People come to individual psychotherapy for many reasons, such as emotional difficulties, support through periods of transition, loss, grief, relationship problems, self-awareness and growth.

Dr. Wallis meets with individual adult clients with treatment focusing on specific problems such as anxiety, depression, stress, phobias, self-esteem, family and relationship issues, academic and work difficulties, and more general issues such as improving quality of life and self understanding.

Treatment may be short term or longer term, depending on a variety of factors, including the nature and severity of the problem, the needs of the client, readiness and ability for change, and the degree to which they actively participate in the process.

Dr. Wallis is well versed and experienced in a variety of therapy approaches and tailors each therapy to individual client needs.

It is normal for parents to be concerned about their children’s emotional and behavioural development.  If problems begin to interfere with self-esteem, ability to function well at school, within the family, or with friends, it may be beneficial to seek professional treatment.  Early identification and intervention for children and adolescents displaying emotional or behavioural difficulties is essential to reduce the negative effects on academic and social adjustment.

When treating children and adolescents, the extent to which parents and caregivers are involved in the assessment and treatment varies depending on the age and abilities of the child.  Parental involvement is typically greater with younger children. Dr. Wallis discusses confidentiality and limits to confidentially with her clients and parents at the outset of the therapy relationship.

Therapeutic approaches are tailored to the needs of the individual child/adolescent, and include traditional talk-therapy approaches (supportive therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy) to more activity-based approaches (play therapy, drawing, games).

Play Therapy

Play therapy is a method of psychotherapy used with young children.  Children communicate their thoughts and feelings through play more naturally than they do through verbal communication.  As the child plays the therapist begins to recognize themes and patterns or ways in which the child uses the materials. This is important because the play reflects issues which are important to the child and typically relevant to their difficulties.  Over time, the therapist helps the child make meaning out of the play.

The aim of play therapy is to decrease the behavioural and emotional difficulties that interfere with the child’s functioning.  Inherent in this aim is improved communication and understanding between parent and child. Additional goals include improved verbal expression, ability for self-observation, improved impulse control, more adaptive ways of coping with frustration and anxiety and improved capacity to trust and relate to others.

In this type of treatment, Dr. Wallis uses in-depth understanding of child development including stages of cognitive, language, and social and emotional development.

Reasons for treatment include, but are not limited to, temper tantrums, aggressive behaviour, non-medical problems with bladder and bowel control, difficulty with sleep or nightmares, worries and fears.  This type of treatment is also used with young children who have experienced abuse, loss, neglect or other traumatic events.

In play therapy, Dr. Wallis meets with the child alone for the majority of the sessions and arranges times to meet with the parent(s) separately or with the child, depending on the situation. The number of sessions and duration of treatment varies according to treatment objectives.

Dr. Wallis provides parent guidance and consultation to parents seeking information and support about aspects of parenting at all stages of development (infants, children, teens and young adults).