What Child Counselling Looks Like at Tidal Trauma Centre
A Space Where Children Feel Understood
Children are naturally expressive, but not always in words. Their feelings come out through play, behaviour, silence, movement, or symptoms that seem to appear out of nowhere. At Tidal Trauma Centre in Surrey, child counselling gives young people a space where their inner world is understood rather than minimized, and where their feelings are met with curiosity rather than pressure.
Parents often come to us feeling unsure whether their child needs counselling, or what sessions would even look like. This uncertainty makes sense. Child counselling is not a classroom lesson, a behaviour chart, or a place where your child is evaluated. It is a relational space where they can slow down, explore what is happening inside, and feel supported by someone who understands both child development and the deeper layers of the nervous system.
Why Children Come to Counselling
Children and youth reach out for support for many reasons. Sometimes something difficult has happened and they do not know how to talk about it. Sometimes their emotions feel too big, too fast, or too overwhelming. Sometimes nothing “big” happened at all and yet everything feels harder.
Common reasons parents in Surrey, Cloverdale, and Langley seek support include:
Anxiety or persistent worry
Emotional outbursts or shutdowns
Difficulty with transitions or routine changes
Sleep challenges
School avoidance or academic stress
Social difficulties with friends or peers
Anger, irritability, or sensory overload
Grief, loss, or major family changes
Unexplained physical complaints like stomach aches or headaches
No concern is too small. If something feels off or if your child is struggling to cope, counselling can offer grounding, clarity, and tools.
How Child Counselling Begins at Tidal Trauma Centre
The first step is building safety and connection. A child will not share what matters until they feel settled enough with their counsellor to do so. Our therapists spend early sessions learning who your child is, what helps them feel comfortable, and what their nervous system needs to regulate.
A simple moment might look like this:
A counsellor sits on the floor with a child who is anxious and quiet. Instead of asking direct questions, they begin drawing simple shapes and wait. After a few minutes, the child reaches for a marker. The counsellor follows their pace. Soon, the child draws something from their week. A conversation begins, not because the counsellor asked for it, but because the child felt safe enough to share.
This is the heart of child counselling. Safety first. Expression second. Growth third.
How Child Counselling Works at Tidal Trauma Centre
Children communicate through more than words. Their play, tone, posture, drawings, stories, and movement reveal more than direct verbal answers ever could. Counselling sessions are responsive and adapt to the child’s age, interests, and nervous system patterns.
Therapists may integrate:
Play based therapy
Art making and drawing
Storytelling and metaphor
Somatic and sensory regulation strategies
Movement based grounding
Emotion identification and naming
IFS informed parts language adapted for children
EMDR for children and youth when developmentally appropriate
Attachment based and relational work
The focus is not on getting your child to open up quickly. It is on helping them feel safe enough to explore their inner world at a pace that honours their development and experience.
Understanding the Child’s Nervous System
Children often show overwhelm differently than adults. Instead of saying “I’m anxious,” a child might argue, refuse school, lash out, cling, freeze, or become unusually quiet. These behaviours are not misbehaviour. They are signals from the nervous system.
Counselling helps children recognise:
What their body feels like when stress rises
How to slow down before overwhelm takes over
How to use grounding skills that match their sensory preferences
How to identify what emotion is happening and why
How to communicate needs to caregivers without shame or fear
Many children begin to shift once they understand that their emotions make sense within their body and history. When the child learns regulation, the whole household feels the difference.
The Role of Parents and Caregivers
Parents are not bystanders in this process. Your insight is invaluable. Depending on your child’s age, counsellors will meet with you regularly to check in, share themes, and offer guidance for supporting your child at home.
This support may include:
Understanding your child’s emotional patterns
Learning co-regulation techniques
Adjusting expectations to match capacity
Helping with morning or bedtime stress
Supporting school related worries or transitions
Exploring behavioural communication instead of surface behaviour
These sessions are not about critiquing your parenting. They are about strengthening the environment your child grows in and giving you clarity in moments that feel confusing or overwhelming.
What A Typical Session Looks Like
Each session is different, but here is a sense of how they often unfold.
A younger child might begin by choosing a toy or activity. Play becomes the bridge into their emotions. A teen might start by sharing a moment from their week, or by expressing how heavy everything feels. A counsellor may introduce drawing, movement, grounding tools, or metaphor to help them explore what is going on internally.
Sessions are spacious and responsive. A child who is anxious may need quiet, gentle pacing, or sensory grounding. A child who is activated may need movement or co-regulation. A child who is shut down may need time, patience, and a felt sense of relational safety before words emerge.
Over time, children begin to feel more organised internally. They express themselves more easily. They understand their feelings more clearly. And they feel more confident navigating school, friendships, and family life.
When You Might Reach Out for Support
Parents often seek counselling when something has felt “off” for a while but they cannot put their finger on why. Other times the signs are clearer. Whether the concerns are subtle, emerging, or significant, early support can prevent patterns from becoming overwhelming.
Tidal Trauma Centre offers both in person sessions at our Cloverdale Surrey office and online counselling across British Columbia. You can be matched with a therapist who understands the unique needs of children and youth at different developmental stages.
Support For Your Child Begins With Support For You
If your child is struggling or you are unsure what they need, we are here to help.
Contact us or fill out a New Client Form to be matched with one or more of our therapists. If you’re ready, book a free consult or appointment.
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Parents are included through regular check ins, collaborative planning, and guidance to support your child at home. Your role is essential and we welcome your involvement.
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No. Children are never pushed to share more than they are ready for. Counsellors use play, metaphor, and gentle exploration to help them process experiences safely.
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Every child is different. Some need short term support. Others benefit from longer term work. Your counsellor will help you understand what fits your child’s needs and pace.
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This is very common. Counsellors are skilled at creating safety and trust, and sessions can begin with activities rather than talking. Engagement often grows naturally.
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Children need privacy to build trust, and parents need information to support them. Therapists share themes and guidance, not private details that would break trust, unless safety is a concern.
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We move slowly, prioritise safety, and give the child full permission to set the pace. Many children rebuild trust when therapy feels attuned, gentle, and responsive.
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Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or mental health advice. It is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.