Therapy

Dr. McConnell offers therapy for children and teens dealing with various concerns, including:

Stress and anxiety (including obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder)
Health-related issues (e.g., pain/symptom management, treatment adherence)
Body-focussed repetitive behaviours (e.g., tics, Tourette syndrome, hair pulling, skin picking)
Depression, low self-esteem, and similar concerns
Grief, major life events, and challenging transitions

Dr. McConnell also provides assistance for parents/caregivers dealing with issues such as:

Children’s behavioural problems
Parent-child conflict
Parenting-related stress
General parenting questions and concerns

Dr. McConnell selects therapeutic approaches based on current research evidence and standards of best practice, as well as the unique needs of each child, teen, and/or family. Her work primarily draws from cognitive-behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based approaches, and she views the family as an important context for understanding and supporting children’s healthy development. Dr. McConnell believes that therapy is most effective when care is taken to develop a warm, trusting relationship with her clients. She works collaboratively with children, teens, and families to set specific therapeutic goals and uses a step-by-step approach to help clients accomplish their goals.