CREATIVE SKY PSYCHOLOGY

Calgary Child Psychologist

Creative Sky Psychology and Child Psychology

Creative Sky Psychology supports children of all ages. Our team of Psychologists are specialized in their respective areas of Psychology. We support children who may be experiencing social, academic, and adjustment issues. We also provide support to help children build skills and develop resiliency.

Creative Sky Psychology provides specialized Child Psychology services located in Calgary, Alberta.

We support children with challenges related to:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of therapy that helps children to identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors. CBT can be used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Young children at Creative Sky Psychology often benefit from using the principles of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy woven into art and play techniques.

Play therapy: Play therapy is a type of therapy that uses play as a means of communication and expression for children. Play therapy can be used to help children work through a range of emotional and behavioral issues, such as trauma, anxiety, and depression. Play therapy can teach children a variety of skills as well including imagination, social abilities, problem solving strategies, and emotion regulation.

Family support: Family based interventions at Creative Sky Psychology involve working with both the child and family to address a range of issues. Family support can be used to improve communication and relationships within the family, and can be helpful for children with behavioral or emotional problems.

Art therapy: Art therapy is a type of therapy that uses art as a means of expression and exploration. Art therapy can help children to work through emotions and experiences that may be difficult to express through words. Art therapy at Creative Sky Psychology also supports a child to become comfortable in office. While creating art, children are often able to access a different part of their brain.

Trauma-focused therapy: Trauma-focused therapy is a type of therapy that is designed to help children who have experienced traumatic events, such as abuse, neglect, or a natural disaster. Trauma-focused therapy can help children to process their experiences, overcome symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and develop coping skills.

Positive Psychology: Positive psychology is an evidenced based approach to understanding and promoting well-being and happiness. It focuses on the strengths and positive aspects of individuals, rather than solely on their problems and difficulties. The principles of positive psychology can be applied to children, and can have a significant impact on their development and well-being. Creative Sky Psychology provides strength-based therapy to all clients using the principles of Positive Psychology as a framework.

Types of Child Therapy at Creative Sky Psychology

About Child Psychology at Creative Sky

Child therapy at Creative Sky Psychology is uniquely tailored to match the age, developmental needs, and the willingness of the child. If a child is experiencing challenges, the primary goal will be to determine what is causing the underlying struggles. Our belief is that "all children want to do well". Children do not always have the ability to express the difficulties they are experiencing. Issues may involve challenges with problem solving, social skills, emotion regulation, anxiety, or sensory processing difficulties. Some children may also have a diagnosis or symptoms relating to ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Depression or OCD which impacts their well-being. These childhood conditions, though common, can create behaviours that are frustrating for parents and teachers. Children may display aggressive or withdrawal behaviours when they are not doing well. A Child Psychologist can help determine what the underlying roadblock is. We call this “detective” work. Once we determine the roadblock, we can start removing obstacles and building skills. Some children are open and willing to talk about their thoughts, feelings, and emotions, whereas other young clients require a combination of Talk Therapy, Play Therapy, and Art Therapy. At Creative Sky Psychology, we take the approach of being child-centred. This means we work with the developmental needs of a child, and adjust the language and sessions to match the child’s strengths and abilities. Strategies that are tailored to a child's strengths and learning preferences are more likely to be successful in the long term.

Child psychologist interacting with young client during therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Parents Attend Therapy Sessions With Their Child?

At Creative Sky Psychology, every child and family benefits from a tailored approach. Children that are comfortable talking with a Child Psychologist often don't require parents attending the session. Some children, however, find having a parent in the room can ease their anxiety. Children often feel comfortable attending therapy sessions alone very soon into the first session. In therapy, children have fun while they learn and are often quickly at ease. Another approach we commonly use at Creative Sky with young children is having a parent attend the first or last 10 minutes of the session. This allows us to teach the tools and strategies to parents which can then be used in the home.

Does My Child Need To See A Psychologist?

Contrary to popular belief, children do not need to have serious issues or struggles to see a Child Psychologist. A Child Psychologist can increase overall wellness by helping children develop awareness and the skills to thrive. This can be in developing emotional literacy, increasing coping skills, and building strengths and confidence. Parents may also book their own sessions before issues arise to learn about parenting strategies and how to increase their awareness of development and parenting practices.

A child will certainly benefit from seeing a Psychologist when they have struggles at home, school, or in the community. A Psychologist will ask about the impact an issue is having on your child’s functioning and well-being. It is best to seek help sooner than later. Often difficulties can become internalized, causing additional issues. This is often the case with social, emotional, or academic issues. When left untreated, children can develop anxiety or depression, and may experience long term difficulties.

Common Signs of Mental Health Issues Or Psychological Distress

Children express mental health issues and distress in various ways. An experienced Child Psychologist knows what to look for. Often in children “behavioral” issues may arise. These behaviors can be misconstrued as “bad" or "oppositional”. Complaints such as headaches or stomach aches are also very common. Your child may experience difficulties with bedtime or experience nightmares. Kids experiencing psychological issues may also have changing sleep patterns. They may start avoiding friends or refuse to go to school. This can be very worrisome for parents and cause disruption to home life. It can also be difficult to tease out the difference between typical development and problematic issues. When your child is not thriving, an experienced Child Psychologist can help get things back on track. A child’s behavior is something observable, it is the “viewable” tip of the iceberg. At Creative Sky Psychology, we look underneath the iceberg and target therapy in this area causing the most impact. We help children learn to solve problems and deal with issues as they arise, in order to develop long term resiliency and independence. Children at Creative Sky Psychology learn coping skills, sensory regulation strategies, emotion regulation tools, social skills, and problem-solving strategies. The goal isn't to eliminate problems, rather to help children navigate challenges in a way that allows them to learn, grow, and thrive.

20 Signs Your Child may be Experiencing Mental Health Issues

Difficulties with sleeping, either too much or too little
Nightmares
Is very sensitive
Avoiding friends and/or social situations
Refusing to go to school
Bullied at school or in their peer group
Your child doesn't have friends
A lack of joy and/or ongoing sadness
Persistent anger
Your teen no longer talks home or school
Refusing to eat
Reoccurring headaches
Persistent stomach aches
Exhibiting behaviour that is harmful to self or others
They have suicidal thoughts
Struggling with concentration
Becoming frustrated easily
Out of control behaviour or meltdowns
They are excessively worried or fearful
Shaking or sweating in certain situations

How Do I Tell My Child They are Going To A Psychologist?

Most children are not opposed to going to a Psychologist. Your child will benefit from being prepared about what will be discussed and what to expect during their initial visit to a Psychologist. Talk to your child when they are calm and let them know they are going to a safe place where they are going to learn about themselves. Similar to the first day of school, going to see a Psychologist for the first time can be an anxiety provoking situation. Every child is different and if this is a concern reach out to the Child Psychologist prior to the session to discuss a plan as to how to approach this.

Child Psychology Services and Creative Sky Psychology

Child Psychology is an excellent tool used to gain insight into the underlying cause of your child’s struggles. We provide strength-based coping strategies to help your child to grow and thrive. A Child Psychologist can be very effective with supporting children to build strategies and tools that are unique to their challenges. As children develop tools and strategies they learn to manage such challenges, as well as build resiliency and coping strategies for future areas of difficulty. Creative Sky Psychology offers specialized Child Psychology services located in Calgary, Alberta. We have dedicated Child Psychologists for preschoolers, children, pre-teens, teens, and parents. Our Assessment Psychologist provides both clinical and Psycho-Educational assessments when needed. We support families and parents and provide wholistic care for your child. Please call for an initial consultation or book online.