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 JaneSteady support for your family through big changes.
Short-term counselling for children, teens and families facing moves, separation, loss and other major transitions.
Your child is not alone, and neither are you.
Moving homes, separation, remarriage, a death in the family or a new school can turn a child’s world upside down, and parents are often coping with the same change themselves. Most children adjust well with the right support. You do not have to figure out how on your own.
Big changes bring big feelings, and children show them in their own ways. My job is to give them room for those feelings, and to help your family find its footing again.
Pamela Wallberg, RCC
Everything familiar suddenly changes.
New routines that feel safe.
Missing someone or something deeply.
Carrying memories with comfort.
“This isn’t fair.”
Making sense of what happened.
“Maybe it’s my fault.”
Knowing it was never your job to fix.
Feeling stuck between people you love.
Permission to love everyone.
Feeling like the new or different one.
Finding your place and your people.
Dreading the unknown.
Feeling ready to step in.
Worry about what will change again.
Tools for whatever comes next.
My approach
Short-term support that helps families find their footing.
Many transitions call for a few focused sessions, not long-term therapy. I match the approach to your child’s age, needs and interests, and I include parents so stability carries over into daily life. If more support is needed, we talk about that together.
Together we make room for feelings, build coping skills and help your family move forward.
listening to children’s voices.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT helps children and teens sort out the thoughts that make a change harder, such as “it’s my fault” or “everything will go wrong,” and practise coping skills for worry, anger and sadness.
ExploreMindfulness-based therapy
Gentle practices help children notice big feelings in the body, settle their breathing and ride out hard moments, such as the night before a move or a visit between homes.
ExplorePlay therapy
Children often work through change in play before they can in words. Sand tray, dollhouse and figures in the room, or video game therapy online, let them act out feelings, losses and worries about what comes next, at their own pace.
ExploreArt therapy
Drawing, painting and making help children express grief, anger and mixed feelings that are hard to say out loud, and create something to hold on to. No artistic skill is needed.
ExploreFamily and Filial therapy
Parents attend sessions to strengthen connection, communication and routines during a hard time. In-session coaching shows you how to be a steady, attuned presence for your child while you are going through change yourself.
ExploreAmato, P. R. (2010). Research on divorce: Continuing trends and new developments. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(3), 650–666. link
Steinbach, A. (2019). Children’s and parents’ well-being in joint physical custody: A literature review. Family Process, 58(2), 353–369. link
Kelly, J. B., & Emery, R. E. (2003). Children’s adjustment following divorce: Risk and resilience perspectives. Family Relations, 52(4), 352–362. link
Amato, P. R. (2001). Children of divorce in the 1990s: An update of the Amato and Keith (1991) meta-analysis. Journal of Family Psychology, 15(3), 355–370.
Currier, J. M., Holland, J. M., & Neimeyer, R. A. (2007). The effectiveness of bereavement interventions with children: A meta-analytic review of controlled outcome research. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 36(2), 253–259. link
Bratton, S. C., Ray, D., Rhine, T., & Jones, L. (2005). The efficacy of play therapy with children: A meta-analytic review of treatment outcomes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36(4), 376–390. link
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre (BC Children’s Hospital): Separation & Divorce: Helping Children Adjust to Family Changes. link
Justice Education Society of BC: Families Change. link
BC Hear the Child Society. link
Read the researchChanges we support families through
Every transition is different, and so is every child’s response. These are the changes families most often bring to me. Support is short-term and focused, and it is open to children, teens and parents.
Moving homes or communities
Leaving a house, friends and a neighbourhood is a real loss. Support helps children say goodbye, handle the unknown and settle into a new place.
Separation and divorce
Children adjust best when they feel loved, free of blame and clear about what is happening. We help children process feelings and help parents support them through the change.
Remarriage and blended families
New partners, stepsiblings and new routines mean new relationships to navigate. Sessions help everyone find a place in the new family.
Death of a family member
Children grieve in short bursts, through play and in ways that can look different from adults. We offer space to remember, to feel and to ask hard questions.
Changing schools
A new school means new routines, teachers and friendships. We build confidence, social skills and ways to manage first-day and ongoing nerves.
Other big changes
A new sibling, illness in the family, a parent’s job loss, a move between homes or any change that feels like too much. If it is weighing on your child, it is worth support.
Let’s connect
Taking the first step is often the hardest. I’m here to answer your questions and help you decide whether this is the right path for your child.
Let’s chatFree 15-min consultation
Common questions
How long does short-term therapy last?+
Many families need a handful of sessions, sometimes up to a few months, depending on the change and your child’s needs. We set goals together at the start and review them as we go.
Is it normal for my child to act younger, withdraw or have outbursts?+
Yes. Sleep problems, clinginess, tummy aches, anger and withdrawal are common reactions during big changes, and they usually ease with support and time. If they last for weeks, or get in the way of school or friendships, it is worth a closer look.
How do I tell my child about a big change?+
Be honest in simple, age-appropriate words, share what will stay the same, and give them room to ask questions and feel what they feel. In a parent session, we can plan the conversation together, including what to say and what to avoid.
What if the other parent does not agree to counselling?+
This depends on your family’s legal arrangements and your child’s age. I will talk with you about consent and what is needed before we begin. I provide support for children and families, and I do not provide custody assessments or reports for court at this time.
When is it more than a normal reaction?+
If your child seems very low or anxious for weeks, talks about not wanting to live, hurts themselves, or cannot function at school or home, they may need more support than short-term counselling. I will tell you honestly if that is the case, and help connect you to the right care. If this is an emergency, please contact 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.
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: Parents and families · Play therapy and art therapy · Teen therapy