Child Psychologist Online (Canada): Finding Family-Centered Care

According to Children First Canada, approximately 20% of children in Canada have a diagnosed mental health condition. Mental health challenges can have a profound impact not only on children but also on their parents and siblings. When children experience a mental disorder, such as anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder, it can often lead to stress and anxiety in parents who might not know how to find the best psychological services for their child. 

Keep reading to learn about child psychological services in Canada, how a child psychologist can help, and how to find family-centered online support. Explore resources that offer hope, parenting guidance, and more. Whether you’re located in Ontario or elsewhere in Canada, you’re in the right place to discover professional support options.

Child psychologist online (Canada): Finding support

Some child psychologists treat children across Canada through online therapy sessions. While some children may undergo an in-person assessment, many children can benefit from subsequent virtual therapy. Some children may feel more comfortable with this format, as they can talk to a therapist from their own home with a parent or guardian nearby.

In addition to searching online, parents might consider asking their pediatricians about child psychologists. Some pediatricians have connections to clinicians all over Canada, many of whom have experience supporting children through online talk therapy.  

Another possible avenue to find an online child psychologist is through support groups for parents of children experiencing mental illnesses. Some parents may have recommendations for therapists who have helped their child with various mental disorders, such as anxiety or eating disorders. 

Mental health professionals in Ontario and beyond can work as a team with a child, their parents, and their teachers to implement interventions and discover which tools are most helpful for each child’s situation. In a counselling or psychotherapy session, a counsellor can assess children or teens to understand the challenges they’re experiencing, from difficulty regulating emotions like fear or anger to separation anxiety symptoms or trouble coping with stressors. They can then develop a personalized treatment plan to help the child move forward effectively.

Anxiety 

Online child therapists can often help children who are experiencing anxiety. Anxiety can sometimes manifest differently in children than in adults. Some children may experience physical complaints, such as a stomachache or a headache. Children may also use the bathroom more frequently than normal and try to avoid attending school. 

A child psychologist can recognize these and other symptoms and develop a treatment plan that makes sense for each child. A plan for anxiety treatment for children may include cognitive behavioral therapy, possibly in conjunction with medication prescribed by a psychiatrist. 

Eating disorders

Eating disorders (EDs) can be common in children and youth. According to a study published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, in Canada, “Between 2010/11 and 2022/23, 18,740 children and youth were hospitalized for an ED, 65.9% of which were first-time hospitalizations.” In some cases, youth may require initial hospitalization, but an online psychologist can be an important part of their recovery after they’re released. A child psychologist can often help with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), among other disorders.

Bullying among children

Child psychologists don’t just treat mental disorders. They can also help children with bullying, which research shows to be highly prevalent among youth. According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY), 71% of Canadian youth aged 12 to 17 had experienced at least one type of bullying in the previous year. Bullying can take place both in person and online, which can make youth feel like it’s impossible to escape their bullies. A therapist can help children and youth process their experience and learn how to avoid identifying with the comments of bullies. This process may help youth heal from trauma and build resilience and self-esteem.

Parenting and family involvement in the therapy journey

When parents and family members are involved in a child’s therapy journey, it can increase the effectiveness of treatment. Counsellors may provide helpful parenting tips and strategies for self-awareness and improvement. The entire family can practice healthy coping skills and learn to regulate their emotions in healthy ways. They can also learn how to best support the child and help them grow.

How family therapy services can help

In addition to child therapy, parents and children may benefit from seeing a family therapist. A family therapist can often help parents and siblings adjust to a mental health diagnosis in the family. Parents and siblings may learn strategies to support a child with a mental disorder while also exploring strategies to strengthen their own mental health. 

The process: From appointment to assessment

Parents can book an in-person or online appointment for their child. During the appointment, the psychologist will usually conduct an assessment to determine a potential diagnosis and an appropriate course of treatment. Depending on the age of the child, the parent may remain present for the session, or the child may speak to the psychologist on their own. However, it’s common to involve parents in the child’s care, particularly if they are very young.

Additional support: Community resources and online learning

The Canadian Paediatric Society lists a variety of community and online resources for parents, depending on their location. Parenting tools, early intervention programs, interventions with a focus on early literacy, and other services may be available. When parents have the self-awareness to recognize a need for support, it can greatly benefit the entire family.

Online therapy for parents’ mental health

Some parents may live in an area with few credentialed therapists. Others may have such busy schedules that they can’t get away for in-person therapy. In these cases, parents may benefit from speaking with an online therapist. An online therapist can help parents learn coping strategies to manage the stress that often arises when a child is experiencing mental health challenges. 

Parents can communicate with a therapist via audio, video, or live chat at a time that suits their schedule. They can also reach out to their therapist at any time through in-app messaging, and their therapist will reply as soon as they can. Parents may find this feature useful on days when their stress level is especially high, whether due to concern about their child or their own mental health challenges.

In addition to allowing parents to connect with a therapist in numerous ways, online therapy finds robust support in the psychological literature. Research shows that online therapy can be effective for depression, social anxiety, adjustment disorder, and substance use disorder, among other mental disorders.