Evenings and Sundays available
(289) 579-4769

Child Therapy for Kids Under 12 in Thornhill and Vaughan

Child therapy helps kids under 12 make sense of big feelings, worries and behaviour through play, art, music and short, age-appropriate conversations. Parents are part of the process, and we offer appointments at our Thornhill clinic or by video for families elsewhere in the province, including evenings and Sundays.

  • Under 12
  • Art and music
  • Parents involved
  • Evenings, Sundays

Or call (289) 579-4769. In person in Thornhill, virtual across Ontario.

Smiling woman and a laughing young girl playing together with wooden toys at a table

Signs your child could use support

Young children rarely announce "I'm struggling." Trouble tends to surface in behaviour, bedtime or play before words. Mothers and fathers often contact us after spotting patterns like these:

  • Meltdowns have grown longer, louder or more frequent, and the soothing tricks that once helped have stopped helping.
  • Drop-off at school, daycare or a birthday party ends in crying or clinging, even after weeks of practice.
  • Tummy aches, headaches or trouble settling at bedtime keep returning, and the doctor has not found a medical cause.
  • Your child plays by themselves at recess, insists nobody likes them, or keeps mentioning the same unkind classmates.
  • A major event, such as a new sibling, moving house, a separation or a death in the family, still weighs on them months later.
  • Their teacher has raised concerns about focus, hitting, or following classroom routines.
  • They have slipped back into habits they had outgrown, like bedwetting or baby talk, or their pretend play keeps replaying the same scary scene.

All kids go through wobbly stretches. If several of these have lasted a month or more, or they are disrupting kindergarten or class, playdates or family life, it makes sense to get a professional opinion. When worry is the main thread, read about our anxiety therapy for kids. When focus, restlessness and impulsivity stand out, look at ADHD therapy.

Ages we work with

Child therapy covers toddlers up to the 12th birthday. The younger the child, the more often a parent is in the room.

  • Under 6

    Toddlers and preschoolers come with a parent. Sessions are play-based and focus on the bond between you and your child, using child-centred play therapy, Theraplay-style activities and parent coaching.

  • Ages 6 to 11

    School-age kids usually spend most of the hour with the therapist on their own, and a parent joins near the end. Games, drawing and puppets make room for naming feelings, calming the body and solving playground problems.

  • 12 and older

    Kids heading into middle school or secondary school can move to teen therapy, which gives them more independence and a bigger voice in planning.

Some children also need help with the physical side of daily life, like handwriting, getting dressed, sensory overload or switching between activities. Our occupational therapy for kids in Thornhill can run alongside counselling. For bedtime battles, defiance and the parenting side of things, parent coaching gives you a plan for home.

Smiling woman working one-on-one with a young girl using markers and picture cards at a table

How child therapy works here

Most young children cannot sit and describe their week, so sessions are built around the way kids actually communicate: through play, movement and making things.

Smiling girl showing a drawing to her male therapist on a sofa during a child therapy session
  1. 1

    The free call

    Fifteen minutes on the phone with our intake staff. Describe what is happening at home and in class, and we will recommend a clinician whose experience and schedule match your child. A doctor's note is not required.

  2. 2

    A parent intake

    Plenty of families begin with an appointment for parents alone. The clinician covers your child's development, health, schooling, peer relationships and what you have already attempted, which spares your child from retelling painful details.

  3. 3

    Your child's first visit

    The therapist gets to know your child through play, with no pressure to talk about problems. The aim of this first visit is simply for your child to feel at ease in the room.

  4. 4

    A regular session

    50 minutes. Little ones might use a sand tray, puppets or paints to express what they cannot yet put into words. Kids who light up when they make something can work with a clinician trained in art therapy or music therapy, where drawing, rhythm and songwriting carry the conversation. Bigger kids add simple cognitive behavioural tools such as a worry thermometer, coping cards and belly breathing. Many appointments finish with a short debrief so the parent knows what to practise.

  5. 5

    Your role between appointments

    Home life matters as much as the hour in the playroom. Expect brief updates, ideas for routines and phrases for tense moments, and an occasional parent-only meeting when that is more useful than another play visit.

  6. 6

    Fitting it around school

    Most children come once a week to begin with. Evening slots run until 9 pm Monday to Thursday, Fridays end at 3 pm, and Sundays run from 9 to 9, which helps with pickups, lessons and sports.

Children progress at their own speed, so the number of visits varies. Every few weeks you and the clinician review what has shifted and agree whether to carry on, try another approach or pause.

Therapists who work with children

Each bio lists the ages and concerns that clinician sees. Share a little about your child on the phone and we will recommend a match. See the full team.

