If you are considering therapy for your child or teen, it is natural to wonder what actually happens in the room. Will they just sit and talk to a stranger? What will I be told? How will I know it is helping?

I am Ariana Adibrad, a Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW) working with children, teenagers, and young adults in Richmond Hill, Ontario. This guide explains how I work, so that you and your child know what to expect before the first session.

Therapy for Children Is Not Only Talking

Adults can usually describe what they feel and why. Children often cannot, and that is a completely normal part of development, not a sign that something is wrong. A seven-year-old may not say, “I feel anxious about being separated from you.” Instead, she may refuse to go to school, complain of an unexplained stomachache, or have an overwhelming meltdown at bedtime.

For this reason, I do not rely on conversation alone. I choose evidence-based approaches that fit your child’s age, developmental stage, personality, and emotional needs, so that they can express and work through what they are experiencing in a way that feels natural, safe, and engaging to them. For many children, that means play, drawing, storytelling, and other hands-on activities. For many teens, it means more direct conversation supported by practical, actionable tools.

The Evidence-Based Approaches I Draw On

No single method suits every child. In my clinical practice, I bring together several proven, evidence-based approaches and tailor them to each young person:

• Play Therapy: Play is how young children think, communicate, and make sense of the world around them. Through toys, therapeutic games, and imaginative play, children show me what they cannot yet put into words, and they practise new coping strategies in a safe, nurturing setting.
• Art Therapy: Drawing, painting, and sculpting can help children and adolescents express complex feelings that are hard to name. You do not need any artistic skill—the entire focus is on self-expression and emotional release rather than the finished piece.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT helps children and teens notice the direct link between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Together, we build practical skills for managing worry, social anxiety, low mood, and school-related stress.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT helps young people make room for difficult emotions rather than fighting or suppressing them, while empowering them to take meaningful action toward what matters most. Many teens find this approach deeply relatable, respectful, and non-judgmental.
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): For children and teens who have been affected by distressing life events, trauma, or persistent fears, EMDR can be an effective part of the therapy plan when appropriate. I will always discuss with you whether it is a good fit before introducing it.

Which of these approaches I use, and how much of each, depends entirely on your child. Sessions with a younger child may look very different from sessions with a sixteen-year-old, and our plan can adapt organically as your child grows and makes progress.