Play Therapy in Victoria, BC
Alice has a Master of Social Work and is a member of the BC Association of Play Therapists.
Alice supports clients with issues related to adoption, trauma, life transitions, grief, anxiety, behavioral challenges, self esteem and attachment. She employs various therapy approaches, including child-centered, Adlerian & cognitive-based play therapies, attachment theory, compassion-focused/strengths-based approaches, and art therapy.
Alice has a Master of Social Work and is a member of the BC Association of Play Therapists.
Alice supports clients with issues related to adoption, trauma, life transitions, grief, anxiety, behavioral challenges, self esteem and attachment. She employs various therapy approaches, including child-centered, Adlerian & cognitive-based play therapies, attachment theory, compassion-focused/strengths-based approaches, and art therapy.
I work with adults, teens, and older adults navigating grief and loss, anxiety, OCD, trauma, depression, life transitions, and relationship challenges. I also have a particular interest in supporting neurodivergent clients, including those with ADHD and autism. Whether you're facing a recent loss or have been struggling for years, I offer a warm, collaborative space to feel understood, make sense of your experiences, build on your strengths, and find strategies that genuinely fit who you are.
I work with adults, teens, and older adults navigating grief and loss, anxiety, OCD, trauma, depression, life transitions, and relationship challenges. I also have a particular interest in supporting neurodivergent clients, including those with ADHD and autism. Whether you're facing a recent loss or have been struggling for years, I offer a warm, collaborative space to feel understood, make sense of your experiences, build on your strengths, and find strategies that genuinely fit who you are.
Your journey is uniquely yours, and having a space where you feel truly heard can make all the difference. I am committed to providing a safe, compassionate, and supportive environment where you can explore your challenges and discover new paths forward. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, or life transitions, I am here to walk alongside you with empathy and understanding. I embrace diversity and welcome individuals from all backgrounds, cultures, and identities, ensuring that therapy is a space where you feel safe, respected and valued.
Your journey is uniquely yours, and having a space where you feel truly heard can make all the difference. I am committed to providing a safe, compassionate, and supportive environment where you can explore your challenges and discover new paths forward. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, or life transitions, I am here to walk alongside you with empathy and understanding. I embrace diversity and welcome individuals from all backgrounds, cultures, and identities, ensuring that therapy is a space where you feel safe, respected and valued.
I use techniques from Emotion-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Collaborative and Proactive Solutions, parts work, and art/ play-based therapies to provide care that is multifaceted and tailored to the client.
As someone who self-identifies as neurodivergent, I pair therapeutic techniques with real-world experience navigating a world that is not always kind or well suited to neurodivergent individuals. I believe that with the right support and environment, each person can thrive and grow into who they are meant to be.
I use techniques from Emotion-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Collaborative and Proactive Solutions, parts work, and art/ play-based therapies to provide care that is multifaceted and tailored to the client.
As someone who self-identifies as neurodivergent, I pair therapeutic techniques with real-world experience navigating a world that is not always kind or well suited to neurodivergent individuals. I believe that with the right support and environment, each person can thrive and grow into who they are meant to be.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. Life can be challenging. Whether you’re worried about your child’s behaviour, struggling with anxiety, or feeling frustrated that things haven’t improved despite your best efforts, I’m here to help.
As a therapist specializing in helping parents and families, I understand how difficult it can be to manage big emotions, both your own and your child’s. If you’ve looked for answers, but things still feel uncertain, it's time for a change. Together, I can help you and your family find calm amidst the chaos, manage overwhelming feelings, and build more secure, positive connections.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. Life can be challenging. Whether you’re worried about your child’s behaviour, struggling with anxiety, or feeling frustrated that things haven’t improved despite your best efforts, I’m here to help.
As a therapist specializing in helping parents and families, I understand how difficult it can be to manage big emotions, both your own and your child’s. If you’ve looked for answers, but things still feel uncertain, it's time for a change. Together, I can help you and your family find calm amidst the chaos, manage overwhelming feelings, and build more secure, positive connections.
