Therapy Services at Step Stone
Early Years Therapy
Early years therapy uses play, creativity, and connection to help parents/caregivers and their little ones build their attachment, confidence, manage big feelings, and develop skills to thrive at home, school, and beyond.
Child-Caregiver Therapy
Caring for a baby or toddler can bring joy, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. Infant- or Child–Caregiver therapy is a gentle, supportive approach where parents/caregivers and their child engage together in play with a therapist’s support, reflections, and guidance. Therapy helps strengthen the bond between you and your child. Together, we’ll explore your baby or child’s unique cues and needs, and we’ll support you in feeling more confident and connected as a parent.
This type of therapy can be helpful if you’re noticing challenges with feeding, sleep, bonding, or soothing your baby, separation anxiety, or if you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or unsure in your role as a caregiver. Sessions focus on creating a nurturing space for both you and your baby, so that you can build secure attachment, support healthy development, navigate early parenting challenges, reduce stress, and feel more supported yourself.
Play Therapy
Play therapy focuses on supporting young children (ages 5+) as they build social, emotional, and developmental skills. Sessions are play-based and engaging, using games, storytelling, art, and movement to help children express themselves and learn new ways to manage big feelings as they explore their brave new world. Play therapy uses the language of play to express feelings and work through challenges. It helps children process thoughts and feelings, build self-confidence, improve relationships, enhance decision making and conflict resolution skills. Play therapy may address challenges such as emotional regulation, separation anxiety, social skills, behavior difficulties, or early developmental concerns. Parent/Caregiver involvement is an important part of the process, with parents/caregivers receiving guidance, strategies, and support to carry skills from sessions into daily life.
Circle of Security Parenting™Circle of Security is an 8-week parent-focused group that helps address challenging child behaviours by improving parents’ responses. The group helps parents better understand their children’s emotions, behaviours, and needs, as well as deepen their understanding of the attachment and security needs of their children.
Through our group, you can expect to learn how to build stronger relationships with your children and also be affirmed as a parent. You will learn about your own needs and emotions, and the ways in which there is interplay between your child’s feelings/behaviours and your own. You will gain skills and confidence in your parenting and parental responsiveness as you learn alongside other parents who are on their own similar parenting journeys.
This group is well-suited for parents with children between the ages of 0-8 yrs. Children do not attend the group. Note: it is important to attend all of the group’s sessions as they build upon each other. There will be a certificate issued to those who attend all eight sessions.
The group will be led by certified COSP facilitator, Dr. Barbara Mancini.