Every child deserves a safe space to heal, grow, and thrive. If your child is struggling with anxiety, behavioral challenges, or emotional distress, our specialized play therapy services are here to help. Our child & adolescent therapist uses clinically proven approaches grounded in child-centered play that allows children to process trauma, anxiety, and behavioral hurdles through a child’s natural language: play
What Is Play Therapy and Why It Can Help your Child?
Many children struggle with big emotions, behavioural changes, or experiences they don’t yet have the words to explain. This can show up as anxiety, withdrawal, emotional outbursts, changes at school, difficulty with transitions, or challenges following stressful or confusing events.
Child therapy offers a developmentally appropriate space where children can express themselves through play rather than conversation alone. At New Tide Counselling & Consulting, child therapy is a supportive, child-centred process that helps children make sense of their experiences, build emotional regulation, and develop healthier ways of coping, all in a way that feels safe, developmentally-appropriate, and natural for their age.
When would your child benefit from therapy?
Play therapy may be helpful if you notice ongoing changes in your child’s emotions, behaviour, or daily functioning. Changes and signs may include:
- Persistent anxiety, fear, or sadness
- Difficulty managing anger or frequent outbursts
- Trouble concentrating at school or at home
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Sudden changes in behavior, appetite. or sleep patterns
- Regression (e.g., bedwetting or clinginess) after reaching milestones.
Our Services
How do We Help Your Child?
Children don’t process experiences the same way adults do. Feelings are often communicated through play, movement, imagination, and behaviour long before they can be explained with words. Because of this, therapy for children requires approaches that meet children where they are developmentally, emotionally, and relationally.
Our therapists adapt each session to your child’s age, personality, and experiences, using play-based approaches that support expression, safety, and emotional growth. Depending on what your child is navigating, sessions may include:
How We Support Your Teen
Adolescence can be a complex stage, with teens navigating school stress, changing relationships, identity development, and strong emotions that may be difficult to express. Our therapists adapt play therapy approaches for adolescents through age-appropriate, activity-based methods, such as:
- Art and creative activities that help teens express and understand their emotions
- Guided conversations that build emotional awareness and coping skills
- Interactive activities that support managing anxiety, stress, and emotional regulation
- Support for challenges related to school, friendships, and life changes
We create a supportive space where teens feel heard, respected, and safe to talk about what they’re experiencing. Whether it involves school stress, social challenges, family changes, or difficult life events.
Why Choose New Tide?
The Benefits of Working With Us
Accessible Mental Health Services
Our in-person and virtual counselling options make mental health support available to everyone, with reduced-rate options to lower cost barriers.
Trauma-Informed, Evidence-Based Care
Our team uses specialized training and proven methods to deliver culturally safe, compassionate, and effective support tailored to your needs.
Community-Focused Approach
We collaborate with Indigenous communities and a wide range of community organizations across New Brunswick to strengthen mental wellness and resilience.
Comprehensive Services for All Needs
From individual therapy to organizational consulting, we provide a wide array of services to meet personal and professional challenges.
Take the First Step Toward Change
You don’t have to navigate your child’s struggles alone. Our licensed therapists are ready to help your family thrive using evidence-based adolescent therapy and care.
In-Person and Online Play Therapy
Therapy for children is offered primarily through in-person sessions, where children can fully engage with toys, materials, and the therapeutic space in a way that feels natural and developmentally appropriate. We provide in-person play therapy in New Brunswick, specifically in Miramichi and Bathurst, creating a safe and supportive environment for children to explore and express their experiences through play.
In some situations, online play therapy may also be appropriate, particularly for older children or when in-person sessions are not possible. Through secure virtual sessions, therapists work closely with caregivers to adapt play-based approaches in a way that remains supportive and effective, while always prioritizing the child’s comfort, attention, and emotional safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Started Today – Help is Just a Click Away
Don’t wait to get the support your child needs; we’re here to guide your family every step of the way. Whether you’re in Miramichi, Bathurst, or anywhere across New Brunswick, our in-person and virtual services are designed to fit your busy life.
