Swabey Family Counselling

12/29/2025

Be on the lookout for companionship apps.

Navigating tech for our teens is becoming even more challenging - it's hard to stay on top of all the apps out there. Keep yourself informed and have open conversations with your family.

https://www.thewhitehatter.ca/post/companionship-apps-when-the-brain-treats-fantasy-as-reality?fbclid=IwY2xjawO_2EhicmlkETF4eFpzUWJEREFBMEtjUzduc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHh_8dbBRVUu2neRqllRKhA9O9jm1ruzFmlKgS0JgBR8PnYc43hMJuFgnWI_j&brid=NqOf4zLCnuHtEAIjRN5Kqg

AI companionship apps are no longer fringe tools. New research shows most teens have used them, and many report feeling emotionally connected. When technology is designed to feel caring, responsive, and relational, the brain can rehearse it as real. For developing minds, that matters. This article e...

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from all of us at Swabey Family Counselling.

Wishing families a day filled with moments of connection, calm, and care.

12/03/2025

We’re excited to welcome The Art Lab into our space this holiday season for a fun, festive activity for your little ones! If your family is looking for something playful, low-pressure, and joy-filled to do together, this is a lovely way to slow down and reconnect. 🎄

Save this if you’d like a gentle December activity for your little ones, and check out for all the details.

Friday December 19 at Swabey Family Counselling
Cost = 15$
Ages 3 and up recommended

🎄Hey there LaSalle!!🎄
I am going to be poppin up in your neighbourhood for some festive ornament making! I’ve rented out a room from the lovely Jessica to have an evening of ornament making and Christmas music 🎵 🎄 Tickets are $15 on our website, details are in the poster.
Put on your Christmas sweater and let’s CRAFT ⛄️
If you still have a giftcard from last Christmas I think it’s time you dust it off and use it💨

11/11/2025

Today, we pause to remember the courage, sacrifice, and compassion of those who served—and those who continue to serve—so that we can live in peace.

For families, Remembrance Day can also be an opportunity to talk with children about empathy, gratitude, and the ways people care for one another in hard times. These conversations help kids build compassion and perspective—important parts of emotional growth and connection.

As we honour this day, may we all take a quiet moment to reflect, remember, and teach the next generation what it means to choose kindness and peace.

🌺 Lest we forget.

11/08/2025

It’s the perfect weekend to slow down, explore something new, and enjoy a few local favourites. From festive markets and nostalgic finds to relaxed community events and a cozy Sunday hangout — there’s a little something for everyone.

Save this post + tag someone to make weekend plans!

11/07/2025

When a child tells you they’re being bullied, their nervous system is already on high alert. If we rush to fix it—calling the school, confronting the other child—their brain can feel even more overwhelmed and powerless.

Start by grounding first: your calm voice signals safety, which helps their stress response settle.
Then, listen.
Reflect what you hear so their brain registers, “I’m understood.”
Only after calm returns can the thinking part of the brain problem-solve effectively.

When kids feel safe, seen, and supported, they’re far more likely to share—and to trust that you’ll handle it together.

✨ At Swabey Family Counselling, we help families navigate big emotions, hard conversations, and school challenges with calm confidence.

📧 info@swabeycounselling.com
| 🌐 swabeycounselling.com

11/05/2025

After-school meltdowns aren’t about defiance—they’re your child’s nervous system finally letting go after a long day of holding it together.

All day, their brain works to manage social rules, transitions, and expectations. By the time they walk through the door, their emotion centers take over while the thinking brain needs a break.

You can help by offering calm, connection, and gentle ways to release stress first—conversation comes after the system has reset.

✨ Understanding the brain behind behaviour helps parents respond with patience and confidence, not frustration.

📧 info@swabeycounselling.com
| 🌐 swabeycounselling.com

11/05/2025

When kids seem unmotivated — avoiding homework, resisting chores, or melting down when things get hard — it’s easy to wonder how to help them get back on track.

Many parents try sticker charts, consequences, or rewards… and while those can bring short-term results, they don’t build the kind of motivation that lasts.

