Counselling for Children and Youth in Grimsby, Ontario
For parents who know their child is struggling and are ready to find them the right kind of support.
WHEN YOU CAN SEE IT BUT CAN'T REACH IT
You've Asked. They Say They're Fine. You Know They're Not
Maybe they stopped talking. Maybe they started pushing back at everything, harder than makes sense for what triggered it. Maybe they're having nightmares again, or refusing to go somewhere they used to love, or doing something that worries you in a way you can't quite name yet.
You've asked. You've tried. You've left doors open. And either they say they're fine, or they don't say anything at all, or they explode and then things are worse.
You're not looking for a perfect outcome. You're looking for a way back to them.
That's why you're here.
HOW CHILDREN ACTUALLY HEAL
Kids Don't Process the Way Adults Do. Their Therapy Shouldn't Either.
Adults process through conversation. Children process through play, movement, story, and creation. When you ask a child to sit down and talk about their feelings, you're often asking them to work in a language they don't yet have.
That's not a deficit. It's just how children are wired.
The approaches we use with children and youth meet them where they actually are. Using techniques informed by sand tray and art, children can create and move through experiences without needing words. EMDR adapted for youth works with the nervous system in age-appropriate ways that don't require a child to narrate what happened.
The goal isn't to talk it through. It's to let what's built up find a way out so your child can get back to the important business of being a kid.
THE TEAM IN YOUR CORNER
Whatever Your Family Is Carrying, You'll Be Met Without Judgement
Jacqueline Boyer, MSW, RSW | Licence #835942
I founded Grimsby Counselling Centre after 26 years working in mental health, and I understand the particular helplessness a parent feels when their child is struggling and the usual ways of reaching them are not working.
I started my career in Children's Mental Health, working alongside some of the most vulnerable young people in the most difficult circumstances. That experience shapes how every therapist at Grimsby Counselling Centre works with children: genuine curiosity, no agenda, and a pace that is entirely theirs.
Our team works primarily with sand tray, EMDR adapted for children and adolescents, and art-based approaches. The modality depends on the child, their age, and what they are ready for. We keep parents informed throughout, so you are never left guessing about what is happening in the room.
WHAT MAY SHIFT
What Parents Often Begin to Notice
Parents often feel the shift before they can explain it. Something in the house is lighter. Their child is a little more themselves. The thing that was coming out sideways has less charge behind it.
Something Lifts
The heaviness that was following them around starts to ease. They seem more like themselves again.
Coming Back
They are present at home in a way they were not before. Less somewhere else, more actually there.
WHAT YOUR SESSIONS WILL FEEL LIKE
What Actually Happens in the Room
Sessions for children don't look like adult therapy. There's no couch, no expectation of disclosure, no pressure to talk.
Depending on the child's age and what's going on, a session might involve building something in the sand tray, working through a drawing, or simply being in the room with someone who isn't expecting anything from them.
We move at the child's pace. If they're not ready to touch something, we don't push. For teenagers, sessions tend to feel more conversational, though we adapt to wherever they are.
We offer a brief check-in with parents before or after sessions as needed, so you stay connected to the process without being inside the room.
We see children and youth in person at our Grimsby office, drawing families from Stoney Creek, Beamsville, Vineland, and across the Niagara region. Virtual sessions are available for teenagers and some younger clients throughout Ontario.
WHERE WE BEGIN
Starting Counseling for Youth in Grimsby
Book a Call
A free 15-minute consultation. We'll talk about what you're noticing and whether this feels like the right fit.
Intake Session
I meet briefly with parents first to understand the full picture before I meet with your child.
WHAT PARENTS OFTEN SAY
What We Hear From Parents Along the Way
Parents often come in feeling helpless. Most leave the first call feeling like there's somewhere to go from here.
- "She started sleeping through the night again. I didn't expect that to be the first thing."
- "He opened up in the first session in ways he hadn't opened up to us in months."
- "She came home and drew a picture of what she'd worked on. She seemed lighter."
- "I felt like someone finally understood what we were dealing with."
- "We got our kid back."
Life WHEN YOU FIND YOUR WAY BACK TO EACH OTHER
When a Child Can Put Something Down
What parents ask us for, underneath everything, is their child back. The version of them that laughs easily, sleeps through the night, and runs toward things instead of away from them.
It doesn't always happen quickly. We watch it happen, though. Something shifts and then something else shifts. They make a joke at dinner. They want to go back to the activity they'd quit. They climb into your lap without you asking.
Something else happens that parents often don't see coming: the space between you opens up. Less guessing. More ease.
BEFORE YOUR FIRST SESSION
Questions We Hear Before the First Session
My child says they don't want to go to therapy. What do I do?
This is very common. I'd suggest framing it as coming to meet someone, not going to therapy. The first session is low pressure. Most kids who come in reluctant leave willing to come back.
Will you tell me what my child says in sessions?
Confidentiality works differently for children depending on their age and what's disclosed. We'll be transparent with you about what that looks like before we begin. If something arises that we need to share for safety reasons, we'll tell your child first.
What age do you work with?
We work with children and teenagers across a range of ages, adapting approaches to each child's developmental stage. Reach out and we can talk through whether your child's age is a good fit.
Do you offer virtual sessions for children?
For some children and teenagers, virtual sessions work well. For younger children or those who benefit from specific tools like sand tray, in-person is often more appropriate. We can talk through what makes sense.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed. You can reach out directly to book a consultation.
WHEN YOU'RE READY
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone Either
Watching your child struggle is one of the harder things a parent carries. A free 15-minute call is a good place to start. We'll talk about what you're noticing and figure out together whether this is the right next step. You don't have to walk in knowing the answers.
