Courageous Counselling and Play Therapy

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Canada
Saint Thomas, ON
Courageous Counselling and Play Therapy

Providing play therapy and counselling services to families in the St. Thomas and surrounding areas.

06/15/2026

Parenting a child with big emotions or challenging behaviours can bring up a lot — urgency, stress, self-doubt, and that feeling of needing to "fix" things right away.

The first step isn't about fixing the behaviour, changing it, or trying to control it. It's taking a breath, grounding yourself, and remembering that this moment is big for your child — and it might be big for you too.

From that place, grounding thoughts can help you stay connected to yourself and support your own regulation. They can gently shift your perspective so that instead of reacting or trying to make the behaviour stop, you can stay with your child through it and help them move through it.

Sometimes, a few simple reminders in the moment can make all the difference.

I've created a free Parent Grounding Guide with supportive reminders for exactly these kinds of moments.

⬇ Download it here:
https://courageous-counselling-and-play-therapy.kit.com/grounding

05/26/2026

Play therapy can support children through a wide range of emotional, behavioural, social, and life challenges 💛

Through play, children are able to express, process, and work through experiences in a way that feels natural to them — especially when big feelings or experiences are difficult to put into words. Whether a child is navigating anxiety, behavioural challenges, social difficulties, grief, family changes, or stressful experiences, play therapy offers a safe and supportive space for healing, growth, and connection.

Alongside supporting children, parents are supported too — with space to better understand their child’s needs, emotions, behaviours, and ways to respond with greater confidence.

05/13/2026

When children’s emotional systems become overloaded, we often see it through behaviour first.

At this time of year, many children have less capacity for frustration, transitions, flexibility, and emotional regulation especially at home, where they feel safest to release those emotions.

Play therapy offers children a space to process experiences, express emotions, strengthen coping and regulation skills and ultimately grow their capacity through developmentally appropriate support.

Free consultations are available to explore whether summer support may be a good fit for your child and family.

05/08/2026

Many parents assume therapy should wait until the school year feels more settled or when things are at their worst.

Summer is often an effective time to begin support for children.
It offers more flexibility in scheduling, no missed school time, and a calmer rhythm that allows children to actually practice and integrate new skills.

This can be especially helpful for children who are experiencing:
⭐️anxiety or worries
⭐️emotional overwhelm
⭐️big reactions or behavioural challenges
⭐️difficulty with transitions or frustration

In my work using play therapy, I support children ages 3–12 in building emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, and more flexible ways of responding to challenges, while also working closely with parents to strengthen day-to-day responses at home.

Starting support in the Summer can make the transition into the next school year feel more manageable because children are already building skills before routines become more demanding again.

If you are considering summer support, you can book a free consultation through the link below to explore whether this feels like a good fit for your child and family.

https://courageouscounselling.janeapp.com/

04/28/2026

When we see our child struggling, and those big behaviours showing up, it can feel really unsettling.

Of course we want it to stop.
We want to swoop in, fix it, make it better, as quickly as we can.

And in that urgency, it’s so easy to focus on stopping the behaviour… that we miss what’s actually going on underneath it.

But what I often come back to in my work is this: what we see is the behaviour, not the whole story.

When we can pause, even briefly, it opens up a different kind of question. Instead of asking “How do I make this stop?”, we can begin to wonder, “What might my child be needing right now?”

That shift doesn’t take away the hard parts.
But it can change how we respond and bring us closer to what your child is actually trying to communicate.

I talked about this in my most recent newsletter, The Courageous Corner, along with a simple way to respond in these moments.

If you’d like to receive future ones, you can sign up through the link in my bio 💛

04/24/2026

This is something I get asked about often.

In many cases, play therapy is covered under extended health benefits. In my practice, coverage is under my license as a Registered Psychotherapist.

Every plan is different, but it’s worth taking a look—you may already have access to support for your child.

04/20/2026

What often surprises parents is that play isn’t just play for kids—it’s communication.

“Toys are children’s words and play is their language.” — Garry Landreth

When we understand this, it also makes sense why play therapy requires such specialized training. We’re not just watching children play—we’re learning how to understand what they’re communicating and respond in ways that are clinically attuned, safe, and meaningful.

If you’re curious about whether play therapy might be a fit for your child, you’re welcome to book a free consult to learn more.

You can also find a directory of Certified Play Therapists through the Canadian Association for Play Therapy.

04/15/2026

There’s no set timeline for play therapy. While some children begin to show shifts within a few months, the pace of change is guided by each child’s unique needs and the safety of the therapeutic relationship.

04/04/2026

Did you know that when your child is playing pretend, they’re actually learning how to understand others?

When they’re being the teacher, the parent, or even a superhero, they’re trying on different roles, working through experiences, and making sense of the world around them.

This is how children build empathy, practice problem-solving, and develop social understanding — in a way that feels natural and safe to them.

Play isn’t just play… it’s their way of processing.

And when children need extra support, play therapy meets them right there.💛

03/18/2026

🌟 Virtual Summer Anxiety Group for Kids 🌟

A small, fun, therapist-led group for kids ages 9–11 to:
✅ Learn about anxiety and increase self-awareness
✅ Practice coping strategies
✅ Build confidence and connect with peers

📞 Parents also get a follow-up call to review progress and next steps.

🗓 Limited spots (4–6 children per group) – scan the QR code to register or learn more!

Address

Saint Thomas, ON

Website

http://www.courageouscounselling.ca/

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