Support for Parents and Caregivers

It’s an honour to be invited to join your team.

If we work together, your child will be my client. However, I understand that you and your child are already a team, and you are inviting me to join your family’s team.

As a parent, you are the most important team member in your child’s life. My role is to act as a temporary bridge between you and your child, ultimately hoping to strengthen your connection, to share understanding, and to support you to communicate and collaborate. I look forward to learning from your family.

During times of challenge, it’s important for children and parents to have their own space with me. In my experience, when children and parents each feel heard, validated, and empowered, they are able to reconnect and work together in new ways.

When we meet, we focus on our common goal - we want to help your child with what feels too hard right now. What we can do as adults to support your child is different from what your child is going to do to move towards that same goal. So when I meet with parents, we focus on what we’re doing to support your child’s progress, and when I meet with kids during art therapy sessions, we focus on what they're doing to reach their goal. This approach allows me to offer my full attention and most effective support for all members of your team.

Parent Meeting Details:

Introductory Phone Call: 20 minutes, free

Art Therapy Orientation Meeting: 75 minutes, $254.25

Caregiver Check-In: 25 minutes, $84.75

Caregiver Strategy Session: 50 minutes, $169.50

I meet with parents at several key points in their child’s therapy journey:

If you’re interested in working together, we begin with an Introductory Phone Call to learn more about each other and determine whether working together feels like a good fit.

If we decide to move forward, the next step is the Art Therapy Orientation Meeting. This is like an intake meeting, where I will review the therapy agreement and answer your questions about my policies. We will also explore your reasons for coming to art therapy, and talk a bit about your child’s development and your family history. This information provides context to help me to understand your current situation and how I might be able to help your child. We will co-create goals and a therapy plan before you leave.

After your child has attended four art therapy sessions, we will set up a Parent Meeting. We can meet in person, virtually, or by phone. Parent meetings are how we will share updates, evaluate progress, adjust goals, and collaborate on strategies. I will share observations and recommendations that may be helpful at home or school, and you can share insights and observations to support me in providing effective therapy. You know your child best, and your insight is crucial for their success.

Following our co-created therapy plan, we repeat art therapy sessions and parent meetings as needed to reach our goals.

 FAQs

  • Just like your child’s art therapy sessions, parent meetings are confidential. The only limits to your confidentiality are those mandated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. I will be required to share only the necessary information to meet my legal and ethical responsibilities if:

    I believe on reasonable grounds that you or someone else is at imminent risk of serious harm;

    I have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child or dependent is in need of protection from physical harm, neglect, or sexual abuse;

    Disclosure is necessary for a legal proceeding (I am subpoenaed);

    I am obligated by law to assist in an investigation;

    I need to contact the appropriate party in the case of an emergency; or

    Information is required by a college in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.

    If you have questions about these limits to confidentiality, please do not hesitate to contact me.

  • Your child’s confidentiality is essential for us to build a relationship based on trust. The way I explain this to kids is that they get to choose what they want to share, and with whom.

    I explain that we are all a team working together, and one of the ways that I can help is by supporting kids to share new insights or strategies with parents, so that you can help kids try ideas at home. I consult with kids about what we will share with you after sessions, and what I will share with you in parent meetings.

    If at any point something comes up that you need to know, I will either support your child to share this information with you after the session, or I will let them know that I am going to share it with you on their behalf.

  • The frequency of parent meetings will be determined by your goals, your availability, and the unique needs of your family. We will work together to come up with a plan that you feel good about, and we can adjust the plan as needed. Typically, it can be beneficial to check in after every 4 art therapy sessions.