Clarity - The Roots of Change

Clarity - The Roots of Change At CLARITY, We create safe, nurturing spaces for healing and growth through therapies like play, art, sand, and SSP.

Honoring mind, body, and spirit, we foster resilience and balance. Your journey to transformation begins with us. đź’š

08/18/2025

EPISODE 11 | HOLDING SPACE | THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLAY AND THERAPEUTIC PLAY

Play is the natural language of childhood.
It’s how kids explore, express, and make sense of the world.

But not all play is therapeutic.

Just like a conversation can be small talk or deeply meaningful—
play can be light and fun, or it can move into emotional healing.

🧸 Therapeutic play happens when a child is offered a safe, accepting space, held by a regulated adult who knows how to track what’s beneath the surface.

We’re not entertaining.
We’re not fixing.
We’re not even trying to “teach.”
We’re making space for what’s already inside the child to emerge.

At home, a child might build a block tower and knock it down for fun.
That’s play. 💛
In the therapy room, that same tower might be rebuilt over and over—
only to be knocked down by a dinosaur.
Again. And again.

As a therapist, I gently reflect:
“That tower took a long time to build… and then the dinosaur came in fast.”
No interpretation. No pressure. Just presence.

Over time, themes start to unfold—about power, safety, control, or grief.
Because in therapeutic play, the healing comes through the process.

This is part of our Holding Space series, where we slow down, attune, and remember that healing doesn’t always come through words.

Curious about how to bring therapeutic principles into your home or work?
Drop a comment—I’d love to support you.

The child inside usholds our earliest dreams,our deepest hurts,and our purest hopes.When I nurture that child,I give mys...
08/15/2025

The child inside us
holds our earliest dreams,
our deepest hurts,
and our purest hopes.

When I nurture that child,
I give myself permission
to heal, to play,
to feel safe again.

Today, I’m choosing kindness—
for that little one inside.

🌿 I nurture the child within.

08/11/2025

EPISODE 10 | HOLDING SPACE | WHAT IS NON-DIRECTIVE PLAY THERAPY?

If you’ve ever wondered how a child can heal without words, this might speak to you.

Non-directive play therapy is rooted in the belief that children already know what needs healing. When given the right environment, they show us—through play.

This approach, shaped by Virginia Axline’s principles, invites a child to lead.
✨ No pressure.
✨ No fixing.
✨ No interpretation.
Just presence.
Just safety.
Just space to be.

A child might walk into the playroom, silent.
Head straight for the sand tray.
Bury the “mom” figure.
Place a dragon beside it.

They may never explain it.
But the play speaks volumes.

Instead of asking why, I reflect:
“You’re keeping the dragon close.”
“There’s a lot happening beneath the surface.”

Over time, themes begin to unfold—in their own way, in their own time.

That’s the heart of non-directive play therapy.
It’s slow. It’s sacred.
And it honors the wisdom children carry within.

This is part of our Holding Space series, where we explore the healing power of relationship and the language of play.

Curious how this might support your child—or your work with children?
Drop a comment—I’d love to share more.

Imperfections don’t make us less—they make us real.I accept my flaws, my mistakes,and even the messy parts of what I cre...
08/08/2025

Imperfections don’t make us less—
they make us real.

I accept my flaws, my mistakes,
and even the messy parts of what I create.

Because growth isn’t about perfection.
It’s about showing up, imperfectly whole.

Today, I embrace all of me—
exactly as I am.

✨ Imperfect. Enough. Whole.

Polyvagal Theory offers valuable insights into how our nervous system responds to stress and connection. Here are some j...
08/06/2025

Polyvagal Theory offers valuable insights into how our nervous system responds to stress and connection. Here are some journal prompts inspired by the three branches of the autonomic nervous system: the dorsal vagal, ventral vagal, and sympathetic pathways.

Use these prompts to deepen your self-awareness and nurture your emotional well-being.

You’ll find prompts that stimulate your sympathetic nervous system, encouraging you to channel energy and motivation. Explore activities or goals that ignite your passion and drive, inspiring a sense of empowerment and action.

There are also prompts that encourage social connection and positive engagement to activate your ventral vagal pathway. Reflect on moments of gratitude, joyful memories, or acts of kindness that evoke feelings of safety and connection.

And finally, engage with prompts that foster self-compassion and grounding to soothe your dorsal vagal pathway. Reflect on moments of self-care, relaxation techniques, or comforting rituals that provide a sense of safety and comfort during times of stress or overwhelm.

By journaling through these prompts, you can deepen your understanding of your nervous system responses and cultivate strategies for emotional regulation and resilience.

08/04/2025

EPISODE 9 | HOLDING SPACE | THE POWER OF "I FEEL..." IN BUILDING TRUST AND CALM

There are two simple words that can shift everything in a hard moment:
“I feel…”

When we lead with I feel, we take ownership of our emotional experience.
We stay grounded in our body—without blaming or projecting onto others.

Instead of:
❌ “You never listen.”
❌ “Why do you always do this?”
Try:
✅ “I feel overwhelmed.”
✅ “I’m starting to feel frustrated.”

It’s not about staying calm all the time. It’s about how we speak when we’re not.
And when our kids see us model this, they learn how to own their feelings too.

đź’› Real-life example?
You walk into the kitchen. It’s chaos. You want to snap.
But instead, you take a breath and say:
“I’m feeling overwhelmed.”
“I need a moment to regroup.”

You’re not exploding or shutting down—you’re creating space for connection.
That’s the power of self-awareness in action.

This is what Holding Space is all about—slowing down, speaking from the heart, and building trust in the messy moments.

Got a parenting question or moment you’d love support with? Drop it below—I’d love to hold space for it in a future episode.

