Kemptville Psychology & Counselling

04/28/2026

03/31/2026

On the Transgender Day of Visibility, a reminder about the best-practices for working with youth thinking about gender diversity in a mental health clinic.

It's easy for clinicians and institutions to say they're "gender affirming" or "queer-ally". One quick way to better understand the depth of their knowledge is to ask how the WPATH guidelines shape the care they provide.

02/13/2026

➡️Register for free Mental Health First Aid Training

Parents and caregivers of North Grenville are invited to register for free Mental Health First Aid Training led by the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health Team.

Teens face numerous stressors that can sometimes put them at risk of anxiety, depression, or substance use challenges. Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches parents and caregivers about mental health and substance use challenges. The training will provide parents and caregivers with the language and strategies necessary to engage the youth(s) in their lives about mental health and substance use. If you have questions about how to talk with your teen(s) about mental health, this is your opportunity!

The free Mental Health First Aid Training is courtesy of the Municipality of North Grenville. The training is open to 18 parents/caregivers and will take place on Friday, March 13th, 2026, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the North Grenville Municipal Centre – Suite B.

Please register now at:
https://forms.office.com/r/wSr8YSXp4d?origin=lprLink

02/10/2026

𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆, 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?

Adults (18+) can access free, short-term cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) through the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) program.

CBT can help you manage your thoughts and behaviour to make it easier to handle difficult emotions and situations.

𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀, 𝗢𝗦𝗣 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵:

• self-led resources guided by a coach (online or over the phone)
• group or individual therapy with a clinician (in-person or virtual)

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽, 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝗦𝗣 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆: ontariohealth.ca/clinical/mental-health-addictions/structured-psychotherapy

02/05/2026

There is not enough proof that a lot of marketed treatments really helps children with ADHD. We do not know if it play therapy, neurofeedback, privative reflex integration, attention-training, relaxation or general individual counselling (and others) help children with ADHD make friends, stay calmer at home, do better in school, or be less distracted and impulsive. There isn't enough good quality evidence they do this.

HOWEVER, the Canadian Pediatric Society has a great list of scientifically-proven treatments and strategies beyond medication! For more info, see: https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/adhd-2-treatment

02/05/2026

Neurofeedback, play therapy, privative reflex integration, attention-training, relaxation or general individual counselling are NOT helpful for ADHD. The Canadian Pediatric Society has a great list of scientifically-proven strategies!

For more info, see: https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/adhd-2-treatment

02/05/2026

Medication for ADHD is best-practice treatment in ages 6+. However, not all medications for ADHD act the same. Bring a copy of this to your family doctor or pediatrician to discuss the risks and benefits of different kinds of medication for your child with ADHD.

Be an informed consumer!
https://www.caddra.ca/wp-content/uploads/CADDRA_ADHD-Medication-Chart_EN-FR_October2024_Final.pdf

01/27/2026

Educator and agency approved, we have provided more than 1000 timely assessments to help children and youth in our community since 2012

01/14/2026

Are you looking for a psychoeducational assessment for your 12 to 19 year old? Take the leisurely drive to Kemptville for much faster assessments than in Ottawa (typically). We have spots to see youth within a few weeks, and the report is available approximately 4 weeks after that. Costs are typically $3000-3500 for this type of an assessment. Give us a call!

01/13/2026

In a new study of 35,751 Norwegian children, 6% of children had significant picky eating. About 5% of children with ADHD had mild picky eating and another 10% had very picky eating resulting in medical follow-up (ARFI symptoms). In fact, children with ADHD were the most likely diagnostic group to have significant pickiness, followed by children with gastrointestinal issues (6% of these children had ARFI symptoms), and then autism (5.4% of these children had ARFI symptoms). This study should help clinicians think beyond ASD when working with families with a picky eater. This study was published in the JAMA Pediatrics, and is available here: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2841700?guestAccessKey=20815c1b-6f6d-4adf-8cf2-2b3617d1de02&utm_source=fbpage&utm_medium=social_jamapeds&utm_term=19181838443&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=897468461&fbclid=IwY2xjawPTSUBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkaFc1WUt2QlRsM1ZKdWI5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhEVBGV45yisgVEeXdYoIgBShkxtD3DFqkHr3ZJ5d_Nm2egfcyvC-ynK3GSL_aem_DbP0BD-UZxE1evL1wocsCw

11/20/2025

11/19/2025

Eating dinner together as a family has many benefits—and screens can easily crowd out that valuable family activity. Starting with just a few screen-free meals each week can help make family dinners a lasting habit. Here are some simple tips to help build a screen-free family meal routine. Learn more: https://www.aap.org/EarlyChildhoodScreenTime