I am the owner of the Child & Family Therapy Centre Victoria. My current practice is focused on supporting children, youth, and families where the primary concerns are Anxiety including specific phobias, school avoidance, separation anxiety, ARFID or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
I also provide counselling to parents with children of all ages to address developmental and behavioral questions.
Involvement of caregivers in the therapy process is an essential part of my practice.
I am the owner of the Child & Family Therapy Centre Victoria. My current practice is focused on supporting children, youth, and families where the primary concerns are Anxiety including specific phobias, school avoidance, separation anxiety, ARFID or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
I also provide counselling to parents with children of all ages to address developmental and behavioral questions.
Involvement of caregivers in the therapy process is an essential part of my practice.
Sessions may include conversation, games, play, humour, and activities that help children build emotional regulation, confidence, self-understanding, and practical skills for navigating everyday challenges.
I work primarily with children and young teens, ages 5–14, particularly those who are neurodivergent or experiencing challenges with ADHD, autism, anxiety, emotional regulation, school, friendships, or self-esteem. Many of the children I work with feel overwhelmed by expectations, have difficulty managing big emotions, or are struggling to find their place at school or with peers. I also work closely with parents and caregivers who want to better understand and support their child.
Sessions may include conversation, games, play, humour, and activities that help children build emotional regulation, confidence, self-understanding, and practical skills for navigating everyday challenges.
I work primarily with children and young teens, ages 5–14, particularly those who are neurodivergent or experiencing challenges with ADHD, autism, anxiety, emotional regulation, school, friendships, or self-esteem. Many of the children I work with feel overwhelmed by expectations, have difficulty managing big emotions, or are struggling to find their place at school or with peers. I also work closely with parents and caregivers who want to better understand and support their child.
Do you wake up in the morning and your anxiety starts to creep in? Do you feel like you have tried everything and you’re losing hope? Are you often triggered emotionally and feel as though you lose control? Do you struggle within your close relationships and wonder “how did I get here?” My approach to therapy is always rooted in compassion and genuine curiosity. I have a mindful and gentle presence, which guides my considerate sensitivity and attunement to each of my clients. Together we can cultivate unique goals and illuminate your wellness path through exploring, connecting, healing, and harnessing strengths.
Do you wake up in the morning and your anxiety starts to creep in? Do you feel like you have tried everything and you’re losing hope? Are you often triggered emotionally and feel as though you lose control? Do you struggle within your close relationships and wonder “how did I get here?” My approach to therapy is always rooted in compassion and genuine curiosity. I have a mindful and gentle presence, which guides my considerate sensitivity and attunement to each of my clients. Together we can cultivate unique goals and illuminate your wellness path through exploring, connecting, healing, and harnessing strengths.
I have a strong passion for supporting the well-being of children/youth and families for going through various challenges including family transitions, relationship/family communication, parenting support, depression/anxiety, self-esteem/confidence and language/cultural differences.
I also provide international student support for their unique issues, such as homesickness, homestay issues, school attendance, academic challenge, learning English, relationship issues with their friends and/or family.
I have a strong passion for supporting the well-being of children/youth and families for going through various challenges including family transitions, relationship/family communication, parenting support, depression/anxiety, self-esteem/confidence and language/cultural differences.
I also provide international student support for their unique issues, such as homesickness, homestay issues, school attendance, academic challenge, learning English, relationship issues with their friends and/or family.
Somatic Counselling, Psychedelic Integration & Intuitive Healing. I am not currently accepting new long term clients. I continue to offer short-term therapy and psychedelic integration.
I work with people who have done significant inner work and sense there is still something essential waiting to be accessed. For over 20 years, I have supported healing and growth through somatic therapy, expressive and arts-based approaches, and psychedelic-assisted therapy and integration. While the mind seeks understanding, the body knows the way to real change. Through the body’s somatic felt sense, clarity, resonance, and inner truth emerge.
