Child Therapy Calgary
Something has changed with your child — or maybe you’ve been noticing things for a while and you’re not sure what to do next. Perhaps they’re anxious about school, struggling with big emotions, acting out at home, or going through something difficult that you can’t quite reach.
At Solasta, our registered psychologists and registered provisional psychologists work with children aged 3 to 12 in NW Calgary — through play therapy, sandtray, art, and conversation, matched to your child’s age and what works best for them. Sessions take place in comfortable therapy offices or our dedicated playroom.
How Child Therapy Works
Child therapy is therapy designed specifically for younger children. Because children often can’t put their experiences into words, therapy uses age-appropriate methods — play, art, sandtray, games, and conversation — to help them understand and process what they’re going through.
Sessions are one-on-one with a trained therapist. Rather than directing the child, the therapist follows their lead — observing how they play, what they create, and how they interact — and gently guides the process from there. Trust builds gradually, and the work deepens as it does.
Every child is different. Some engage best through play and creative activity. Others do better with structured conversation or games. Some benefit from our dedicated playroom; others work just as well in a comfortable therapy office. Your child’s therapist will find what fits.
What We Help With
Children rarely say directly when something is wrong. Instead you might notice changes in their behaviour, mood, sleep, or how they’re managing at school. Here are the most common reasons families come to Solasta for child therapy Calgary:
Anxiety and Worry
Stomach aches before school, difficulty sleeping, clinginess, or avoiding things they used to enjoy. Anxiety in children is common and responds well to therapy. We help children name what they’re feeling, understand where it’s coming from, and build coping strategies that work in real situations.
Trauma and Difficult Experiences
Children who have experienced something frightening — abuse, witnessing conflict, a medical event, or something they struggle to talk about — can carry that experience in ways that affect their behaviour, sleep, and relationships. Play-based and creative approaches allow children to process difficult experiences safely, without being forced into words before they’re ready.
Low Mood and Depression
Even young children can experience persistent sadness, withdrawal, and loss of interest in things they used to love. Therapy provides a consistent, supportive relationship where children can express difficult feelings and gradually rebuild their sense of connection and enjoyment.
Family Changes
Divorce, new siblings, blended families, or a parent’s mental health difficulties can all affect a child’s sense of security. Therapy helps children navigate change and feel grounded when their world feels uncertain.
Behavioural Challenges
Defiance, aggression, or big reactions at school or home often have an emotional root. Therapy helps children understand what’s driving their behaviour and develop new ways to respond — change that comes from the inside rather than being imposed from the outside.
Grief and Loss
Children grieve differently from adults — sometimes fine, then falling apart over something small. Therapy gives children a space to explore loss at their own pace, without pressure to feel a certain way or move on before they’re ready.
Self-Esteem and Confidence
Children who struggle with how they see themselves — whether from social difficulties, academic challenges, or comparison with peers — benefit from a space focused entirely on their strengths. We help children recognise what they’re good at, develop confidence in their own voice, and approach challenges with more resilience.
How We Work with Kids
When you bring your child to Solasta for therapy, you can expect a warm, unhurried process that puts your child’s comfort first and keeps you informed every step of the way. Here’s what typically happens:
A Parent Intake Meeting First
Before your child’s first session, we meet with you. We want to understand your child’s history, what you’ve been noticing, and what you’re hoping therapy can do. You don’t need to have all the answers — we’ll ask the right questions together. Your child doesn’t need to be there for this part.
Therapeutic Approaches Tailored to Your Child
We don’t use one approach for every child. Depending on your child’s age, temperament, and presenting concerns, our therapists draw from:
Child-centred play therapy (CCPT) — the therapist follows the child’s lead completely, creating a safe space for the child to direct their own healing process. Particularly effective for anxiety, trauma, and attachment difficulties.
Sandtray therapy — children create scenes using miniature figures in a tray of sand, revealing emotional material that’s often hard to access through words alone.
Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT) — a neuroscience-informed approach that integrates attachment theory, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation, using the therapeutic relationship itself as the primary mechanism of change.
Art therapy — drawing, painting, and creative activities for children who process experiences visually rather than verbally.
