Child & Adolescent Therapist in Toronto, ON

It can be hard to know where to start when your child or teen is struggling. Maybe your son has stopped wanting to go to school, or your daughter seems quieter and lower than she used to be, and the usual talks at the kitchen table aren't helping the way they once did. This page is for parents looking for a child therapist in Toronto, ON, and it's for teenagers who are thinking about getting some support of their own.

At Dr. Karen Kaffko & Associates, we offer individual treatment and parent-child treatment for children and adolescents. Sessions take place in person at our office at 327 Eglinton Ave. East, on the main floor, or online, whichever suits your family better. The first step is a free consultation, where you can tell us what's been going on and ask anything you'd like, big or small, before you decide what comes next.

It's natural to wonder when your child should see a therapist, especially when you're not sure whether what you're seeing is just a phase. You're far from alone in asking: one in five Ontario children and youth has a mental health disorder, and fewer than a third of them have ever been in touch with a mental health care provider. In a classroom of 25 kids, that's about five children, and most of them haven't had any help yet.

Children and adolescents are under a lot of pressure these days, from social stress, changes at home and divorce to bullying and trauma. Parents might notice a child who starts avoiding school, friendships that keep going wrong, or a teen who sets impossibly high standards and falls apart when they aren't met. Some kids have big feelings that are hard to settle, and some just seem overwhelmed by everything on their plate.

Teens may also struggle with how they see themselves and with their self-esteem, seem low for weeks at a time, change the way they eat, or start using alcohol or drugs. A good time to reach out to us is when worries, moods or behaviour have lasted a while and are getting in the way of home, school or friendships.

Our therapists understand what children, teenagers and young adults face at school, at home, in their relationships and in life in general. These are some of the concerns we help young people with, and a teen looking for a teen therapist in Toronto is just as welcome to start the conversation as a parent is.

Anxiety, perfectionism and school avoidance

Anxiety is the most common mental health concern for Canadian children and teens, and it often doesn't go away without treatment. For your child, it might look like stomachaches before school, mornings spent negotiating whether to go at all, or homework redone again and again until it feels perfect. Therapy helps young people understand what anxiety is doing in their mind and body, and it gives them concrete tools to face what feels scary, a little at a time. You can read more about our anxiety therapy for children, adolescents and families.

Low mood, depression and self-esteem

Young Canadians who were 12 to 17 in 2019 were asked about their mental health again in 2023, and the share who rated it fair or poor had gone from 12% to 26%, and from 16% to 33% for girls. At home, low mood in a child or teen often looks like irritability, pulling away from friends, losing interest in school or being very hard on themselves. Therapy helps them put words to what they feel and build healthier ways of coping, and we offer therapy for depression in children and adolescents as well as adults.

Bullying, social anxiety and peer relationships

Being the target of bullying, or simply feeling on the outside of a friend group, can turn school into somewhere a child dreads going. Some young people start to worry about every social situation and pull back from friendships altogether. Therapy gives them a safe place to talk about what's happening, build confidence with other kids and practise ways of handling the hard moments with classmates.

Trauma

Trauma can follow a single frightening event or build up over time. In children and teens, it can show up as nightmares, being on edge, anger that seems to come out of nowhere, or shutting down. Our trauma therapy for children, adolescents and families is paced carefully, starting with safety and helping your child feel grounded before working through what happened.

Separation, divorce and changes in the family

A separation, a move or a blended family can leave a child feeling unsettled, even when everyone is doing their best. Kids may worry about being loyal to each parent or carry feelings they don't share at home. Therapy gives them a place to talk about the changes, and it helps parents understand what their child needs as the family settles into its new shape.

Identity and LGBTQ+ concerns

We are an LGBTQ+ affirming practice, and identity formation is one of Dr. Kaffko's areas of specialization. A teen may be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, thinking about coming out, or unsure how family and friends will respond. Our therapists give young people room to learn about themselves at their own pace, with no pressure to have it all figured out right away, and families can read more about our LGBTQ therapy for adolescents and families.

Child counselling in Toronto with our team begins with a conversation. Once you get in touch with us, Dr. Kaffko or one of her associates gets back to you and talks with you about what's happening with your child before you book a first appointment. You can bring your own questions to that conversation too, so take your time with it.