Somatic Counselling, Psychedelic Integration & Intuitive Healing. I am not currently accepting new long term clients. I continue to offer short-term therapy and psychedelic integration.
I work with people who have done significant inner work and sense there is still something essential waiting to be accessed. For over 20 years, I have supported healing and growth through somatic therapy, expressive and arts-based approaches, and psychedelic-assisted therapy and integration. While the mind seeks understanding, the body knows the way to real change. Through the body’s somatic felt sense, clarity, resonance, and inner truth emerge.
I've spent most of my career working in the school system as a counsellor, behaviour support specialist, teacher and administrator. I am now a BC registered clinical counsellor and am working at The Budding Elm in Oak Bay. I have a real interest in working with individuals, couples, with children & youth, and with families. Processing life changes, grief & loss, relationship issues, and the stress of everyday living are examples of what I hope to be able to help you with. I offer a free 15 minute consultation where you can determine if working with me might be a good fit for you.
I've spent most of my career working in the school system as a counsellor, behaviour support specialist, teacher and administrator. I am now a BC registered clinical counsellor and am working at The Budding Elm in Oak Bay. I have a real interest in working with individuals, couples, with children & youth, and with families. Processing life changes, grief & loss, relationship issues, and the stress of everyday living are examples of what I hope to be able to help you with. I offer a free 15 minute consultation where you can determine if working with me might be a good fit for you.
My approach is influenced by person-centered counselling, CBT, EFFT, DBT, Internal Family Systems, play therapy, Jungian psychology and expressive arts therapy.
I work with children, teens and adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem and relational difficulties. My goal is to provide my clients with a space that supports them to tolerate and express big feelings, explore their inner experiences, and work towards their goals in life. Together we develop a tool-kit of skills and practices that will support their mental wellbeing so they can follow their passions, have deep and meaningful relationships, and grow their resilience to navigate the complexity and fullness of life.
My approach is influenced by person-centered counselling, CBT, EFFT, DBT, Internal Family Systems, play therapy, Jungian psychology and expressive arts therapy.
I work with children, teens and adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem and relational difficulties. My goal is to provide my clients with a space that supports them to tolerate and express big feelings, explore their inner experiences, and work towards their goals in life. Together we develop a tool-kit of skills and practices that will support their mental wellbeing so they can follow their passions, have deep and meaningful relationships, and grow their resilience to navigate the complexity and fullness of life.
Life can be hard. Really hard. At times it's excruciating.
I get it. The relationship difficulties, unmet longings, spiralling thoughts that just won't stop, sleepless nights and finding ways to cope that often lead to regret and more pain can all be part of our human experience.
Having a place of compassionate support that is free of judgment is crucial to processing and integrating life's hardest experiences.
Life can be hard. Really hard. At times it's excruciating.
I get it. The relationship difficulties, unmet longings, spiralling thoughts that just won't stop, sleepless nights and finding ways to cope that often lead to regret and more pain can all be part of our human experience.
Having a place of compassionate support that is free of judgment is crucial to processing and integrating life's hardest experiences.
Kiran Dhingra
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, RCSW
2 Endorsed
Victoria, BC V8T
Waitlist for new clients
I offer play therapy, teen girl counselling, parent support, and family therapy in a warm, supportive environment.
Your family means everything to you, but parenting can feel overwhelming when your child is struggling emotionally or behaviourally. You may be watching them cope with anxiety, big emotions, loss, trauma, or difficult transitions and wondering how to help. Many parents quietly ask themselves, Am I doing this right? Sometimes our own past experiences can make parenting even harder. At the heart of it all, parents want the same thing: for their children to feel confident, connected, resilient, and hopeful about their future.
I offer play therapy, teen girl counselling, parent support, and family therapy in a warm, supportive environment.
Your family means everything to you, but parenting can feel overwhelming when your child is struggling emotionally or behaviourally. You may be watching them cope with anxiety, big emotions, loss, trauma, or difficult transitions and wondering how to help. Many parents quietly ask themselves, Am I doing this right? Sometimes our own past experiences can make parenting even harder. At the heart of it all, parents want the same thing: for their children to feel confident, connected, resilient, and hopeful about their future.
