Children’s Therapy
What to expect when your child comes for therapy
At Turning Point Counselling Centre we know that it can be both scary and relieving when you finally make the choice to ask for help for your child. As a parent, all you want is for your child to be happy and healthy, so when you see your child struggling it can feel overwhelming and like you have failed them in some way. Parenting is so difficult and there is no guidebook, but counselling can both help your child feel better and aid in giving you the tools to support them better in their journey.
When your child starts therapy at Turning Point, we are there to support both your child and your family as well as the other systems in your child’s life. In order to do this effectively, counselors at Turning Point take their time to do a thorough assessment of both the child’s and family’s needs and strengths. You can expect that the therapist will meet with both parents (if both are involved in the child’s life) to get a clear understanding of what is happening from your perspective. Then the therapist will ask you to fill out a variety of questionnaires based on the information that you have given them. The therapist will also meet with the child alone for two sessions and with the parent(s) for one session to observe and get a clear picture of who your child is and how they are managing. Following this, the parents will meet with the therapist to discuss a treatment plan. It is important to remember that this treatment plan is a work in progress and will likely change as new information arises and life circumstances change (as they inevitably do). At Turning Point we see ourselves as part of your team. We know that you want the best for your child and that you know your child the best and we are here to support all of you.
Parenting Resources
Please explore the links below for resources that are specific to your child/adolescent’s needs.
Supporting your neurodivergent child/adolescent (ADHD/ASD/SPD)
Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada
Affect Autism: Neurodiversity Affirming Care
https://affectautism.com/about-affect-autism/
RD’s for Neurodiversity
https://www.rdsforneurodiversity.com/about
Autistic Self Advocacy network
Child Mind Institute
https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-girls-with-adhd/
Supporting your child with anxiety
Anxiety Canada
https://www.anxietycanada.com/learn-about-anxiety/anxiety-in-children/
CDC: Children’s Mental health
https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/depression.html
Child Mind Institute: What to Do and Not to Do When Your Child is Anxious
https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/
Supporting your child who has experienced trauma and attachment disruptions
The National Child Traumatic Stress network
https://www.nctsn.org/audiences/families-and-caregivers
SAMHSA: Substance use and Mental Health Services Administration
https://www.samhsa.gov/child-trauma/recognizing-and-treating-child-traumatic-stress
Beacon House
https://beaconhouse.org.uk/resources/
Attachment and Trauma Network
https://www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org/parenting/
Complex Trauma resources
https://www.complextrauma.org/glossary/co-regulation/
Supporting your child who exhibits high risk behaviours (self harm, substance use, running away, suicide attempts)
What Parents Need to Know about High Risk Behaviours: Guide book
https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/guides-and-publications/what-parents-teen-risk-taking-en.pdf
Forever Families
https://foreverfamilies.byu.edu/helping-teens-avoid-risky-behavior
Raising Children
https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/behaviour/behaviour-questions-issues/risky-behaviour
Mayo Clinic: child and Teen health
Supporting your child with eating related disorders
Eating Disorders in Teens: CDC
Eating recovery Centre
National Eating Disorders Association
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/default/files/Toolkits/ParentToolkit.pdf
Community mental health support for children and youth
Kids Help Phone
Mental health Services for Child and Youth
https://www.ontario.ca/page/mental-health-services-children-and-youth
Youth Services
https://www.ysb.ca/services/ysb-mental-health/24-7-crisis-line/
Turning Point Youth Services
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Address
269 Brant Avenue,
Brantford, ON N3T 3J6
Hours
Phones and emails are answered
Sunday 10-1
Monday-Friday 9-5
By appointment only
Monday-Thursday 9-9
Friday 10-3
Saturday 9-4
Friday and Saturday email your therapist directly for cancellations, appointment bookings or changes to existing appointments.