Next comes a comprehensive assessment. We take the time to learn how your child's mood affects their behaviour, the life experiences they've had, their strengths and interests, their friendships and social relationships, their school history and how things work in your family. Everything we learn there shapes the treatment plan for your child.

Who comes to sessions depends on your child's needs and goals. Some sessions are just with your child or teen, some include parents, and some bring in other family members as well. Our office also offers psychological assessments.

Teens often wonder whether they need a parent's permission to start. Ontario law presumes that everyone, minors included, is capable of making their own treatment decisions, and a young person who is capable gives consent directly, even when a parent comes along.

You don't need a referral to begin. Families can refer themselves, or a professional you already work with can make the referral for you.

Parents are a big part of this work. Our therapists offer sessions that help parents understand their child's behaviour and set limits at home, so you feel more able to strengthen your relationship with your child. Online parent consultations for children and teens are available too, which can make it easier to fit support into a busy week.

School is often where a young person's struggles show up first. With your permission, our therapists may work with teachers and school staff when your child or teen is having difficulties at school, so the strategies used at home and in the classroom stay in sync. This kind of ongoing contact between a young person's care team and their school is a recommended part of treating anxiety, with the young person's agreement.

Sometimes the whole household is feeling the strain, and our family therapy for parents, children and the whole family brings everyone into the room. For parents who are separating, we also offer separation and divorce support, including help for children adjusting to a new family structure.

Our team works from an integrative framework, combining parts of several proven therapy models so treatment fits each young person's goals, needs and preferences. For adolescent therapy in Toronto, that can mean a few approaches working side by side.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, is what our therapists use with children and adolescents to help them notice the thoughts behind difficult feelings and test them. One review of 87 studies, with nearly 6,000 young people, found that CBT raised the odds of anxiety clearing up compared with waiting or no treatment. For your child, that means learning practical skills they can use the next time worry takes over.

With families, we use Emotionally Focused Skills Training, a psychoeducational approach that helps parents and kids communicate and solve problems with less conflict. Trauma-focused therapy supports young people who have been through frightening or painful experiences. In individual sessions, we teach DBT skills such as staying present, getting through hard moments, managing strong emotions and asking for what you need. Mindfulness-based strategies help kids notice their thoughts and feelings with curiosity and less judgment.

You can read more about how each model works in our overview of the therapy approaches our team uses.

Dr. Karen Kaffko is a registered psychologist with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario and the supervising psychologist of the clinic. As teaching faculty at York University, she helped develop and teach courses that included Child and Adolescent Development. She brings compassion, openness and patience to create a safe, non-judgmental space for the people she works with.

Sherry Barrett, M.S.W., R.S.W., specializes in children and adolescents who feel trapped in anxiety or depression, sometimes to the point of avoiding school, struggling with friendships or perfectionism, or feeling overwhelmed by everything on their plate. She works with their parents as well, helping them understand their child's behaviour and feel more confident setting limits at home.

Radhika Varma, M.A., R.S.W., has a firm expertise in working with adolescents, parents and families. Her work includes child and adolescent trauma, mood disorders and the everyday difficulties of parenting, and she has advanced training in trauma-focused therapy. Her style is warm, conversational and direct.

Our therapists are warm, compassionate and non-judgmental, and they understand the issues young people face with school, family and friends. You can read each clinician's full background on our team page.

Sessions take place in person at our office on Eglinton Ave. East or online over secure video. Our online therapy includes parent consultations for children and teens as well as family therapy, and you can learn how our online therapy works before your first session. Hours are flexible, with daytime, evening and weekend appointments 7 days a week, so sessions can fit around school and work.

Services provided by psychologists are not covered by OHIP. Many extended health care plans and employment health insurance plans cover the cost of services with a supervising registered psychologist, and that is Dr. Kaffko's role at the clinic. We bill you directly and give you a receipt with the information you need to submit a claim to your insurance company. You'll find the details, including how to change an appointment if something comes up, on our fees and policies page.

Reaching out about your child is a big step, and you don't need to have everything worked out first. A free consultation gives you the chance to tell us what's been happening, ask your questions and get a feel for whether our practice is the right fit for your family. Teens who want to start on their own are welcome to get in touch with us as well. When you're ready, Schedule Your Free Consultation and Dr. Kaffko or one of her associates will get back to you to talk it through.