Curious, worn, tender, lost, grieving, hopeful, uncertain, overwhelmed - there is room for all of it here. Just show up as you are. I offer a warm, calm, and gentle space where you can slow down, feel heard, and explore what’s going on for you. Sometimes this involves using words. Sometimes it involves using images, symbols, colours, lines, and shapes. I will always take your lead. My approach is strengths-based, arts-based, trauma-informed, systems-aware, somatic, accessible, and inclusive, grounded in respect, care, and cultural humility.
Curious, worn, tender, lost, grieving, hopeful, uncertain, overwhelmed - there is room for all of it here. Just show up as you are. I offer a warm, calm, and gentle space where you can slow down, feel heard, and explore what’s going on for you. Sometimes this involves using words. Sometimes it involves using images, symbols, colours, lines, and shapes. I will always take your lead. My approach is strengths-based, arts-based, trauma-informed, systems-aware, somatic, accessible, and inclusive, grounded in respect, care, and cultural humility.
Special focus in couples, relationships, and adolescent therapy.
Many of the clients I work with are seeking couples/relationship therapy, family therapy, or support as parents during difficult life transitions. Others come as individuals feeling overwhelmed or disconnected. You may want to feel heard, understood, and more connected to the people you care about. I support individuals, couples, and families who want practical support, emotional clarity, and a more meaningful way forward, grounded in values, humour, and hope.
I work closely with children and teens.
An LGBTQIA2S+ affirming, inclusive space.
Special focus in couples, relationships, and adolescent therapy.
Many of the clients I work with are seeking couples/relationship therapy, family therapy, or support as parents during difficult life transitions. Others come as individuals feeling overwhelmed or disconnected. You may want to feel heard, understood, and more connected to the people you care about. I support individuals, couples, and families who want practical support, emotional clarity, and a more meaningful way forward, grounded in values, humour, and hope.
I work closely with children and teens.
An LGBTQIA2S+ affirming, inclusive space.
Deborah has been living and working in B.C. including Northern B.C., and the Lower Mainland for over 20 years. She currently resides in South Vancouver Island with her family, where she embraces the beautiful surroundings of the Lekwungen People’s territory. Deborah applies a strength-based and holistic approach to her clinical practice, and is trained in evidence-based individual, couples and family therapies to help children, youth, adults and families find their path toward healing and wellness.
Deborah has been living and working in B.C. including Northern B.C., and the Lower Mainland for over 20 years. She currently resides in South Vancouver Island with her family, where she embraces the beautiful surroundings of the Lekwungen People’s territory. Deborah applies a strength-based and holistic approach to her clinical practice, and is trained in evidence-based individual, couples and family therapies to help children, youth, adults and families find their path toward healing and wellness.
I am an Occupational Therapist with more than decade of clinical experience, I provide practical, compassionate, and neurodiversity-affirming care for children, youth, adults, and families. I believe therapy should feel respectful, collaborative, and grounded in real life—not overwhelming or one-size-fits-all. My approach is strength-based, trauma-informed, and focused on what truly matters to you. Together, we build meaningful strategies that support emotional regulation, daily living skills, and long-term wellbeing—at your pace and in your way. I specialize in Brain Injuries, MS, Parkinson's, Hand injuries, Autism, and ADHD.
I am an Occupational Therapist with more than decade of clinical experience, I provide practical, compassionate, and neurodiversity-affirming care for children, youth, adults, and families. I believe therapy should feel respectful, collaborative, and grounded in real life—not overwhelming or one-size-fits-all. My approach is strength-based, trauma-informed, and focused on what truly matters to you. Together, we build meaningful strategies that support emotional regulation, daily living skills, and long-term wellbeing—at your pace and in your way. I specialize in Brain Injuries, MS, Parkinson's, Hand injuries, Autism, and ADHD.
I use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused, Emotion focused, Client centered, Narrative, Play and Art assisted Therapy in my practice.
