Therapy FAQ for Families

Your first session is focused on getting to know you, understanding your concerns, and beginning to build comfort and trust with your therapist.

For children under 12, parents or caregivers complete the intake appointment. Together, we review your child's developmental history, strengths, and challenges, and talk about what you are hoping will improve at home, at school, or in daily life.

For youth ages 12 and up, the intake can be completed independently, with parent involvement as appropriate and with the young person's consent. This supports privacy while still allowing for family collaboration when helpful.

For adults, parents, and couples, the first session is a chance to share your story, explore patterns, and clarify your goals. Your therapist will then outline a plan tailored to your age, needs, and situation.

Therapy can be helpful whenever emotions, behaviours, or relationships start to feel overwhelming or difficult to manage. For children and teens, you might notice ongoing worry, big emotional outbursts, difficulty focusing, changes in sleep or appetite, school struggles, or social challenges.

For adults and parents, therapy can support you when you feel stuck, stressed, burnt out, or unsure how to cope with life's demands. Couples may seek therapy when communication feels hard, conflict repeats, or emotional connection has changed.

You do not need a formal diagnosis to begin. If something feels "off" or you are wondering whether extra support would help, that is often a good time to reach out.

Young Sprouts Therapy supports:

• Infants & toddlers (0–6)
• School-aged children (7–12)
• Teens & adolescents (13–17)
• Parents and caregivers
• Adults seeking individual therapy
• Couples wanting to strengthen their relationship

Our therapists tailor their approach to each developmental stage and to the unique needs of your family.

We work with a wide range of emotional, behavioural, developmental, and relationship concerns.

For children and teens, common reasons for therapy include:

• Anxiety, stress, and worries
• Big feelings and emotional regulation challenges
• ADHD and attention-related difficulties
• Behavioural concerns at home or school
• Anger, irritability, or frequent frustration
• Friendship or social struggles
• School avoidance, academic stress, or transitions
• Grief and loss
• Trauma and difficult life experiences
• Family changes such as separation, divorce, or moving

For adults and parents, common concerns include:

• Anxiety, stress, and burnout
• Low mood, feeling stuck, or overwhelmed
• Parenting stress and parent–child relationship challenges
• Life transitions and identity shifts
• Past trauma or difficult experiences
• Boundaries, communication, and emotional regulation

For couples, we often support:

• Communication difficulties
• Recurring conflict and feeling "stuck in the same fight"
• Emotional distance or disconnection
• Rebuilding trust after relationship injuries
• Adjusting to major changes such as parenthood or relocation
• Strengthening closeness, teamwork, and understanding

Our team uses evidence-based, developmentally informed approaches that are tailored to each person or family. Depending on the goals and age, your therapist may draw from:

• Play Therapy (child-centred, directive, and non-directive)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills
• Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Narrative and solution-focused approaches
• Art-based and creative therapies
• Family systems work
• The Gottman Method for couples

Your therapist will explain which approaches they recommend and why, and will always welcome your questions and feedback.

Yes. For young children and many pre-teens, parent or caregiver involvement is a key part of therapy. This may include attending the intake session, joining check-ins, and learning strategies to support your child at home.

For teens and adults, parent involvement depends on age, goals, and consent. We balance the importance of privacy with the benefits of family support, and we discuss this openly with clients so everyone feels respected and informed.

There is no one "right" length of therapy. Some people come for short-term support over several weeks or months, while others choose to continue longer for deeper emotional work or ongoing support.

After the first few sessions, your therapist will share a clearer sense of recommended frequency and duration. We check in regularly about progress and goals so therapy continues to feel meaningful and helpful.

Most therapy sessions are approximately 50 minutes. Some couples sessions or specialized appointments may be scheduled for a longer time, depending on your needs.

Yes. We offer:

• In-person sessions at our clinic in Thornhill
• Virtual therapy for children, teens, adults, and couples across Ontario

Virtual therapy is secure, convenient, and often a great fit for busy families, older teens, and adults who prefer to meet from home or work.

Our physical office is located in Thornhill, and we regularly see clients from Vaughan, Richmond Hill, North York, Markham, and nearby communities.

Through secure virtual sessions, we are able to support children, teens, adults, and couples anywhere in Ontario.

Many extended health benefits plans cover therapy sessions with Registered Psychotherapists (RPs), Registered Social Workers (RSWs), and Occupational Therapists (OTs). Coverage depends on your specific plan.

We provide detailed receipts you can submit for reimbursement. We encourage you to check your benefits booklet or contact your insurance provider to confirm what is included in your plan.

Fees vary depending on the type of service and which therapist you see. Our rates follow professional guidelines for psychotherapy and child and family therapy in Ontario.

We ask for advance notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment so we can offer the time to another client. Your therapist will review the full cancellation policy with you during the intake process, or you can contact our office for more information.

It is very common for children and even teens to feel unsure at first. Our therapists use play, creativity, and gentle conversation to help young people feel safe and understood. There is no pressure to "perform" or talk before they are ready.

Over time, most children and teens begin to open up as trust develops and they experience therapy as a supportive, non-judgemental space.

Yes. With your written consent, we can collaborate with teachers, school support teams, paediatricians, family doctors, and other professionals involved in your care. Working together often leads to more consistent support across home, school, and community settings.

A simple and reassuring explanation is usually best. You might say, "You're going to meet someone whose job is to help kids and teens with their feelings and worries, and to help things feel a bit easier."

Try to avoid describing therapy as a punishment or something they "have" to do because they are in trouble. Instead, frame it as an extra layer of support, similar to how a tutor helps with school or a coach helps on a team.