Melanie Watts

About Melanie

I am a school counsellor with SD43 and have 10+
years teaching experience. I also run a private practice working primarily with children and their families.
I use principles of Cognitive Behavioral and Solution Focused Therapies while integrating elements of Education, Art, Play, Dance, Yoga, Nature walks, mindfulness and Sand play therapies. My mode of therapy is individually tailored and dependent on the needs and interests of each specific client. I utilize these strategies to help develop appropriate coping skills and outlets in children.
I believe that children are resilient and incredible little sponges. They have so much to learn about the world and themselves. I believe in providing a warm, encouraging, positive and very supportive environment where children can feel safe to be themselves and work through, not only their emotions, but the highs and lows that come with it. Together, we work through the challenges and difficulties they face and celebrate the successes too!
I believe that a consistent and open dialogue with parents help foster progress, and therefore, I will often provide suggestions, activities or simple/easy homework to practice developing and initiate growth, as a collective.
A parent to two young children, I come from a place of personal understanding. I get it. Raising children is the most difficult job there is! It can also be the most rewarding 24/7-hour job; or labour of love. Depending on the perspective we take, or how we, as parents, feel vs. the circumstances that present themselves on any given day, it often sets both the tone and the outcome. We are learning to be parents too, just as our children are learning to be kids. They are learning how to “be” and how to “live.” We are all navigating new waters and we all play a role in keeping things afloat. Let’s continue to build loving connections to both foster emotional awareness and create resiliency and understanding in our next generation of children.