Pediatric Counselling
Services
Teen therapyAnxietyOCDDepressionParents and familiesSelf-harm and suicidal ideationStress managementDifficult life transitionsApproaches
Play therapy and art therapyVideo game therapyCognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)Exposure and response preventionMindfulness-based therapiesFamily and filial therapyCollaborative problem solvingSafety planning and harm reductionBook on JaneFind relief from anxiety and worry.
Help your child understand big feelings, calm their body and face fears step by step, with the whole family supported along the way.
Finding calm in the worry
Anxiety can make even small moments feel enormous for a child, and for the parents watching. Whether it shows up as stomach aches before school, bedtime battles or a need for constant reassurance, I help your child learn that feelings are manageable, and that they are capable.
In a large randomized trial of children with anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioural therapy and medication each worked better than placebo, and the combination worked best.
Walkup et al., 2008, New England Journal of Medicine
Racing thoughts that steal sleep.
Falling asleep feeling safe.
Worry that shows up in the body before school.
Skills to settle the tummy and the breath.
Needing to ask, and ask, and ask.
Trusting yourself to handle what comes.
Imagining every possible worst case.
Seeing worries at their real size.
Skipping playdates, class or speaking up.
Trying one small brave step.
Holding it together all day, then it spills out.
Having a safe place to let feelings out.
Afraid of getting it wrong.
Being okay with “good enough.”
Clinging and tears at drop-off.
Saying goodbye and trusting the return.
My approach
Individualized approaches that fit your child.
Anxiety looks different at six than at sixteen. I match the approach to your child’s age, needs and interests, and I involve you as a parent, so the practice continues at home.
listening to children’s voices.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Helps children notice the link between thoughts, feelings and actions, and practise new ways of responding to worry.
ExploreExposure and response prevention
Facing fears and OCD urges in small, planned steps, so a child learns the feeling passes without rituals.
ExplorePlay therapy
Children think and feel through play. I offer video game therapy as well as traditional tools such as the sand tray and doll house, giving playful opportunities to explore emotions, reactions and relationships. I draw on DIR Floortime here, following the child's lead to build connection and communication.
ExploreArt therapy
Drawing, clay and paint give feelings a shape, so we can talk about them without pressure.
ExploreFamily / Filial therapy
Parents learn to hold short, child-led play sessions at home, strengthening connection and making them the main support for their child.
ExploreMindfulness-based therapy
Simple, kid-friendly practices for noticing the body and breathing through big feelings, taught alongside parents so they work at home.
ExploreHiga-McMillan, C. K., Francis, S. E., Rith-Najarian, L., & Chorpita, B. F. (2016). Evidence base update: 50 years of research on treatment for child and adolescent anxiety. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 45(2), 91–113. link
James, A. C., Reardon, T., Soler, A., James, G., & Creswell, C. (2020). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11), CD013162. link
Wang, Z., et al. (2017). Comparative effectiveness and safety of cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for childhood anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 171(11), 1049–1056. link
Walkup, J. T., et al. (2008). Cognitive behavioral therapy, sertraline, or a combination in childhood anxiety. New England Journal of Medicine, 359(26), 2753–2766. link
Lebowitz, E. R., Marin, C., Martino, A., Shimshoni, Y., & Silverman, W. K. (2020). Parent-based treatment as efficacious as cognitive-behavioral therapy for childhood anxiety: A randomized noninferiority study of Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(3), 362–372. link
Hipolito, G., et al. (2023). A systematic review and meta-analysis of nonpharmacological interventions for children and adolescents with selective mutism. JCPP Advances, 3(3), e12166. link
Scaini, S., Belotti, R., Ogliari, A., & Battaglia, M. (2016). A comprehensive meta-analysis of cognitive-behavioral interventions for social anxiety disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 42, 105–112. link
Sharma, S., Hucker, A., Matthews, T., Grohmann, D., & Laws, K. R. (2021). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety in children and young people on the autism spectrum: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychology, 9, 151. link
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre (BC Children’s Hospital): Anxiety. link
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre (BC Children’s Hospital): Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). link
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre (BC Children’s Hospital): Taming Worry Dragons. link
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre / BC Children’s Hospital Mood and Anxiety Disorders Clinic (2021). Selective Mutism & Reluctant Speakers: Practical Strategies for Parents & Caregivers (webinar slides). link
Read the researchWhat we work on
We don’t only treat symptoms. We look at the patterns, feelings and needs underneath. Find what sounds like your child and let’s begin.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Extreme distress or panic when a child is away from parents or primary caregivers, often accompanied by fears that something bad will happen to the caregiver or worries about going to school.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Uncontrollable, excessive, and ongoing worry about many everyday things, such as school performance, family health, social acceptance, or future events.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
An intense, persistent fear of being watched, judged, embarrassed, or rejected by peers or adults in social or performance situations (like speaking in class or joining games).
Specific Phobias
An intense and lasting fear of a specific object, animal, place, or situation (such as dogs, storms, heights, medical shots, or the dark) that is far out of proportion to any real danger.
Selective Mutism
A severe anxiety disorder where a child who speaks comfortably in familiar settings (like home) consistently refuses or is physically unable to speak in specific social environments (like school).
Panic Disorder
Sudden, unexpected surges of intense fear or panic attacks accompanied by physical symptoms like a racing heart, dizziness, or shortness of breath, leaving the child terrified of future attacks.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
While sometimes classified separately, OCD is rooted in anxiety and involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) meant to lower the distress.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety and emotional distress that develop after a child experiences or witnesses a scary, dangerous, or traumatic event.
Still have questions?
Therapy is a personal process. I’m here to help you work out the logistics so you can focus on your child.
Let’s chatFree 15-min consultation
Common questions
How long does therapy for anxiety take?+
It varies with your child's age, how long the worry has been present and how much practice happens between sessions. We review progress together regularly, so you always know where things stand.
Will my child need medication?+
Many children improve with counselling alone, and counselling is often where families begin. Medication decisions belong with your family doctor or a child psychiatrist. As a counsellor I don't prescribe, but I can work alongside your child's medical team.
Can anxiety ever fully go away?+
Some worry is a normal, useful part of life. The goal is that anxiety stops running your child's day. Many children learn skills that let them handle worry and get back to school, friends and sleep.
How do I know if my child's anxiety needs professional help?+
Consider reaching out when worry is lasting for weeks and getting in the way of school, sleep, friendships or family life, or when you feel stuck. A free 15-minute call is a low-pressure way to find out.
Will I be in the room?+
It depends on age. For younger children, parents are often part of the session or join at the end. Teens usually meet on their own with regular parent check-ins. We decide together.
Trusted resources
More help for families in B.C.
Free, evidence-informed information from Kelty Mental Health at BC Children’s Hospital. These links open in a new tab.
Information on this page is provided by Pamela Wallberg, MA, RCC, Registered Clinical Counsellor. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information and is not a substitute for individual care.
Related: Teen therapy · CBT · Parents and families