At Swabey Family Counselling, we help parents understand what actually fuels motivation from the inside out — so kids want to try, learn, and grow even when things feel hard.

✨ Here’s the truth:
Lasting motivation isn’t about prizes or pressure. It’s built when children feel three things:
💬 a sense of Autonomy (I have some choice),
🤝 Belonging (I’m safe and supported), and
🌱 Competence (I can do hard things).

These three ingredients — what we call the ABCs of Motivation — help children build confidence, independence, and emotional resilience that carry far beyond childhood.

If you’ve ever wondered why reward systems stop working or how to help your child stay motivated without power struggles, we’ve created a new resource just for you.

🧠 Learn more about the ABCs of Motivation and how to use them at home on our Resources page.

👉 Visit https://swabeycounselling.com/resources/ to read the full article.

11/04/2025

Cyberbullying & online peer conflict can feel invisible until it suddenly isn’t.

Most kids don’t tell their parents right away — not because they don’t trust you, but because their brain is wired to protect social belonging above all else. Feeling left out, embarrassed, or targeted online triggers the same stress response as physical pain.

💭 What helps:
Stay calm and listen first. Your regulation helps theirs.

Avoid rushing to take devices away. It can increase shame and isolation.

Focus on safety, not punishment. Work together to block, report, and document.

Check in on their nervous system. Changes in sleep, appetite, or mood can signal overwhelm.

Model digital empathy. Talk openly about kindness, accountability, and when to take a break from online spaces.

These conversations don’t need to happen after something goes wrong — small, ongoing check-ins build trust so your child knows you’re a safe place to turn when it does.

💬 Save this for later or share it with a parent who might need it today.

11/01/2025

Team Anniversary: Celebrating Briana!

Today we’re celebrating Briana's anniversary with Swabey Family Counselling— and what a difference she’s made since joining our team!

Bri brings warmth, positivity, and grounded energy to everything she does. She’s always willing to jump in and help, keeps us accountable in the best way, and brings laughter and calm to even the busiest days.

We’re so grateful for her steady presence, her care for the families she helps support, and the heart she brings to our team every single day.

Happy Anniversary, Bri — we’re so glad you’re part of the Swabey Family Counselling team! 💙

11/01/2025

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual — and when worry, conflict, or big emotions start to take over, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing.
You’re not. You’re doing your best with the tools you have.

Sometimes, what families need most isn’t to “try harder,” but to understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.
That’s where we come in.

At Swabey Family Counselling, we help kids, teens, and parents navigate the messy, emotional moments with brain-based strategies that build calm, connection, and confidence — at home and within each relationship.

Because when you understand the why behind your child’s behaviour, everything starts to shift.
Fewer power struggles. More cooperation. Stronger relationships.

🌿 We’re here to help.
Now accepting new clients in LaSalle and across Windsor-Essex.

📍 In-person and virtual sessions available.
💻 Fill out an intake form https://swabeycounselling.com/take-the-first-step/

✨ Calm the chaos. Reconnect as a family.

10/30/2025

🎃 Let Teens Be Kids — Why It Matters More Than You Think

It’s easy to wonder if your teen is “too old” to trick-or-treat. But before you say no or roll your eyes, here’s something to consider:

Halloween isn’t just about candy. For teens, it’s about belonging, play, and identity.
During adolescence, their brains are still developing key pathways related to emotional regulation, social connection, and creativity. Dressing up, laughing with friends, and being silly — even if it looks “immature” — are all ways their nervous system practices feeling safe while taking healthy risks.

🧠 In other words: it’s not childish, it’s developmental.
Play is still an essential part of emotional growth, even for teens who look and sound like adults in the making.

So if your teen wants to trick-or-treat, dress up, or walk the neighbourhood with friends — let them. Smile, take the picture, offer the costume advice, and remember: these moments matter.

And if you’re handing out candy this year — welcome the teens, too. A kind smile, a bit of candy, and a reminder that they still belong in the fun can mean more than you realize.

You’re not just giving them candy — you’re giving them connection, safety, and a little more time to grow. 💙