Clientele can expect to be welcomed by Ms. Kurtz with respect and kindness. She offers virtual or in-community therapy for children and youth, as well as their caregivers and helpers, to work through the concerns that have resulted in the referral for service. Children and youth may be referred for issues related to trauma, adversity, mental health, and problematic or harmful sexual behaviours. Rather than a singular focus on “what’s wrong”, we instead take a holistic, non-judgmental look at “what’s happened.” We will explore what may be contributing to the problematic feelings, thoughts, and/or behaviours the young person may have that may be a reaction to troubling past events.

Sometimes, a history of trauma can result in signs or symptoms that present similarly to other mental health problems. Because of this, the impact of the history of trauma and/or adversity on the young person’s functioning may be missed. At other times, a history of trauma may not be present. Biological, environmental, or situational complexities may raise the young person’s risk for developing mental health problems. Therapy, combined with psycho-educational information, can help to mitigate risk and relieve mental health distress.

Ms. Kurtz uses a variety of therapy approaches that take into consideration the child or youth’s age and stage of development, areas of interest, cultural and personal values, and may respectfully reference spiritual beliefs, if this is meaningful to the young person. Narrative approaches may be used to process the child or youth’s life experiences. In doing so, the young person may be better able to make meaning of past experiences through increased insight and understanding, move forward from the trauma by integrating and mastering these experiences through viewing the past from a lens of strength, while also creating a more hopeful and healthier present and future. The young person, and involved people of support, will gain an understanding of the negative thinking that may be contributing to the emotional distress and/or difficult behaviours of concern. These “thinking errors” will be reframed into a more positive outlook and strategies for addressing these negative thoughts will be taught to the young person and the caregivers. Evidence-informed activities and interventions will be carefully implemented when the child or youth is ready to address areas of emotional, social, behavioural, or cognitive difficulties and develop coping skills that help to conquer feelings of victimization and helplessness.

Ms. Kurtz recognizes the importance of the young person’s support team that may include (biological, foster, or adoptive) family and/or the support of professional helpers such as teachers, elders, religious leaders, child welfare personnel, corrections staff, probation officers, and others that may be involved in various “systems” of the young person’s life. This multi-systemic approach encourages the empathic awareness of the support team to interpret and effectively respond to the young person's emotions, needs, and behaviour to aid recovery and encourage healthy relationships and experiences.

Not only will Ms. Kurtz focus on the impact of “what’s happened” in the child or youth’s life but will also look for “what’s right.” In other words, exceptions to the difficult times will be identified and expanded upon, and the young person’s strengths and/or goals for healthy change will be highlighted. The team will be encouraged to assist the young person to “start” or “do more” of these specific, individualized areas of strength, interest, and healthy functioning. Additionally, Ms. Kurtz will assist the young person and their support team to connect to resources that can help to further develop these positive areas.