Some days, I soar ✨Other days, I stumble 🌿But every day, I’m doing the best I canwith what I have,with where I’m at,in t...
08/01/2025

Some days, I soar ✨
Other days, I stumble 🌿

But every day, I’m doing the best I can
with what I have,
with where I’m at,
in that moment. đź’«

And that counts.
That’s enough. ❤️

“I do the best that I can at the time.”
Say it. Breathe it. Let it be true. 🌬️

07/31/2025

What if your child could heal… without needing to say a single word?
What if there was a space where they were in charge—of their voice, their story, their pace—
and still completely held in safety and understanding?
That’s the heart of non-directive play therapy.
And it’s one of the most powerful, respectful, and healing things we can offer a child.
I’m Julia from Clarity.
With over 25 years supporting children and families, one thing I’ve witnessed again and again is this:
When children are given the right environment, they move toward healing naturally.
They don’t need to be told what to talk about or how to feel.
They already know.
They just need a safe place to show it.
🧸 Non-directive play therapy is a child-led process that honors play as a child’s natural language.
Inside that play, children express what hurts, what confuses them, what they long for—and what needs to be healed.
At Clarity, our playrooms are intentionally designed to support this kind of work:
✨ Puppets for storytelling
✨ Sand trays for symbolic exploration
✨ Art, music, fidgets, nurturing toys, dress-up, and more
Each item invites expression and healing—without pressure to find the right words.
But more than the tools, it’s the relationship that transforms.
In the presence of a safe, attuned, non-directive therapist, a child learns what it feels like to borrow calm, feel seen, and trust their inner world.
It might look like play.
But beneath the surface, there’s deep work happening:
đź’› Grief being processed
đź’› Anxiety softening
đź’› Trauma releasing
đź’› Self-regulation growing
At Clarity, we work in cycles of six play therapy sessions, held together by regular parent sessions and grounded in a structured yet child-centered framework. We also use a powerful tool—the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire—to track growth without asking children to explain it all.
This isn’t just a model I follow.
It’s one I created—with intention, heart, and clinical depth.
Because sometimes, the most healing thing we can do for a child…
is step back, trust the process, and let them lead.
🌱
That’s where the roots of change begin to grow.

How to regulate your emotions with Polyvagal Theory...Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the Polyvagal Theory offers insig...
07/30/2025

How to regulate your emotions with Polyvagal Theory...

Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the Polyvagal Theory offers insights into how our nervous system responds to stress and social interaction.

Here are four ways to harness the power of Polyvagal Theory for emotional well-being.

Draw, paint or write: Creative expression engages the ventral vagal pathway, promoting relaxation and self-expression.

Listen to soothing music: Music can evoke positive emotions and activate the ventral vagal pathway, helping to regulate emotions and reduce stress.

Meditate mindfully: Cultivates present-moment awareness, calming the nervous system and enhancing emotional resilience.

Try some yoga: Combines movement, breath, and mindfulness, promoting relaxation and activating the ventral vagal pathway.

Let me know in the comments: which strategy will you use today?

Want to know how to activate your ventral vagal pathway for emotional balance...It's like your body's relaxation switch,...
07/30/2025

Want to know how to activate your ventral vagal pathway for emotional balance...

It's like your body's relaxation switch, helping you feel calm and connected.

Here are 4 ways to promote a sense of calm and activate your ventral vagal pathway: Practice these activities to soothe your nervous system and regulate emotions.

Deep breathing: Stimulates the vagus nerve, signaling to your body to relax and shift into a calmer state.

Give yourself a hug: Stimulates the vagus nerve through physical touch, promoting feelings of safety and comfort.

Express gratitude: Engages positive emotions, which activate the ventral vagal pathway and foster a sense of well-being.

Spend time with friends: Social connection activates the ventral vagal pathway, reducing stress and promoting emotional regulation.

Which activity will you try today to stimulate your vagus nerve?

07/28/2025

EPISODE 8 | HOLDING SPACE | CHECK-IN AND WHAT'S AHEAD

Hi, I’m Julia—and together, we’re holding space. 🌿

After 25+ years of sitting with children and families through some of their most vulnerable, beautiful moments… I know this truth deeply:

✨ Healing begins in relationship.
✨ Growth happens when we feel safe enough to be real.
✨ And the journey—while messy—is absolutely worth it.

This series began as a way to support parents, caregivers, and therapists in building emotional awareness, regulation, and connection. So far, we’ve explored co-regulation, nervous system care, the Feelings Wheel, and the power of presence.

And we’re just getting started.

What’s ahead?
đź’› Emotional safety and attachment
đź’› Tools for deeper connection
đź’› Nervous system wisdom
đź’› Compassionate self-talk
💛 And insights from voices like Brené Brown, Dan Siegel, and Stephen Porges

Together, we’re building a toolkit—not just for parenting, but for being human.

If there’s something you’d love support with or a topic you’d like me to explore in an upcoming episode, drop it in the comments. I’d be honoured to hold space for it.

Thanks for being here. Let’s keep growing—together. ✨

🎥 Today’s Gentle Reminder 🌿“By freeing myself from past mistakes, I can move on and do good things.”Sometimes the hardes...
07/25/2025

🎥 Today’s Gentle Reminder 🌿
“By freeing myself from past mistakes, I can move on and do good things.”

Sometimes the hardest part of healing
is letting go of the version of ourselves
who didn’t know better.

But you’ve learned.
You’ve grown.
You’re still becoming.

Holding onto guilt won’t undo the past—
but releasing it can shape a softer future. đź’›

This is your reminder:
You’re allowed to move forward.
You’re allowed to feel proud of who you’re becoming.

✨ Let this land. Let it settle.
And when it feels true—let it guide your next step.

Address

485 6th Avenue
Hanover, ON
N4N1P1

Telephone

+12262303433

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