Melanie Huffman Child & Family Counselling

09/08/2025

Sometimes parents ask me: How do I know if my child needs play therapy?

Here are some signs that Child-Centered Play Therapy might help:

Emotional signs:
- Frequent meltdowns or big emotional reactions
- Withdrawn or unusually quiet behaviour
- Difficulty expressing feelings with words
- Regression (bedwetting, baby talk, etc.)

Life transition signs:
- Adjusting to divorce or separation
- Grieving a loss or significant change
- Moving to a new home or school
- Welcoming a new sibling

Behavioural signs:
- Acting out at home or school
- Difficulty with friendships
- Sleep troubles or nightmares
- Excessive worrying or fear

The beautiful thing about CCPT?
Children don't need to explain what's wrong or why they're struggling. The play speaks for them.

In our sessions, children use toys, art, and movement to:
- Process difficult experiences
- Build emotional vocabulary
- Practice new coping skills
- Restore their sense of safety and control

Every child deserves to feel heard, understood, and supported through their challenges. Ready to give your child the gift of healing through play? 💙

📍 Kingston, ON
💻 melaniehuffman.com/playtherapy
📞 (613) 530-7218

09/03/2025

Separation anxiety is NORMAL and actually shows healthy attachment.

Here's what helps:
- Keep goodbyes short and sweet (lingering makes it harder)
- Create a special goodbye ritual - high-five, secret handshake, whatever works
- Validate their feelings: "You're sad I'm leaving. That makes sense."
- Trust the teachers - they've got this down to a science
- Pick them up when you say you will (builds trust)

Remember: They might cry for 2 minutes after you leave, then be perfectly fine. It's the transition that's hard, not the whole day.

You're raising a human who loves you so much they don't want you to go. That's actually beautiful. 💙

Have questions about separation anxiety? I'm here to help.
Struggling with drop-offs? DM me - let's chat about strategies that work.

08/22/2025

Parenting comes with a lot.
Love, laughter — sure.

But also:
Overwhelm. Guilt. Google rabbit holes at 2 a.m.

If you’ve ever wished someone would just send you the real resources — not spam, not preachy blogs, not junk — I’ve got you.

I’m pulling together small, useful things like:
✅ Practical tips (backed by research, written like a human)
✅ Local resources & supports (Kingston area)
✅ Gentle reminders for when you’re running on empty

No spam. No endless newsletters. Just helpful things, once in a while, when they actually help.

Want in?
DM me your email and I’ll add you.
Let’s make the hard parts feel a little softer — together.

08/19/2025

Big feelings can feel overwhelming — for kids and parents.

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) gives children a safe space to work through:
• Worries and anxiety
• Adjusting to changes like divorce, loss, or moving
• Feeling shut down or withdrawn

Through play, kids learn to express themselves, build confidence, and find calm.

If your child is struggling, CCPT can help.

📍 Kingston, ON
💻 https://www.melaniehuffman.com/playtherapy

📞 (613) 530-7218

08/19/2025

It’s so easy to worry.
When they’re not talking yet.
When they still need your help to fall asleep.
When they struggle with friendships, education, or being away from you.

The world loves a milestone chart.
But your child is not a timeline.
They’re a whole person, growing, unfolding, learning, at their own pace.

And slower doesn’t mean broken.
Different doesn’t mean wrong.

You are not failing because they haven’t hit the next stage.
You are honouring who they are, not rushing them into who they’re not ready to be.

08/08/2025

I wasn’t always a therapist.

I was a parent first, navigating tantrums, school calls, sleepless nights, and that aching worry: Am I doing enough?

That experience didn’t just shape my life.

It shaped how I show up for families now — with empathy, honesty, and zero judgment.

If you’re tired, overwhelmed, or just want someone who gets it, you’re in the right place.

08/06/2025

Let’s be real: parenting can feel like spinning plates — while someone’s yelling “MOM!” from the other room.

Sincerely, With a Smile: Little Things That Help:

✅ Cut one thing from today’s to-do list (yep, just delete it)
✅ Get everyone outside for 15 minutes — no agenda
✅ Label emotions out loud (it helps kids + adults)
✅ Set a 10-min “no phones, no chores” reconnect window
✅ End the day with “What went okay today?” — not just what went wrong

Small shifts. Big relief. Your family deserves more ease.

08/04/2025

Our first reaction to challenging behaviour is often anger or frustration—and of course it is. We’re emotionally and physically exhausted a lot of the time.
But underneath it all, behaviour is communication.
When we can meet it with curiosity instead of reactivity, we start to understand what our kids are really telling us

07/13/2025

You can try saying, "I'm sorry you are finding it hard right now."

07/13/2025

What a great visual - the meltdown is just the tip of the iceberg

11/16/2024

We spend so much energy trying not to feel when what we really need is to recognize the feeling, give ourselves permission to feel it, then let it go...

Send a message to learn more

09/16/2023

Love this Attachment Nerd