We support children (Age 6+), youth, and families in managing anxiety, low mood, life transitions, and trauma. Our warm, relational, and attachment oriented approach gently supports families in their most difficult moments.
Ready for Therapy for Your Child?
Your child experiences sudden or severe mood changes
Your child displays persistent anxieties and worries that are beginning to feel unmanageable
You’ve noticed a drop in grades, difficulty focusing or paying attention, increased aggression, or trouble following directions
There has been a major change or loss in your family that you feel is likely impacting your child
Your child regularly has unexplained physical complaints such as stomach aches
Your child has persistently expressed low self-esteem, trouble in social relationships, or overall, feeling that something is not right
Your child is open to speaking with another adult about their struggles
You’re open to parenting support if your child is unwilling to come to therapy
Hamilton Child & Youth Therapy
How We Support Your Child
We’ll collaborate on goals grounded in your child’s wellness & secure attachment relationships
We aim to build a safe, secure relationship with your child. A sturdy connection is key to successful therapy
We integrate games, play, and creative expression as this is often how kids communicate best
We try to get to know what’s going on beneath the surface of your child’s behaviour in order to get to the root of underlying issues
We’ll guide you in how to best support your child throughout the process
We’re here for you as well as your child: when appropriate, we will ask to connect through parent sessions
Our Hamilton Child & Youth Therapists
virtual across Ontario
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Sarah Kennedy
Registered Psychotherapist, Qualifying
Sarah specializes in supporting children, youth, and parents to navigate the toughest parts of family life: anxieties, transitions, traumatic events, guilt, self-criticism, and more.
Vibe: Nurturing, warm; compassionate, validating; a deeply relatable mom of two young kids
Anxious about getting started? A free meet & greet is a no-pressure way to check if we’re a good fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I charge $175 per 50 minute session.
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We accept credit card or e-transfer.
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We do not direct bill to insurance companies. You will pay at the end of each session and your therapist will provide a receipt you can use to make a benefits claim with your provider.
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We are located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We see individuals virtually across Ontario and in person at 57-B John Street South, Hamilton, ON.
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Maggie and Summer work with individuals age 18+. Sarah works with adults, as well as children (Age 6+) and their parents.
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Phase 1 – Get to Know Each Other + Assessment
In this phase, your therapist’s role is:
to get to know you and help you feel comfortable, validated, seen, and heard
to assess your history, your needs, and develop a tentative plan for our work together.
Your role here is to simply be open and honest, to assess if you feel like you and your therapist are a good fit for each other, and to pin down your focus/goals for therapy.
Phase 2 – The Work
In this phase, you begin to actively work on the symptoms, patterns, and challenges that brought you into therapy. This is when your therapist may mindfully push you into a zone of discomfort.
This phase will look different for everyone depending on what you decide to work on together. This may include new insights into your experiences and behaviours, new perspectives and skills, body based interventions, and/or visualizations. The work may include “homework” for you to practice out in the world.
Phase 3 – Maintenance
Once you feel a shift in your mental wellness, you may see your therapist less frequently or you may choose to take a break from therapy. During this time, the focus is on keeping up the gains you have acquired during your time together.
Alternatively, you may choose to focus on an area you have not tackled yet. If so, you cycle back into “the work” for another round.
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As frequently as once a week and as infrequently as once a month. It is recommended you attend weekly or bi-weekly for the first few months of therapy.
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Each therapy session is up to 50 minutes and begins on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Whether you decide to commit for a number of weeks, a number of months, or a number of years depends on your personal needs and goals.
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Your therapist belongs to a regulated college of heath professionals authorized to practice psychotherapy under the Psychotherapy Act of Ontario.
As a member of one of these colleges, we are mandated to continually engage in professional development, peer consultation, and supervision with mentors.
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Your therapist is trained in any number of attachment oriented therapy modalities, such as:
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
Attachment Focused Therapy (DDP)
Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
Family Systems Therapy
Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
As well as other modalities such as:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)