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Individual
Psychotherapy

I provide individual therapy for children, teens, and young adults. Many of the young people I work with are struggling with anxiety, school avoidance, intense emotions, or challenges within family relationships.

 

My goal is to help young people feel understood while building practical skills that support emotional well-being, resilience, and stronger relationships with the important adults in their lives.

My Goal

My goal is to provide my clients with an approach to treatment that is evidence based, strikes the right balance of  'hard work' while still making sessions enjoyable and pleasant, and prioritizes feeling heard, understood, and safe.

My Approach

My approach to therapy is warm, practical, and collaborative. I work closely with both young people and their caregivers to understand what is happening and to develop strategies that help children and teens feel more confident managing difficult emotions and challenges.

 

I draw on a range of evidence-based approaches, including:

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)

  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

  • Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)

  • Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)

  • Brainspotting

  • Nature-Based Therapy

 

Depending on the needs of the young person, therapy may include practical skill-building, emotional processing, and strengthening the parent–child relationship.

How I Think About Therapy

Many traditional therapy approaches focus on helping people change their thoughts in order to change how they feel. While this can be helpful, these approaches rely heavily on language, reasoning, and the “thinking” parts of the brain — areas that are still developing in children and teens.

 

In my work, I also incorporate approaches that support the nervous system and emotional parts of the brain. These “bottom-up” approaches help young people feel calmer, safer, and more regulated in their bodies.

 

When children feel more regulated, it becomes easier for them to think clearly, express their feelings, and learn new coping skills. 

When appropriate, I also integrate nature-based therapy, where sessions take place outdoors in nearby natural spaces. Being in nature can help many children feel more relaxed and open, while movement and sensory experiences in the natural environment can support emotional regulation and reflection.

Top-down vs bottom-up therapy

Christie Byvelds Social Work Professional Corporation

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