Evidence-Based Techniques
Salish Sea Pediatric Counselling offers a variety of research-proven, evidence-based techniques.
The Counselling Process - what to expect
Available Counselling Modalities
Child & Youth Evidence-Based Counselling Techniques
Play Therapy
Play therapy is a type of counselling designed to help children and youth understand and express their feelings through play. It is a non-directive approach that involves the use of play to help children explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences or to process traumatic experiences in a safe environment.
Child & Youth Mindfulness Based Therapy
Mindfulness Based Therapy is an evidence-based counseling approach that helps clients be present in the moment, cultivating greater self-awareness. Learning to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgement or criticism, clients develop neuropathways that work to calm the central nervous system. This reduces reactivity and improves the ability to manage unpleasant or invasive thoughts, emotions and behaviours. This therapy can be used for a variety of mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, and trauma.
Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy
Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy (ERP or ERT) is a form of behavioural therapy that is considered the gold standard for effectively managing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Through safe, gradual exposure to situations that provoke a person's obsessions, clients develop coping skills to prevent the cycle of obsession and compulsion.
ADD/ADHD coaching
In the right environment, with the correct adaptations and strategies, ADD/ADHD can be an asset rather than a barrier. ADD/ADHD coaching works to identify and develop ways to work with a child/youth's strengths, implementing strategies and systems that work in ADD/ADHD-friendly ways. Taking a psycho-educational approach, clients improve their understanding of ADD/ADHD and how it impacts their day to day life. ADD/ADHD coaching can compliment pharmaceutical interventions or be used as an approach for clients who are not currently taking medications to manage their ADD/ADHD.
Family-Focused Evidence Based Counselling Techniques
Family Play Therapy
Family play therapy strengthens the bond between parent and child while also helping the child to develop their problem-solving and communication skills. Throughout a course of family play therapy, parents learn to respond to a child’s emotions in a way that validates the child's experience and deepens the parent-child relationship. This ultimately results in an improved home system of support for the child and healthier parent-child relationships.
DIR Floortime and Parent Coaching
DIR Floortime is an evidence-based approach to helping children with developmental delays, autism, or other special needs. It focuses on creating supportive, playful, and interactive experiences that foster the development of delayed social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Through this approach, children can increase flexible thinking and improve their ability to socially interact with others.
Collaborative Problem Solving
Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) helps families work together to find positive solutions to behavioural challenges. This research-based, collaborative approach identifies and addresses the underlying causes of a child or youth's challenging behaviour, and proactively works to solve problems and enhance skill development. CPS is a non-punitive, trauma-informed approach that once learned, can be used to improve lagging skills such as flexibility, adaptability, frustration tolerance, emotional regulation and problem solving.