CHILD & TEEN THERAPY
Mental Health Support for Children, Adolescents & Teens
Psychotherapy for Children & Adolescents
Today, 1 in 5 youth suffer from a mental health challenge. More than half of these problems begin before the age of 14 — yet 80% of youth will not receive the treatment they need. Bhatia Psychology Group offers consulting, assessment and treatment services for school-age kids (3 to 21) who are struggling with anxiety, stress, depression or more.
Our clinical psychologists and therapists give families the support they need – when they need it the most. If your child or adolescent needs support in any of the following areas, we can help:
Anxiety & Stress
Depression
Behavioural Issues
ADHD
Low Self-Esteem
Body Image Issues
Disordered Eating
Trauma & PTSD
Psychological Assessments
Gifted Assessments
Learning Disabilities
Personality & Mood Disorders
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
The symptoms of a mental health disorder in children, adolescents and teens can often be hard to recognize. It may present as attention difficulties (such as ADHD), behaviour challenges or a decline in school-based performance. Other times, it can appear as anger, isolation, or changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns. While some may struggle with harmful thoughts, substance abuse, eating disorders, or impulsive behaviours (for example: excess shopping, spending, or promiscuity).
Our child psychological associates and therapists understand the struggles that young people face — and how to guide them towards a path of resilience. We use various developmentally appropriate methods to complement each age group.
With children, our mental health treatment is play-based to foster learning and growth. With adolescents and teens, we use an in-the-moment approach to support their need for independence. Regardless of age, all kids benefit from learning how to identify and communicate their emotions and internal feelings.
We also work with parents and/or guardians and involve them in the therapeutic process to encourage positive changes at home. Working together, we create an environment to support mental wellness.
Our Treatment Approach
We use a client-centred and strengths-based approach to treating children, adolescents and teens, drawing from a variety of modalities, including:
Mindfulness-Based Therapies
Mindfulness-based therapies are effective for all ages — from toddlers to teens. It helps young people to focus on the ‘here and now’ as opposed to thoughts of the past or future, which can exacerbate anxiety and encourage rumination. Methods include Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), deep breathing, guided relaxation, acceptance of inner emotions, and practices in self-compassion.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on helping young people break down the thoughts, feelings, sensations and behaviours that contribute to difficulties in coping. CBT helps kids recognize thinking traps and challenge negative thoughts or behaviour patterns. They can then apply these skills in between therapy sessions and to increase their ability to handle emotional problems and day-to-day stressors on their own.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
DBT provides a skills-based approach to help children or adolescents regulate their intense emotions, thoughts and behaviours in their day-to-day living. This approach combines behavioural therapy and emotional validation by improving coping skills and fostering self-acceptance. Children and guardians learn distress tolerance, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, and more.
