Parents & Caregivers

Helping the people who both matter and effect change the most in a child's life.

When young children are struggling, it's natural to focus on changing their behaviour. My approach begins somewhere different. I work alongside parents and caregivers, using a blended approach of therapy and coaching to understand what their child's emotions and behaviours are communicating, to deepen the connection,and security, and to help optimize the conditions where children thrive.

Why I Work With Parents & Caregivers

I believe the greatest opportunity for change in a young child's life isn't found in a therapy office—it's found in the everyday moments they share with the people who love them.

While individual therapy can be valuable in some situations, young children aren't meant to carry the responsibility of therapy on their own. Lasting change happens when the adults who know them best feel supported, confident, and equipped to respond in new ways.

A parent who is emotionally available, connected, and ready to support their child has far greater opportunity to influence lasting change than a young child who is expected to do the hard work of therapy alone.

That's why my work focuses on helping parents and caregivers better understand their child's emotional world, strengthen connection, and create the conditions where healing and growth can happen naturally.

You might be here because...

Perhaps your child...

  • has big emotions that seem to take over and regulation seems challeneging.

  • struggles with anxiety, worry, or separation from you.

  • becomes easily angry and overwhelmed, or shuts down and withdraws.

  • is talking back and/or not listening.

  • is having difficulty at school or refusing to attend.

  • is a super-feeler and feels things more deeply than others.

  • has experienced a significant life change, loss, or transition.

Or perhaps you...

  • feel like you’ve read all the parenting books and listended to all the podcats, but nothing you've tried is working.

  • are exhausted by constant power struggles and often loose your patience.

  • worry you're getting it wrong or scared to try and make thing worse.

  • want to understand your child's behaviour rather than simply manage it.

  • feel like your loved one is running the show, and need help creating and holding firm with loving-limits.

  • are looking for an approach that feels connected, compassionate, and grounded in evidence.

Whatever has brought you here, you don't have to figure it out alone.

More Than Parent Coaching

Every family's journey is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all path forward. While our work will always be tailored to your family's unique needs, it often includes a combination of parent coaching and psychotherapy.

Parent coaching focuses on practical strategies, education, and skill building. Together, we'll explore evidence-based approaches that help you better understand your child's emotional world, strengthen connection, and respond in ways that support healthy development.

As we begin putting these ideas into practice, however, many parents discover that knowing what to do isn't always the hardest part. The greater challenge is being able to do it consistently in the moments that matter most.

This is where psychotherapy becomes invaluable.

In Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, we often encounter what are known as parent blocks; the emotional barriers that make it difficult to respond to our children in the ways we hope to. These blocks are universal. They are not a sign of failure or poor parenting; they are part of being human.

Sometimes these blocks arise from stress, exhaustion, or overwhelm. At other times, they are connected to our own experiences of being parented, old wounds, or deeply held beliefs about ourselves. When this happens, simply learning another parenting strategy isn't enough.

As a registered psychotherapist, I help parents move through these blocks with therapeutic interventions that foster lasting change. This may involve exploring difficult emotions, strengthening self-compassion, learning to regulate overwhelming feelings, or engaging in experiential exercises that help heal the parts of ourselves that become activated in parenting.

When parents become more emotionally available to themselves, they naturally become more emotionally available to their children.

What to Expect

Meaningful change takes time.

While every family's journey is unique, I generally encourage families to expect an initial commitment of three to six months, with weekly or bi-weekly sessions at the beginning. As new patterns become more established and confidence grows, sessions naturally become less frequent, transitioning into maintenance and support during new developmental stages.

I often describe this as a relationship that evolves over time rather than a short-term intervention.

Children grow, families change, and new challenges emerge. The questions you face with a preschooler will be different from those that arise in elementary school or adolescence. Many of the families I work with return at different stages of their child's development, allowing us to build on a shared understanding and continue supporting your family's growth over time.

Areas of Support

Emotional Well-being

  • Anxiety and excessive worry

  • Emotional sensitivity or “superfeeling”

  • Sadness, depression and low mood

  • Suicidal ideation and self-harm

  • Emotion regulation

Behaviour & Relationships

  • Frequent meltdowns/tantrums

  • Defiance and power struggles

  • Aggression (physical/verbal)

  • Sibling conflict

  • Strengthening parent-child connection

School & Social Challenges

  • School refusal

  • Friendship difficulties

  • Learning differences and needs

  • Bullying

  • Transitions to school or recreation

Life Changes

  • Separation and divorce

  • Grief and loss

  • Major family transitions

Parenting Support

  • Building confidence as a caregiver - balacing love AND limits

  • Co-parenting and “being a united front”

  • Parenting after trauma

  • Navigating and supporting Queer identities

  • Navigating school systems and advocacy support

  • Breaking intergenerational patterns

  • Re-parenting yourself

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why don’t not usually provide therapy to young children?

Young children experience the world through their relationships. While individual therapy can be appropriate in some circumstances, I believe the greatest opportunity for change often comes from supporting the adults who shape a child's everyday environment. By helping caregivers better understand and respond to their child's emotional needs, we create lasting change where it matters most. Even a minimally equipped caregiver is better for a child, than the best therpist on thier best day. Trust and love go far and therapists are not usually present whent he child is having the hardest moments; its caregivers.

2. What if my child refuses therapy?

That's actually one of the reasons I work with parents and caregivers. Your child's willingness to participate doesn't have to determine whether meaningful change can begin. Many children are too young, ambivelent, have been haremd by professionals in the past and refuse to attend. Fortunately, EFFT was develeoped for precisicly this reason; children do not have to be present for us to do good work.

3. Do both parents or caregivers need to attend?

No. While I welcome and prefer both caregivers whenever possible, meaningful change can happen even when one parent or caregiver begins the work. We'll talk together about what makes the most sense for your family.

3. How long does therapy usually last?

Every family is different. Most families begin with weekly or bi-weekly sessions over three to six months. As confidence grows and new patterns become established, sessions often become less frequent and shift toward maintenance or support during new developmental stages.

4. Can my child ever attend a session?

Sometimes. While the primary focus is working with parents and caregivers, there are situations where involving your child or meeting as a family can be beneficial. We'll decide together what will best support your goals.

5. What if I'm not sure this is the right fit?

That's completely okay. Choosing a therapist is an important decision. I encourage you to book a consultation so we can discuss your concerns, answer your questions, and determine whether my approach feels like the right fit for your family.