Child Counselling and Play Therapy
Find trauma-informed, inclusive child therapy in Downtown Vancouver with play-based support for anxiety, trauma, and behaviour. Book a free discovery consultation with our child therapists.
Child Therapy & Play Therapy in Downtown Vancouver
You want your child to feel safe, confident, and connected, yet lately something feels off. Maybe your child is more anxious, more reactive, or quieter than usual. School drop-offs are a struggle, big feelings seem to come out of nowhere, or there has been a stressful event that your child cannot quite put into words.
At Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre, we offer child therapy and play therapy in Vancouver for children ages 4 to 12, with a gentle, trauma-informed approach that respects how children naturally heal and grow. We support your child’s nervous system, emotions, and relationships so they can feel more settled inside and more secure with you and the world around them.
Support for Children’s Emotions, Behaviour, and Development
Children rarely say “I am anxious” or “I am overwhelmed.” Instead, their inner world shows up through play, behaviour, sleep, appetite, and relationships. Our child therapists pay close attention to these signals, offering developmentally appropriate ways for your child to process what they are going through.
We draw on attachment-focused, neurobiologically informed approaches that engage your child’s brain and body, not just their thinking mind. This can be especially supportive when children have experienced stress, bullying, family conflict, medical procedures, or other difficult events that feel “too big” to talk about directly.
Common concerns we support include:
- Anxiety, worries, and school-related stress
- Behavioural and emotional outbursts, anger, and defiance
- Trauma responses, nightmares, or heightened startle reactions
- Grief, loss, family transitions, and changes in caregiving
- Social difficulties, low self-esteem, and sibling conflict
Child therapy in Vancouver at Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre is always grounded in relationship, compassion, and respect for your child’s unique temperament, culture, and lived experience. We welcome LGBTQ2S+ and BIPOC families and strive to create a space where every child feels seen and valued.
Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre's Approach
Play Therapy That Speaks Your Child’s Language
For children, play is not “just playing.” It is how they communicate, experiment, and make sense of their experiences. In our Vancouver office, play therapy sessions give your child a safe, structured space to express big feelings through toys, art, stories, and movement when words are not enough or are too overwhelming.
Our counsellors integrate play-based approaches with trauma-informed, attachment-focused methods and body-based awareness. This might include:
– Using art, drawing, sand, and figures to explore feelings and themes
– Gentle body awareness to help your child notice what feels safe, tense, or calm
– Storytelling and role-play that allow children to “try on” new ways of coping
– Co-regulation, where the therapist’s calm, attuned presence helps your child’s nervous system settle
These approaches are informed by neuroscience and evidence-based trauma therapies that focus on how the brain and nervous system store stress and resilience. While we always adapt to each child’s age and developmental stage, the core intention remains the same: to help your child feel safer inside so they can think, learn, and relate more easily outside.
What to Expect From Child Therapy in Vancouver
Child therapy is a collaborative process that includes you as an important part of your child’s healing. We begin with an initial conversation with caregivers to understand your child’s history, strengths, and current challenges. Together, we clarify priorities for support, such as reducing anxiety, easing behavioural struggles, or strengthening connection at home.
Your child then meets regularly with a counsellor in our calm and welcoming downtown Vancouver space, or online if appropriate for their age and needs. Sessions often blend play, conversation, and gentle nervous system regulation tools. Depending on your child’s needs, we may integrate elements from trauma-focused and attachment-based modalities, cognitive and emotion-focused approaches, or somatic therapies that attend to the body’s signals.
Caregiver involvement is integrated through periodic check-ins, parent sessions, and practical strategies you can bring into everyday life. The goal is not to “fix” your child, but to support you both with more understanding, skills, and connection.
Why Families Choose Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre
Families seeking child therapy in Vancouver often look for more than standard talk therapy. They want an approach that honours the whole child, including their nervous system, relationships, culture, and environment. At Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre, our team focuses on trauma-informed, attachment-based, and neurobiologically grounded care for children and their families.
We place connection at the centre of our work, because many emotional and behavioural struggles begin in relationships and are healed in relationships. Our counsellors are committed to creating an inclusive, non-judgmental environment where your child can be themselves and where caregivers feel supported rather than blamed.
With offices in downtown Vancouver and Coquitlam, along with virtual services across British Columbia, we offer flexible, accessible care tailored to your child’s age, developmental stage, and unique needs.
Our Registered Clinical Counsellors & Therapists in Vancouver & Coquitlam
We take great care in selecting the therapists we hire and only bring on those who embody our values of compassion, curiosity, and openness. We believe that these qualities are essential to creating an environment where our clients can feel safe and supported as they navigate their mental health journey.
Or view our list of counsellors accepting clients
Support Your Child’s Emotional Growth Today
If you are ready to take the next step toward compassionate, developmentally appropriate support for your child, we invite you to explore our child therapy in Vancouver services. At Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre, we are here to answer your questions and help you schedule an initial appointment, so please contact us to get started.
Explore Our Comprehensive Counselling Services in Vancouver
FAQ
We provide child therapy and play therapy services for children ages 4 to 12. For younger children, we focus heavily on play-based approaches, while older children may engage in more conversation alongside creative expression.
Every child is unique, but most families see positive changes within the first few sessions. Depending on your child’s needs, therapy may last anywhere from a few months to a year or longer for more complex concerns.
Not necessarily. Children often process experiences through play, art, and movement rather than direct conversation. We follow your child’s lead and never force them to discuss anything they’re not ready to explore.
Very involved! We include regular parent check-ins, provide strategies for home, and may suggest family sessions when helpful. Your relationship with your child is central to their healing.
Yes, our services are covered by most extended health plans under clinical counselling. We also offer direct billing options to make accessing care easier for your family.
Start Child Therapy in Vancouver
The Benefits of Child Counselling
- Better emotional regulation and less anxiety
- Improved behaviour and communication
- Stronger family relationships
- Increased confidence and resilience
- Safe healing from difficult experiences
- Better focus, social skills, and school functioning
Why Choose Lotus Therapy?
Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre provides compassionate, trauma-informed care through holistic, evidence-based practices in an inclusive environment, offering flexible scheduling and low-cost options to ensure accessible, quality mental health support.
Compassionate Care in a Safe Space
At Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre, our highly skilled clinicians provide a safe, inclusive space where compassion and connection foster profound healing and personal growth.
Holistic, Trauma-Informed Approach
We utilize a holistic, trauma-informed approach, integrating mind, body, and nervous system techniques to address core issues and unlock your potential.
Flexible and Accessible Quality Service
Committed to accessible care, we offer flexible appointments, including evenings and weekends, and low-cost options without compromising our evidence-based, quality service.