01/ 11Daniela, MSW, RSW (Clinical Director)
  1. Daniela, MSW, RSW (Clinical Director) at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Daniela

    MSW, RSW (Clinical Director)

  2. Nadine, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Art Therapist at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Nadine

    Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Art Therapist

  3. Hilla, MSW, RSW at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Hilla

    MSW, RSW

  4. Gretchen, MTA, MT-BC, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Gretchen

    MTA, MT-BC, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

  5. Ruth-Ellen, Registered Psychotherapist at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Ruth-Ellen

    Registered Psychotherapist

  6. Nikki, Registered Psychotherapist at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Nikki

    Registered Psychotherapist

  7. Matthew, Registered Psychotherapist at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Matthew

    Registered Psychotherapist

  8. Michelle, RSW, MSW at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Michelle

    RSW, MSW

  9. Riki, RSW, MSW at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Riki

    RSW, MSW

  10. Shalheves, RSW, MSW at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Shalheves

    RSW, MSW

  11. Jackie, RSW, MSW, Certified Family Mediator at Young Sprouts Therapy

    Jackie

    RSW, MSW, Certified Family Mediator

Swipe, use the arrow keys, or select a portrait to meet a therapist.

Fees and insurance

  • Child session

    $185 / 50 min

    Your child with their therapist

  • Parent coaching

    $185 / 50 min

    Parents only, without your child

  • Occupational therapy

    $195 / 50 min

    At the clinic. Home visits $215

We don't direct bill. We provide detailed receipts you can submit for reimbursement. Most workplace plans cover Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Social Workers.

Helpful reads for parents

More in the Parent Guide

What parents want to know about child therapy

How can I tell whether my child needs therapy?
Weigh how long it has lasted and how much it disrupts daily life. An unsettled week after a new baby or a move is expected. A pattern that has continued for a month or longer, appears both in class and with family, or leaves your child (or you) drained most evenings is reason enough to reach out. If you are unsure, the 15-minute call is a low-pressure way to get an outside view; occasionally the advice is to hold off and keep watching.
What does child therapy cost, and is it covered by benefits?
Child sessions are $185 for 50 minutes, and parent coaching is the same rate. Occupational therapy is $195 at the clinic. Extended health plans in Ontario typically treat Registered Psychotherapists, Registered Social Workers and occupational therapy as distinct lines, so look for all three. You receive a receipt after each appointment to claim through your benefits. The cost of therapy calculator estimates what you would pay after coverage, and our fees page lists every rate.
Can young children do therapy online?
For some, yes. School-age kids can manage video appointments, particularly with on-screen games and drawing. Preschoolers generally do better face to face, where the clinician can use toys, a sand tray and movement. With little ones, video is often used for parent coaching instead. Families who live in Ontario can book online sessions.
What is the difference between child therapy and play therapy?
Child therapy is the umbrella service for kids under 12. Play therapy is one of the main methods used within it, especially for younger children who express themselves more easily through toys than words. Older children may get more conversation and CBT. Parent coaching is dedicated time for you, and occupational therapy works on motor, sensory and daily living skills.
My child won't talk about feelings. Is there any point?
Yes. Very few young children describe their worries directly, and nobody expects them to. Play, art and stories let kids show what is bothering them without explaining it, and the clinician passes along what they notice.
Will I be in the room during sessions?
That varies with age and with what the work calls for. With toddlers and preschoolers, a parent usually stays for most of the hour. With school-age kids, the clinician often sees your child alone and invites you in near the end. Either way, you learn what is being worked on and how to reinforce it.
Does my child need a diagnosis or a referral to begin?
No. You can book directly, and many children arrive with no diagnosis at all. If your child already has one, such as ADHD or an anxiety disorder, bring any reports so the clinician can build on them.
What should I tell my child before the first visit?
Keep it short and honest. Something like "You're going to meet someone whose job is helping kids with big feelings. There are lots of toys, and you can play while you get to know each other." Avoid framing it as a punishment or as a place to talk about being bad.
What should we do if our child is unsafe right now?
We are not a crisis service. If your child is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For urgent support, call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline), or call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. Once your child is safe, we can talk about regular sessions.

Areas we serve in person for child therapy

In-person from our Thornhill clinic and virtually across Ontario. Click any city to learn more.

Closest to our Thornhill clinic.

Don’t see your city? We offer virtual therapy across Ontario.

Reviewed by Daniela Shulman, MSW, RSW, Clinical Director. Last updated .

Not sure what your child needs yet?

Start with a short call and describe what you are noticing in class and with family. We will walk through the options, including whether to begin with your child, with you, or both.

Or call (289) 579-4769