How would you describe your child emotionally? Shy? Hypersensitive? Angry and out of control? Do they have trouble dealing with stress or change?

When kids have trouble focusing, staying calm, and engaging in social activities, there’s always an underlying issue that’s causing the distress. Kids are especially sensitive to their environments, and if there’s any stress or tension at home they tend to pick up on it. If a parent is going through a stressful situation such as losing a job, or struggling with an illness, or dealing with anxiety or depression, it’s most likely going to affect their children on a neurobiological level.

As a nervous system specialist my focus is on helping kids feel calmer, happier, and more focused WITHOUT the use of medication. Kids have a strong capacity to heal – it’s my job to help them find it, and use it so they can set themselves up for a long, healthy, fulfilled life.

Common Problems I Treat

  • Kids who have difficulty focusing and feeling calm, both at school and at home. This includes kids who have been diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder like ADHD (more on that below).
  • Tantrums, violent outbursts, screaming, biting, hitting – any kind of behaviour that’s expressing a deeper anger or frustration.
  • An inability to read and understand facial expressions and social cues.
  • Eating disorders. Are you in an ongoing gridlock with your son or daughter over food? These problems are especially prevalent in teenagers, but I work with kids of all ages who are experiencing food-related stress.
  • Withdrawn, shy kids who rarely express strong emotions like anger or joy, and have trouble fitting in socially. Kids who regularly feel anxious and/or fearful.
  • Digestive issues. When something is off at home usually the first signs are a sore stomach. Is your child complaining of a sore stomach? Do they have any discomfort or problems with ingestion, digestion or excretion?
  • Kids with sleeping problems, including difficulty calming down enough to fall asleep, bed wetting or constantly waking up throughout the night.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

I specialize in working with kids with neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD; autism spectrum disorders; communication and speech disorders; Tourette syndrome; Cerebral Palsy; and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Sometimes it is just a primitive reflect which is unintegrated.

These disorders are causing distress to the nervous system, and as a nervous system specialist I’m in a unique position to offer professional training that will help kids (and grown ups!) overcome them.

Kids should have the opportunity to develop the tools they need to live a fulfilled, stress-free life. This is especially important if their behaviour is disrupting their academic achievement, diminishing their quality of life, or compromising their motor skills.

How I Can Help

My work involves getting to the root of the problem so I can help your child develop healthy coping mechanisms and neural pathways that will stick for life. Working on this level will help them focus better, eliminate brain fog, feel at ease in their body and mind, get rid of anxiety in social situations, and simply feel a lot happier.

A lot of parents believe it’s normal for their kids to throw tantrums, or have trouble sleeping or eating, but this just isn’t the case. There’s always an underlying issue, and as a compassionate therapist trained in Somatic Experiencing and the Feldenkrais Method I’m in a perfect position to help your child overcome the distress they’re feeling. Often this work is a team effort and I encourage Mom or Dad to attend the sessions too.

Verdell’s School of Superpowers & Wizardy

This fun, one-of-a-kind workshop starting January 8, 2020 is for kids aged 7 – 10 who want to “release their inner powers” while having a blast! The kids will get to develop their emotional and intuitive skills in 6 x 75 minute classes filled with games, arts and crafts, and wizard and super hero themed activities. These classes will help strengthen the part of their brains that allows them to solve problems, listen to their gut feelings, excel in social situations, express themselves creatively, and build thoughtfulness.

$276 for the full 6-week schedule. The kids get 6 x 75 minute classes.

 Wednesdays from January 8 – February 12 (6 classes in total)

4:30pm – 5:45pm for 7 – 8 year olds | 6:00pm – 7:15pm for 9 – 10 year olds.

Class Dates:

JANUARY:

  • Wednesday, January 8
  • Wednesday, January 15
  • Wednesday, January 22
  • Wednesday, January 29

FEBRUARY:

  • Wednesday, February 5
  • Wednesday, February 12

My private studio – 119 West Pender St, Vancouver BC – Unit 519
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP

If you’re a parent or caregiver struggling with the profound challenges that can accompany these behaviours – click the button above and we’ll chat about what kind of transformational results to expect when we team up together.