Narrative play therapy — storytelling, puppets, and imaginative play that help children externalise problems and build resilience.
CBT for children, attachment-focused EMDR, and EMDR for children — more structured approaches for older or more verbal children, or when trauma needs direct, focused processing.
For younger children or those who find it hard to talk about their feelings, sessions often make use of our dedicated playroom — a purpose-built space with toys, puppets, art materials, a sandtray, and a cosy tent where children can feel safe and in control. For older children or those who engage better through conversation or structured activity, sessions take place in a comfortable therapy office. Your child’s therapist will find what works.
Family Involvement Throughout
You’ll receive regular updates on themes and progress, and practical strategies to support what happens in sessions at home and at school. In many cases, parent sessions are built into the process — because what happens at home matters as much as what happens in the room.
Ongoing Support and Progress Monitoring
We check in regularly and adjust the approach as your child grows and changes. If concerns emerge during therapy that warrant a more formal evaluation — for ADHD, autism, or learning difficulties — we can coordinate that within the same practice, without you having to start over somewhere else.
Why Choose Solasta for Child Therapy in Calgary?
Our team includes registered psychologists and registered provisional psychologists with real experience working with children — not just adults seen through a child-therapy lens.
Play-Based, Child-Led Approach
We don’t ask children to sit and talk the way an adult would. Sessions use play, art, sandtray, and games so children can process what’s going on for them in the way that actually works for their age and temperament.
A Dedicated Playroom, Built for This
Our purpose-built playroom — toys, puppets, art materials, a sandtray, a cosy tent — exists specifically so younger children have a space built around them, not a repurposed adult therapy office.
Family Partnership Throughout
You’re not left in the dark between sessions. Regular updates, practical strategies for home and school, and parent sessions where useful mean you’re part of the process, not separate from it.
Therapists Specializing in Child Therapy
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Calgary Counselling and Psychology Services
Our Calgary psychologists have a wide range of experience and expertise in understanding the unique needs of our clients and helping you reach your therapy goals.
CAP
All of our psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists.
PAA
Many of our psychologists are members of the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta.
CCPA
Many of our therapists are members of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
Our Calgary Office Space
Our thoughtfully designed counselling spaces are crafted to create a warm, welcoming environment where you can feel completely at ease.
Get Started With Solasta in Three Easy Steps
Find Your Therapist
Book Online
Choose a date and time that fits your schedule and receive instant confirmation of your appointment.
In-person or Online
Visit our welcoming Calgary office or meet with your therapist online from the comfort of your home.
FAQs
What age group is child therapy suitable for?
Child therapy at Solasta is suitable for children from age 3. For children under 5, sessions are more play-focused. The approach is adapted to your child’s developmental stage — what works for a 4-year-old is very different from what works for a 10-year-old. For teenagers, we have therapists with specific experience working with adolescents — ask about this when you call.
Will my child open up to the therapist?
They don’t have to — not right away, and not in words. Children communicate through what they choose to do in the room, not just what they say. Talking often comes naturally later, once trust is established. Our therapists are patient and child-led, and experienced in working with children who are initially reluctant.
How involved will I be?
Actively involved, particularly in the early stages. We meet with you before beginning, check in regularly throughout, and may build parent sessions into the process. You’ll always know what’s being worked on, even when the specific content of sessions stays with your child.
How long does therapy take?
It depends on your child and what you’re working on. Some children benefit from a focused block of 8–12 sessions. Others need longer-term support. Your child’s therapist will give you a realistic sense of the timeframe after the first few sessions.
How much does child therapy cost?
Please visit our fees page for current rates. Sessions are covered by most extended health benefit plans — check with your provider for your specific coverage. No referral from a doctor is required.
Do I need a referral?
No referral needed. Book directly online or call our admin team.
What is play therapy, and will my child do it?
Play therapy uses toys, art, and games instead of conversation to help children process feelings they can’t yet put into words. It’s one of several approaches your child’s therapist may use — some children do best with structured play, others with sandtray, art, or conversation. Your child’s therapist adapts the approach to what actually works for them, rather than following one fixed method.