These sessions are for those clients who are not sure if they need an assessment or therapy services.
During these sessions, the social worker will be able to:
* Explain the differences between assessment and therapy and the role of each
* Answer general questions about the assessment process, the purpose of assessment, and what types of questions an assessment can and cannot answer
* Provide information so can better understand and navigate the education, disability services, or social services systems, including the role of the school based team
* Provide general resources or handouts for children's mental health
* Provide information so that parents decide between assessment and therapy services

The social worker CANNOT make decisions about diagnosis, nor will the social worker be gathering background information.
Please note: This is also not a faster way to access services - you would still be on the waitlist in the same order.

Charlene is passionate about rural and northern mental health and working with children, parents, and families. She has been providing both play therapy and psychological assessments for over 10 years in her private practice. Before that, she worked within education and mental health with infants, young children, and their families. Having lived and worked in the north for most of her career, she understands the importance of growing and managing relationships, working collaboratively, and balancing the many roles we find ourselves in. She generally works from an integrative perspective and incorporates play, EMDR, Theraplay, animals, art, mindfulness, and movement into her work with children and their families. When not working, she loves running, hiking, cross-country skiing, reading, and enjoying time with her family.

**Laura is not currently accepting new clients. Please note: online booking is for current clients only.**

Laura is a Registered Psychotherapist. She has a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology and is Registered Play Therapist. She has training in Theraplay®, Synergistic® and Adlerian play therapy, AutPlay®, Dialectical behaviour therapy, EMDR, and trauma-focused CBT.

Laura works with children and their families, teens, and adults. She brings her warmth, caring, and expertise into her work here with children and families. She enjoys using play-based approaches with children to help in the areas of anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, attention, and self-esteem.
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Laura is also working with teens and adults in the areas of grief and loss, anxiety, and depression.

Laura is a Registered Play Therapist (Association for Play Therapy) and Registered Social Worker (with the Ontario College of Social Workers) with over 10 years of experience providing individual, family and group counselling to culturally diverse children, youth and families specializing in complex trauma, grief and loss, life-limiting illness, and crisis intervention. She is certified in EMDR and has her Level 1 in Animal Assisted Play Therapy. She works from a strengths- based, person-centred and systems-focused perspective and describes herself as an integrative and innovative practitioner.