). Then, together, you both will regularly assess whether you're making progress toward these goals with questions, such as Are you noticing changes in your behavior, thoughts, or emotions?”, “Are you handling stress better?”, “Are your relationships improving?”, “Do you find it easier to manage emotions or challenging situations?”. Also, actively engaging in sessions and applying what you learn can enhance the process. Progress may take time, so be patient and open to discussing your concerns or feedback with your therapist.