Parents reach out when something has shifted: a child who has become anxious or withdrawn, feelings that seem too big for their small body to hold, behaviour that is hard to understand, trouble at school, or a family change — a separation, a move, a loss — that a child is carrying. Child psychotherapy at Silm Centre for Mental Health meets children where they are developmentally, using conversation, play, and creative work at the child’s pace, and works with parents as partners, not bystanders.
What therapy involves
- Sessions that combine conversation, play, drawing, and activities, matched to the child’s age and temperament (for our dedicated play-based approach, see our play therapy page)
- Regular parent check-ins, so you understand the goals, the themes, and how to support the work at home
- With consent, coordination with schools or other providers when that would help
Who offers child therapy
Psychologist
Clinical Associate
Registered Psychotherapist
Registered Psychotherapist
Cost and first step
Sessions are $200–$300 per hour, depending on the clinician. The first step is a free initial consultation — usually with a parent or caregiver first — before you commit to anything.
These services are often covered by extended health benefits plans. Coverage depends on your plan and on the registration of the clinician providing your care — or, for clinicians working under supervision, their supervisor’s registration. We can help you check what to ask your insurer.
Common questions
Will I know what happens in my child’s sessions?
Generally, yes — with parameters your clinician will explain at the start. You will know the goals, the themes, and how your child is progressing, and there are clear exceptions for safety. The specific content of sessions belongs to your child, because that privacy is part of what makes therapy work. There are also cases where sharing a great deal of detail is not in a child’s best interest; and as children get older and more mature, some need less parental involvement — occasionally none at all. Your clinician will talk with you about what involvement looks like for your child.
What ages do you work with?
We can work with a child of any age. What varies is not whether we can help, but how much parents are involved — younger children usually involve parents closely, and involvement naturally decreases as a child matures. Several of our child clinicians also work with adolescents, so a child can often stay with the same clinician as they grow.
Do you work with schools?
With your consent, yes — clinicians can share recommendations and, where helpful, coordinate with school staff.