Katelynn Kitamura

Sometimes the hardest part is knowing what to do when your child is struggling and you can’t quite figure out how to help. Maybe they’re having big reactions that seem to come out of nowhere. Maybe school, friendships, or everyday routines have become harder. Or maybe you’ve been trying to support them for so long that you’re starting to feel stuck, too. Therapy can be a place where both the child and the people who love them get the support they need.

I work with children, youth, and families, with a particular focus on children and teens navigating social, emotional, and behavioural challenges. My approach is strength-based, trauma-informed, and grounded in the belief that children do best when they feel understood, supported, and genuinely involved in the process. With younger children, I use play-based and child-centred approaches to help them express experiences and emotions that can be difficult to put into words. With older children and teens, we work together to build practical skills, understand patterns, set meaningful goals, and develop greater confidence in navigating the things that feel difficult.

My experience includes working with children and youth experiencing ADHD, autism, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), generalized anxiety, attachment-related challenges, trauma, and other social, emotional, and behavioural concerns. Depending on the child and family, our work may draw from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, strengths-based therapy, psychoeducation, parent coaching, and play-based interventions. I also have experience supporting children and families through safety planning, crisis situations, goal setting, and treatment planning, always with an emphasis on building on the strengths that are already there.

A big part of my work is helping children and families feel less alone in the challenges they’re facing. I’ve worked across community, school, hospital, residential, and in-home settings, supporting children and families with a wide range of needs. As a Child and Family Counsellor, I currently provide therapy to children ages 3–18, including intake assessments, treatment planning, individual therapy, and family support. Earlier in my career, I worked in intensive in-home therapy and school-based day treatment, as well as residential and family support settings. These experiences taught me that there is rarely one explanation for what a child is experiencing, and that meaningful change often comes from understanding the child within the context of their family, school, relationships, and environment.

My hospital experience also shaped the way I work with families. As a social worker in maternal-child health, I supported families through psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, counselling, discharge planning, and connection to community resources. I know that when a family is already carrying a lot, navigating systems and finding the right supports can feel overwhelming. I try to make that process feel more manageable by meeting families where they are and helping them identify practical next steps.

I believe therapy should feel collaborative rather than something that is simply done to a child. Children deserve to have their strengths noticed, their experiences taken seriously, and their voices included in decisions about their care. Parents and caregivers deserve support, too. Whether we’re working on emotional regulation, behaviour, anxiety, social skills, family relationships, or simply helping a child feel more confident in themselves, we’ll work together to figure out what makes sense for them.

My goal is not to change who a child is. It’s to help them better understand themselves, build the skills they need, and feel more capable of handling the things that come their way. Sometimes progress looks like learning to name a feeling. Sometimes it looks like trying something new, repairing a relationship, getting through a difficult day, or realizing that a challenge doesn’t have to define you. Those small changes can become meaningful ones over time.

I hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto, along with an Honours Bachelor of Psychology from York University and an Honours Child and Youth Care diploma from Humber College. I am a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

If you’re wondering whether therapy might be helpful for your child or family, I offer a free 20-minute consultation, available in person in Pickering or virtually anywhere in Ontario. It’s a low-pressure opportunity to ask questions, talk about what you’re noticing, and get a sense of whether we might be a good fit.