Child therapy in Newmarket should reflect the realities children and families face at home, at school, and in their community. Positive Kids supports children and teens who are working through emotional, behavioural, social, attention, or school-related challenges. Care is matched to the child’s age, needs, goals, and the type of professional support that is appropriate.

This page is for families in Newmarket, including the L3Y area, as well as parents travelling from nearby York Region communities. Positive Kids does not promise a particular outcome. Therapy focuses on understanding concerns, developing practical skills, strengthening communication, and working toward meaningful goals.

Children often show stress differently from adults. A younger child may have frequent meltdowns, physical complaints, trouble separating, or changes in play. An older child or teen may withdraw, avoid school, lose confidence, struggle with friendships, or become overwhelmed by expectations.

Newmarket families may seek support when a concern begins affecting daily routines, classroom participation, homework, friendships, activities, sleep, or family relationships. The first step is to understand what is happening across the child’s different environments and decide whether individual therapy, parent support, skills coaching, assessment, or another service is the best fit.

Positive Kids services are generally designed for children and teens from approximately ages 4 to 18. The most appropriate approach changes with development:

• Ages 4–7: play-informed activities, emotion identification, routines, and caregiver participation.
• Ages 8–12: coping skills, confidence, behaviour, friendships, school stress, and problem solving.
• Ages 13–18: anxiety, mood, identity, relationships, motivation, self-advocacy, and transitions.

For children under four, parent guidance or family support may be a more appropriate starting point. Intake confirms age fit and service scope.

• Anxiety, fears, worry, and school avoidance
• ADHD, attention, impulsivity, and executive-function challenges
• Strong emotions, anger, and emotional regulation
• Low self-esteem and perfectionism
• Friendship difficulties, bullying, and social confidence
• Behavioural concerns and family conflict
• Grief, loss, separation, and other family changes
• Stress related to learning, homework, or transitions

Not every service is appropriate for every concern. Positive Kids will clarify scope and recommend another provider or level of care when needed.

Virtual appointments may be available to Newmarket families when online care is clinically appropriate for the child’s age, comfort, privacy, and goals. Virtual sessions can reduce travel time and make it easier to maintain care around school and family schedules.

A dedicated Newmarket office is not being promised on this page. In-person availability depends on the current clinician, program, and Positive Kids service location. Please contact intake before planning travel; the team will confirm whether an in-person option is currently available, where it is delivered, and whether virtual or another service format may be a better fit.

1. Parent or caregiver conversation: Intake gathers information about the concern, the child’s strengths, school and family context, goals, preferred format, and availability.
2. Clinician and service matching: Positive Kids considers age, concern, credentials, therapeutic fit, and whether virtual or in-person care is appropriate.
3. Early sessions: The clinician builds rapport, clarifies goals, and helps the child understand what sessions will involve.
4. Practical skill development: Depending on the service, sessions may include age-appropriate conversation, play-informed activities, cognitive and behavioural strategies, emotional-regulation practice, problem solving, and activities between appointments.
5. Parent participation: Caregivers may receive updates or strategies while the child’s privacy and the clinician’s professional obligations are respected.

Frequency and duration depend on the child’s needs, goals, progress, and clinician recommendation. Therapy is collaborative and does not guarantee a particular result.

Clinician assignment and Newmarket availability are confirmed during intake. The following Positive Kids team profiles illustrate experience relevant to concerns commonly brought by Newmarket families:

• Jennifer Ashiedu, RP (Qualifying) works with children and teenagers experiencing ADHD, anxiety, bullying, behavioural concerns, social challenges, trauma, and grief and loss.
• Hadassah Beggs, RP supports children with social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties, including anxiety, sadness, anger, emotional expression, and friendship challenges.
• Thanh Rushton, RSW supports children, adolescents, and families and offers virtual counselling. Her published profile includes experience with anxiety, trauma, depression, bullying, and parenting challenges.

These profiles do not guarantee that a particular clinician is accepting Newmarket clients at the time of inquiry. Intake will confirm credentials, service format, fees, and current availability.

Child therapy may be one part of a broader support plan. Newmarket families can also explore:

• Anxiety counselling information for children in Newmarket
• ADHD support for children and families
• Executive-function coaching for planning, organization, time management, and task initiation
• Parenting coaching and parenting programs
• Individual counselling and child therapy

If you are unsure which pathway fits, intake can help distinguish therapy from coaching, tutoring, groups, parent support, or assessment.

Is child therapy available virtually in Newmarket?

Virtual services may be available when appropriate. Intake will consider the child’s age, goals, privacy, comfort with online sessions, and clinician availability.

Do you have a therapy office in Newmarket?

This page does not claim a dedicated Newmarket office. Contact intake to confirm current in-person locations before travelling.

How do parents participate?

Parent participation varies by age and goals. It may include an intake conversation, periodic check-ins, collaborative planning, or strategies that help reinforce skills at home.

Can therapy help with school concerns?

Therapy may support emotions, confidence, coping, communication, or behaviour connected with school. Tutoring or executive-function coaching may be a better fit when the primary need is academic instruction, organization, or study skills.

What if my child needs urgent help?

Positive Kids is not an emergency service. If there is immediate danger or a mental-health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. In Canada, call or text 988 for suicide crisis support.