I am passionate about supporting children, youth and their families in navigating the complexities that come along with life. My strengths are supporting children and youth with anxiety, ADHD/self-regulation, ASD, and developing social skills. Having worked as a school-based counsellor for the past ten years I am familiar with the school system and the processes within it, allowing me to advocate effectively for my school aged clients and their families.
I use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused, Emotion focused, Client centered, Narrative, Play and Art assisted Therapy in my practice.
I am passionate about supporting children, youth and their families in navigating the complexities that come along with life. My strengths are supporting children and youth with anxiety, ADHD/self-regulation, ASD, and developing social skills. Having worked as a school-based counsellor for the past ten years I am familiar with the school system and the processes within it, allowing me to advocate effectively for my school aged clients and their families.
I draw from a number of different therapeutic styles, suited to you as a person, your worldview and your interests (talk, art, sandtray, play).
I am experienced working with people who may be suicidal, and/or self-injurying. My work focusses on mental health, childhood trauma (physical, sexual, emotional, medical), and relationships (intimacy, divorce, adoptions, parent-child). I take a systems approach to issues specific to Black, Indigenous, People of Colour and immigrant/refugee communities.
I draw from a number of different therapeutic styles, suited to you as a person, your worldview and your interests (talk, art, sandtray, play).
I am experienced working with people who may be suicidal, and/or self-injurying. My work focusses on mental health, childhood trauma (physical, sexual, emotional, medical), and relationships (intimacy, divorce, adoptions, parent-child). I take a systems approach to issues specific to Black, Indigenous, People of Colour and immigrant/refugee communities.
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Who is play therapy for?
Play therapy is generally targeted to children between the ages of 3 and 11 who have social, emotional, or behavioural difficulties. Play therapy has also been found helpful for children who have experienced physical or emotional abuse or witnessed atrocities. Play therapy is also often recommended for children who are undergoing major medical procedures or who are suffering from chronic illness; many children’s hospitals are equipped to offer play therapy on-site. Play therapy is also sometimes used for adults; creative writing, music, and art are expressive forms that can all be adapted for therapeutic purposes.
Why do people need play therapy?
Children often do not have the language skills or words to know or to express what is troubling them. Yet they often spontaneously draw or use playthings to depict scenarios that reflect problems in their everyday life. Play therapy provides children with an array of objects and play situations to act out their feelings or experiences so that therapists can get a clear picture of what children might be struggling with and help them find solutions. In addition, play therapists are skilled at helping children understand their inner experience and find words for them, necessary steps toward helping children learn to control their own behaviour and come up with solutions to problems they encounter.
What happens in play therapy?
A child enters a comfortable playroom where they are free to choose the objects they want to play with. The play therapist will typically observe how they play with the toys—whether a sandbox, puppets, dolls and action figures, trucks, costumes, drawing and painting materials, or more—because such play provides clues to a child’s family and social relationships, difficulties they are encountering in the world, and what going on inside themselves. Sometimes the therapist may ask the child to use the play objects to tell a story about their family. Using the same instruments of play, therapists can help children discover more advantageous ways of thinking and behaving.
What kinds of problems do play therapists treat?
Play therapy can help children who display destructive or self-destructive impulses; children who seem angry, sad, or fearful; children who experience frequent social, emotional, family, or school difficulty. Play therapy is often of value to children who have experienced a loss or distressing family experience, who are regularly exposed to family conflict, or who have been physically or emotionally abused. Play therapy can help children who are perpetrators of bullying as well as those who are targets of bullying. It helps children learn to identify their feelings, to express them in constructive ways, and to regulate them so they can get on with the business of development.
How long does play therapy last?
Play therapy sessions may last for 30 to 45 minutes, and they usually occur weekly for about 20 sessions. Each session is tailored to the individual child and the kinds of problems they are struggling with. Play that is highly repetitive often indicates a problem requiring further exploration. Therapists typically measure progress through session-to-session changes in play behaviour.