Dr. Jennie and her team of mental health professionals are dedicated to supporting the growth and well-being of children, teens and adults. Their work focuses on helping individuals navigate emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges and create meaningful change in their lives. Through this dedication, they have developed specialized areas of focus.
Youth Sport Psychology
Youth sport psychology focuses on helping young athletes develop the mental tools needed to perform at their best, overcome challenges, and thrive both in sports and in life. Just as physical training builds strength, sport psychology cultivates the mental strength needed to excel in any sport. Dr. Jennie works with individual athletes, teams, parents and coaches.
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ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) presents a wide range of symptoms, such as hyperactivity, distractibility, poor concentration, and impulsivity. These symptoms can impact school performance, social interactions with peers and/or behaviour at home. Symptoms can overlap with several other conditions, such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder. ADHD is not due to poor parenting or simply “kids being kids”; it is a neurobiological disorder that leads to significant learning and social impairments.
Emotional Difficulties
Like adults, every child and teen experiences emotional challenges at times. However, when these struggles persist and a child doesn’t seem to “grow out” of them, it may indicate a deeper issue. Such difficulties can include intense mood swings, impulsiveness, repetitive behaviours, depression, anxiety, or irritability. It is important to help them identify triggers and develop effective coping tools and strategies.
Social Difficulties
Social anxiety is a widespread challenge that can present in various forms. For some children, facing a social situation that scares them may lead to crying, tantrums, or physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, and shortness of breath. Other signs include a fear of judgment, challenges with social skills, trouble connecting with peers, intense worry before entering social settings, or complete avoidance of social situations.
Emotional Trauma
Emotional trauma can occur at any age and may present itself in various ways. We can see emotional trauma through intense and irrational fears, overwhelming anger or rage, recurring nightmares, changes in eating or sleeping habits, or difficulties concentrating at school or within the home environment.
Issues Related to Divorce
When navigating the challenges of a divorce, children are more susceptible to developing a range of social, behavioural, emotional, and academic difficulties. For some children and teens, these struggles may be resolved quickly. However, for others, these struggles may present themselves for a prolonged period, and they must face numerous obstacles. Supporting both children and parents in understanding and accepting their new “normal” is crucial. Establishing consistent routines can provide a family with a renewed sense of stability, security and control during this transitional period.
Bullying
Identifying signs of bullying can be challenging for parents and guardians, as there isn’t always a definitive indicator that a child or teen is being targeted. Some things parents can watch out for are sudden challenges in behaviour, unexplained injuries, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, nightmares, substance abuse, or frequent school absences.
If you are concerned that your child or teen might be the one bullying others, there are certain red flags to watch out for. These signs can include aggressive behaviour toward siblings, pets, friends, or even parents, a lack of empathy for others’ feelings, manipulative behaviour, or unexplained items or money. These are not guaranteed indicators that your child is bullying others, but could be a signal.
Suicidal Ideation
Children and teens experiencing suicidal ideation may not openly seek help, but this doesn’t mean they don’t need or want support. Indicators of suicidal ideation include but aren’t limited to frequently talking about death or dying, reducing social interactions, pulling away from activities they once enjoyed, saying goodbye to loved ones, an intense fixation on death, expressions of self-hatred, paranoia, or abrupt changes in personality.
Play Therapy
Play therapy is a specialized form of therapy that leverages the natural language of children. Unlike adults, who will usually communicate through words, children communicate their experiences through play. In play therapy, children can use toys, games, and creative activities to express themselves. This approach can help children understand and manage emotions, improve their problem-solving skills, and enhance their overall development.