Rita Motta
MSW, RSW
SHE/HER
REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER
CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC PLAY PRACTITIONER
IFS INFORMED THERAPIST
QUALITIES
Rita Motta is a child therapist
at Kids Reconnect in Calgary.
She uses her counselling Superpowers
to connect with kids and teens,
helping them grow a ton
while having lots of FUN!
Rita’s Superhero Story
Attention Parents
Before your first session, you can share
this story with your child. You can also
scroll below to read about Rita’s
child and teen counselling expertise
in her professional bio.
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Rita who often found herself in Terrible Trouble. This is her Superhero Mystery Story! Join in as we play Feelings Detective and ask gentle, curious questions.
What kind of trouble?
The kind that gives toddlers a bad reputation, but Rita was five, almost six! Smart, funny, and kind, but struggling to share, follow rules, and feel understood.
Was Rita a terrible girl? Of course not! She loved to play, especially with Lucy, her soft and snuggly teddy bear, her kindest friend who always listened and comforted her.
So why was Rita always getting in trouble?
She wanted things to go her way. “No” felt awful. She wanted to play all day, eat only cookies, and have sunshine forever. But life didn’t work that way.
When grown-ups said “no,” Rita felt like she was hearing something worse: “You don’t deserve this.” It hurt her heart. She’d pout, frown, and cry: “WAAAAAAH!” and run off.
That behaviour got her in trouble. She felt like no one liked her. She didn’t know how to explain what was wrong. Instead of talking or listening, she’d yell and run. Grown-ups got frustrated. She felt more alone, more misunderstood, and full of Tricky Big Feelings.
What was really going on?
Her parents didn’t know. Rita didn’t know. But those big feelings were a clue.
So her parents took her to a Feelings Detective, also called a Child Therapist or Psychologist. At first, Rita was shy. But she got to bring Lucy and play with toys, puppets, art, sand, and more. Together, they explored her feelings in kind, curious ways.
What did they discover? Rita wasn’t selfish or bad. She was scared. Scared that sharing her toys, especially Lucy, meant losing what made her feel safe. She held on tightly because she didn’t yet have the words or tools to express herself.
But through play therapy, Rita learned that “no” wasn’t the end of fun, that sharing wasn’t scary, and that it’s okay to feel big feelings as long as you express them in helpful ways. She began to understand herself and others, and learned to ask questions, listen, and grow her Superpowers.
Her biggest Superpower? She is EXPRESSIVE!
And once she learned how to use it well, everything changed. She made friends, had fun at school, and kept growing. And now that Rita is grown up? She works right here at Kids Reconnect as a Registered Social Worker! She’s a Feelings Detective who helps kids explore their tricky feelings and grow their Superpowers, just like she did.
So even though Rita was once in Terrible Trouble, she now helps kids feel all their feelings, express them with care, and thrive.
“How lucky am I to have something
that makes saying goodbye so hard.”— A. A. MILNE
The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh
A gentle note for parents about sharing
The concept of sharing is beyond comprehension for young kids. Kids at age five begin to learn to take turns (“you can have it after I am done”). At age seven, kids begin to understand rules, fairness, and collaborative play. They are almost ready to start sharing on their own.
Struggles with sharing, self-expression, and emotional regulation are common for kids. Rita and our whole team of child therapists specialize in helping kids overcome all kinds of struggles and develop the Superpower skills needed to overcome them, through fun, emPOWERing counselling adventures.
Rita’s Professional Bio
Rita Motta is a Registered Social Worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers. She holds a clinical master’s degree in social work (MSW) – Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups, from the University of Calgary, and a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from MacEwan University, where she graduated with distinction and was on the Dean’s List.
In 2024, Rita was lauded with the Dr. Gayla Rogers Legacy Medal in Social Work, which is awarded by the University of Calgary to the master’s student with the highest cumulative GPA who has also demonstrated excellence in leadership and in their field placement.
Rita’s child therapy training and experience
Rita never stops learning and we love that about her!
She’s committed to keeping her professional toolbox freshly stocked!
Rita has a Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills and a Certificate in Play Inquiry Skills master class through Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute. Rita is an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist with Level 1 and 2 training, and has completed Internal Family Systems (IFS) Circle and IFS with Children and Adolescents training.
In her therapy sessions with children, adolescents, and parents, she draws from play-based techniques, integrating the cognitive with the somatic through modalities like EMDR and IFS, in which she is trained. She also draws from her training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Third-Wave Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness-based and trauma-focused therapy techniques, therapeutic writing for grief and trauma, and conflict resolution, while maintaining client-centred, anti-oppressive, and strengths-based approaches.
She deepened her understanding of Indigenous histories, cultures, and ways of knowing to bring more awareness and respect into her practice,
She explored how nature and culture shape children’s stories and learned new ways to weave connection and belonging into play and learned how to use puppets with kids to spark imagination, build trust, and help children express big feelings through play!
Rita’s service experience reflects her commitment to caring, inclusive causes
A skilled public speaker and committed 2SLGBTQI+ ally, Rita was a panellist at the 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion Workshop for Practicum Supervisors at MacEwan University in 2023.
Her volunteering experience includes serving at Reconcile Outreach Ministry, at the Women’s Van Program at the Salvation Army, as a Committee Member of the Antisemitism/Anti-racism Group at Temple Beth Ora Synagogue, and teaching at Beulah Alliance Church. She holds a special place in her heart for causes that support women and children. Among other supportive causes, in 2019, Rita founded and facilitated a self-care, community-building, and safe space group called Lucy’s Heart Women’s Group in Edmonton, and in the summer of 2018, she led humanitarian teams while working with disadvantaged children, youth, and families in Peru.
Rita offers child therapy services in English and Spanish
Rita is professionally fluent in English and Spanish, and conversational in French. She offers child, adolescent, parent, family, and adult (individual) counselling in English and Spanish.
Child therapist Rita Motta helps kids navigate big feelings in gentle, fun-filled play therapy sessions
