We make counselling a fun bonding experience
for kids and parents

Kids Reconnect offers specialized child counselling services (adventures!) that emPOWER Superhero kids, teens, families, and parents to overcome challenges, grow their Superpowers, and thrive.

Parents hug and give thumbs-up as they plan for a specialized child counselling session

Spark-tacular starts with parents

We always begin child counselling with a special session just for parents.

You need to meet and feel comfortable with the person who will be working with your child. Your child’s therapist also needs to understand the important people in your child’s life, so in this session we listen to your perspective as parents. The perspective of each parent is valuable and must be considered. In this special parent session we also plan your child’s first session together.

Wearing giant toy glasses, a therapist shakes a child's hand. Both are smiling widely as they meet before a specialized child counselling session!

Your child’s first session

When you are ready to proceed and feel comfortable, we will invite your child to visit.

A special adventure will be designed for your child, based on what they like and need to feel warmly welcomed. For example, the therapist might write a story for your child, or dress up as their favourite character. The therapist will share information with your child about why we are meeting and what a “Feelings Helper” or “Caring Companion” (child therapist) does and obtain their assent (permission) to work together.

Within a safe, supportive, beautiful space at EmPOWERland, our child therapists will help your child to grow in their empowerment to approach, reframe, and navigate through the challenges they are facing. Together, we will launch their Superhero journey. Your child’s spark-tacular growing adventure awaits!

The best part:

At Kids Reconnect, there are no problems—only adventures, quests, and cheerful challenges on which to embark.

Let’s spark the joy of play to grow!

See what specialized child counselling at Kids Reconnect would look like for your child.

Specialized counselling services for kids,
parents, teens, and families

The most effective counselling comes from supporting not just the child’s needs, but also the needs of parents and families. Parents and siblings represent the main relationship in kids’ lives; they need specialized support, too.

That is why we offer various types of sessions to support kids, teenagers, parents, and families comprehensively.

Child, adolescent, and parenting sessions are 50 minutes in duration. Other types of sessions (family, couples) are usually 90 minutes.

A girl and a therapist doing play therapy in a specialized child counselling session. They are sitting on a white carpet, playing with princess toys

Child Counselling Sessions

Types of therapy: Art Therapy, Play Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Strengths-based Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.

Play and art are natural forms of communication for kids. Child sessions are usually most appropriate for kids between 24 months and 12 years old. Parents sometimes ask to be present in the first session or the first few sessions, to observe. Children may also have their sessions unaccompanied by a parent.

A boy and his Dad at a parent-child therapy session, playing with a bouncy hockey ball with a child therapist

Parent-Child Counselling Sessions

Types of Therapy: Theraplay, Attachment Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Compassion-focused Therapy, Strengths-based Therapy.

These sessions strengthen parent-child connections and bonds. Parents are present with the child, playing and actively working on understanding the child. Appropriate for kids and teenagers (2-17 years old).

Overhead view of Dad, Mom, and two kids doing sand tray therapy with a child psychologist

Family Counselling Sessions

Types of Therapy: Theraplay, Attachment Therapy, Reunification Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Narrative Therapy, Structural Family Therapy.

In these sessions, all family members can be present, or the therapist can work with the various family members individually, to prepare them for family work.

A teen in a therapy session listening to her thrapists.

Teen Counselling Sessions

Types of Therapy: Art Therapy, Talk Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Narrative Therapy.

Older kids might prefer a room for adults instead of a playroom; both options are available. Teens seek more responsibility and independence; they usually do not want a parent in their session. Play therapy is no longer appropriate; teens communicate through their personal interests and creative pursuits.

A couple in a parenting session with a child therapist

Parenting Counselling Sessions

These sessions are dedicated to parents; children are not present. Parents achieve a better understanding of their child and learn parenting strategies. Before a child begins therapy, we always start with a special session for parents.

A girl and boy with sparklers. Dozens of blue, gold, and pink helium balloons float overhead in a specialized child counselling group session.

Group Counselling Sessions

Designed to support kids in specific areas that they are looking to grow. These include self-esteem building groups for young girls, social skills groups, empathy groups, mindfulness groups, parent support groups, and self-care groups.

A teenage girl seated on a sofa, with a puppy by her side, looking into a laptop.

Video Counselling Sessions

We offer specialized child counselling sessions both in person and virtually (online video counselling, also called telepsychology).

Video sessions can work well for people who live in Alberta but outside of Calgary, for people who are experiencing anxiety and cannot come into the office, or during times of public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our video sessions take place over Jane App, a secure video conferencing solution that secures your information and safeguards your privacy. Jane App has robust security and encryption controls in place to protect client data that complies with Privacy Laws, including The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in Canada. Audio and video content from telepsychology sessions is not saved. No one can access the sessions, either when they are taking place or at a later time. Watch this video to experience what online therapy will look like for your child.

Joining forces, we’re in your corner

Our specialized child psychologists, play therapists, and Registered Social Workers work collaboratively to adapt to the unique needs of each child, teen, and family setting.

Being a team gives us flexibility and bench strength in a range of services and strategies, combining various therapists and child counselling services.

Parents who need additional support in their relationship can access specialized couples counselling through our Couples Reconnect branch.

A father, mother, and two children interacting with a family therapist at Kids Reconnect. The therapist is using a fluffy yellow duck puppet in the specialized child counselling session
Two kids and a child therapist sitting cross-legged in a playroom, high-give each other during a specialized child counselling session

Even Superheroes need extra help sometimes

When the going gets tough, our child counsellors are here for kids and teens

Hardship and adverse experiences can capsize the lives of kids and teens. Illness, grief, parental conflict, difficulties at home or school, anxiety, depression, trauma. We call these “ugly ughs” or “tricky feelings“.

When kids and adolescents need specialized support navigating life challenges beyond what parents can provide, we are here to help with specialized child and teen counselling.

A child hugs a soft toy as she talks to her counsellor

Click to see Jícama, the fun llama, do his
No Prob LLAMA dance

“Feelings Helpers” help kids figure out their “big feelings”

Helping kids grow and thrive is our specialty! Child Therapists are special Feelings Helpers who help kids figure out their problems, playfully find solutions, and feel happier along the way.

We believe that being a kid or a teen should feel fantastic. And we help make it so.

Let’s EmPOWER Play!

Sand tray therapy, Theraplay, and play therapy are way more than just play — and just as fun for kids. Extensive clinical research has proven that play therapy is an effective intervention in major child-related challenges.

Call us to book a child counselling adventure appointment today.