Child, Teen & Family Counselling in Port Coquitlam
Nothing seems to be helping. You don't have to keep figuring it out alone.
Does any of this feel familiar?
You know your child or teen best. And lately, something feels hard.
Worry, anxiety or constant overthinking
Racing thoughts, trouble sleeping, or a child who asks the same worries over and over.
Big emotions, shutdowns or meltdowns
Feelings that seem to swell out of nowhere, leaving everyone exhausted and unsure.
School stress, avoidance or difficulty attending
Mornings that have become a battle, or a teen who is pulling away from school and friends.
ADHD or autism-related overwhelm
A neurodivergent child or teen who needs support that honours how their brain works.
Anger, behaviour changes or becoming more withdrawn
A child who seems angrier, quieter, or further away than they used to be.
Friendship difficulties, low confidence or family changes
Struggles with peers, a fading sense of self, or a family transition that is taking a toll.
Three Simple Ways to Begin
The front door into Sunny Spot. Choose the pathway that fits your family, and every other service is still easy to reach further down the page.
Child Counselling
For younger children navigating big feelings, anxiety, behaviour changes, friendship struggles or life transitions. Play-based, child-centred and paced to feel safe.
Explore Child CounsellingYouth & Teen Counselling
For teens and older youth who may be wary of counselling. Conversation, humour, shared interests and unpressured space come first, before any deeper work.
Explore Youth & Teen CounsellingParent & Family Support
Collaborative, shame-free support for parents, caregivers and families who want stronger connection, clearer communication and practical next steps at home.
Explore Parent & Family SupportWhat Happens Next
A gentle, clear path from first hello to the right kind of support.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation
Share what has been feeling difficult for your child or teen and ask your questions. We can explore whether Sunny Spot may be a good fit.
Begin With the Caregiver’s Understanding
We will learn about your child or teen’s strengths, needs, communication style and what your family hopes support could look like.
Let Connection Come First
Your child or teen begins at their own pace. Sessions may use conversation, creativity, play and practical tools while trust develops.
Support that meets your child or teen where they are.
When big feelings take over, connection comes first.
Connection Before Change
Children and teens are supported through warmth, curiosity, play and genuine relationship before they are expected to open up or practise new skills.
Emotional Regulation & Behaviour
When meltdowns, shutdowns or big emotions take over, support begins with understanding what a child or teen’s nervous system and behaviour may be communicating. Children and teens build regulation skills while caregivers learn practical ways to co-regulate and reconnect.
Family Empowerment
Children and teens do not grow in isolation. Parents and caregivers are included with compassion, practical tools and respectful collaboration so support can feel more consistent at home, at school and in everyday family life.
Why Children and Teens Connect Differently
Safety first. Then growth.
Connection before change, every step at the child's or teen's pace.
Children and teens can experience counselling differently from adults. A child or teen:
- may not have chosen counselling themselves
- may worry about being judged or evaluated
- may not be ready to talk immediately
- may communicate through play, creativity, humour, interests or quieter forms of connection
- may need safety and a genuine relationship before deeper therapeutic work begins
That is okay. With younger children, connection often happens through play therapy, curiosity, laughter and creativity. Teens may connect through conversation, humour, shared interests, or simply having unpressured space. Narrative therapy is one of the ways we help young people separate who they are from the problems they face.
You can learn more about child counselling and youth and teen counselling, or explore Sunny Spot's full philosophy. Not sure how to start the conversation at home? For younger children, our parent guide on introducing counselling to your child offers gentle scripts and age appropriate language, and our article on teen mental health offers guidance on starting the conversation with care.
Wondering whether counselling could help?
Book a Free 15-Minute ConsultationWhy Sheila
Sheila Aini, MC, RCC · Master of Counselling · Registered Clinical Counsellor
Sheila Aini, MC, RCC
9 Years in Behaviour Intervention
Sheila Aini, MC, RCC, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Counselling and nine years of behaviour intervention experience. Her trauma counselling experience at Battered Women's Support Services (BWSS) strengthened the trauma-informed lens she brings to her work, and her foundational practice as a Behaviour Interventionist and Behaviour Therapist shapes a relationship-first, neurodiversity-affirming approach.
Sheila specializes in child-centred play therapy, behaviour intervention, and relationship-first counselling across homes, schools, daycares, and community settings. Her goal is to help children and teens express their big emotions safely and to partner with parents and educators to build consistent, wrap-around support.
Read more about Sheila“Sheila is one of the brightest, most uplifting people I know. She puts people at ease right away, and she brings real care to everything she does. Any child or family working with her is in caring, capable hands.”
James Braun
MC, RCC
Sunny Spot May Be a Good Fit If
- Your child or teen is experiencing big emotions, anxiety, school difficulties or emotional overload.
- Previous strategies have not addressed what may be underneath the behaviour.
- You want support that includes parents and caregivers without blame or shame.
- Your child or teen needs time and connection before being expected to talk.
- You are looking for relationship-first, trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming support in the Tri Cities.
You do not need to know exactly what kind of counselling is needed before reaching out. A free consultation can help us explore fit and the most appropriate next step together.
More Ways We Can Help
Every Sunny Spot service and area of support, gathered in one place. Follow the link that fits, or browse the full overview.
For Children & Teens
Neurodiversity & Behaviour
Anxiety, School & Confidence
Parents, Caregivers & Families
Free Parent Resources & Guides
Explore Everything
Browse the full overview of services and areas of support, or get in touch to ask a question.
Looking for something practical to try at home?
Explore free Sunny Spot guides and workbook samples for big feelings, worry, school stress and confidence.
Browse Free Parent ResourcesLocal, In-Person Support in Port Coquitlam
Sunny Spot offers child, youth, teen, and family counselling from a Port Coquitlam office, welcoming families from Coquitlam, Port Moody, and across the Tri Cities. If you’re looking for counselling for Coquitlam families or counselling for Port Moody families, you’re welcome here. Appointments are available Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, including evening options.
Professional Collaboration
A child's growth is supported best when their whole village works together. Sheila actively collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to ensure consistent, wrap-around support across all environments. We partner closely with:
Bridging the Gap: To ensure that therapeutic strategies translate into real-world success, Sheila is available to attend school meetings (including IEPs), conduct school and daycare observations, and help develop cohesive, evidence-based behaviour and emotional regulation plans that work seamlessly between home, school, and clinic.
Learn how Sunny Spot can collaborate with families, educators and school teams.
Proudly Serving Families Across the Tri-Cities & Metro Vancouver
Sunny Spot Child, Youth & Family Counselling welcomes children, youth, and families from Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and surrounding Metro Vancouver communities.
Wondering if Sunny Spot feels like the right fit?
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation
Dog Therapy
Meet Milo, our adorable Maltipoo in training to become a calm, gentle therapy companion. He'll help children, teens, and families feel safe, connected, and supported throughout their therapeutic journey.
Dog Therapy will initially be offered on select days with limited appointments. Join the free waitlist to receive priority notification as spaces become available.
Ready to ask a few questions?
Book a Free 15-Minute ConsultationFind Sunny Spot through Jane online booking and trusted counselling directories.
Looking for practical guidance on big feelings, school anxiety, ADHD, or parenting challenges? Explore the Sunny Spot blog for gentle, research-informed articles written by Sheila Aini, MC, RCC.
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A Little Sunshine From
Gentle ideas, parent tools and glimpses inside Sunny Spot.
Ready to Help Your Child or Teen Find Their Sunny Spot?
A free 15-minute consultation is a gentle place to start.