At Unicorn Psychology
we believe that every child’s story is waiting to be told

Our Mission

Our mission is to help families in Calgary navigate the colourful journey of childhood and adolescence with creativity, compassion, and expertise.

Our Approach

Science, heart, and a little bit of magic!

Our Psychological Services in Calgary for Children and Adolescents

  • Play Therapy – because play is how children process the world.
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – helping kids & teens shift negative thought patterns.
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) – exploring emotions with self-compassion.

Little Explorers (Ages 3-7): Play, Feel, Grow

Our Psychological Services in Calgary for Children and Adolescents

  • Play Therapy – because play is how children process the world.
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – helping kids & teens shift negative thought patterns.
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) – exploring emotions with self-compassion.

Young children don’t sit down and say, “I feel anxious today.” Instead, they act out, withdraw, or struggle to focus. We meet them in their world—through play, imagination, and storytelling—so they show us their feelings

What might play therapy look like for young kids?

  • A child using superhero figures to battle their biggest fears.
  • A quiet child creating a world where they finally feel in control.
  • A game where a child learns confidence, trust, and self-expression

How we help children ages 3-7

Little kids, big feelings! If you have ever watched a 3 to 7-year-old go from giggles to tears in seconds, you’ve witnessed the magic (and challenge) of big emotions in action. Young children are still learning how to handle frustration, disappointment, excitement, and overwhelm, which can sometimes result in meltdowns.

At Unicorn Psychology, we know that emotions don’t come with an “off” switch (wouldn’t that be nice?) Instead, kids need gentle support, playful tools, and patient adults to help them understand, express, and regulate their feelings.

Big emotions are exactly that — big, intense feelings that can be overwhelming for a child.

A meltdown happens when those big feelings overflow and a child loses control. This might look like:

  • Crying that won’t stop
  • Yelling, kicking, or hitting
  • Falling to the floor dramatically (yes, even in the middle of the grocery store)
  • Shutting down and refusing to respond

Unlike tantrums, which are often about getting something they want, meltdowns are more about emotional overwhelm—a child’s way of saying, “This is too much for me right now!”

Children don’t go from calm to chaos instantly — there are often little warning signs before a meltdown. Paying attention to these clues can help parents step in before things explode.

Physical signs

  • Clenched fists or tense body
  • Breathing gets faster
  • Red face, fidgeting, or restlessness

Verbal signs

  • “It’s NOT FAIR!”
  • “I CAN’T DO IT!”

Behavioural signs

  • Pushing, stomping, or throwing objects
  • Suddenly running away or hiding
  • Shutting down and refusing to talk


What is behind the meltdown?

There’s always a reason behind the meltdown, even if it doesn’t make sense at the moment (yes, even when it’s about the “wrong” colour cup).

Common triggers include:

  • Brain development – kids under 7 are still learning to control their impulses and emotions. Meltdowns are part of that learning curve.
  • Limited language skills – sometimes, emotions come faster than words, and when kids can’t explain, they show.
  • Need for control – independence is exciting but frustrating when the world doesn’t always say “yes.”
  • Sensory overload – too much noise, light, or activity can overwhelm a child’s nervous system.
  • Hunger, tiredness, or stress – a tired, hungry, or overstimulated child is a meltdown waiting to happen.

At Unicorn Psychology, we turn big emotions into big opportunities — opportunities for growth, self-regulation, and connection. Through play therapy and parent support, we help kids develop healthy ways to express and manage their feelings.

Why does it happen?

Starting school, saying goodbye at daycare, or even watching a parent leave for work — these moments can feel huge for young kids. If your child clings to you like a koala, cries at drop-off or suddenly develops a “mystery stomachache” before school, they might be dealing with separation anxiety and school stress.

At Unicorn Psychology, we help little ones feel safe, confident and secure while navigating these big changes.

What is separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is a strong fear of being away from a parent or caregiver. While some worry is normal (especially in big transitions like starting school), intense distress, clinginess, or refusal to separate can make daily routines challenging (Sadock & Sadock, 2022)

Common signs of separation anxiety

  • Crying, tantrums, or pleading at drop-off
  • Fear that something bad will happen to a parent when they’re apart
  • Refusing to go to school or activities alone
  • Physical complaints like tummy aches or headaches before school

Separation anxiety can be tough — not just for kids but for parents, too! (We see you sneaking out of daycare like a ninja).

How we help kids ages 3-7 handle separation anxiety and school stress

At Unicorn Psychology in Calgary, we use play-based techniques, emotional coaching, and parent support to help kids feel safe, confident, and ready to handle separations.

Sadock, B. J., & Sadock, V. A. (2022). Separation anxiety disorder. National Library of Medicine.

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A young girl in a playroom with a child therapist. The girl is hopping on a small pillow and the play therapist is clapping.
A girl and a play therapist showing painted eggs to the camera. They are in a playroom decorated with unicorns, sitting around a child-sized table with bunny-eared chairs.
A child therapist with a child in a playroom, blowing up balloons

Preteens (Ages 8-12): Navigating the in-between years

Preteens are in that magical (and messy) middle stage — not quite little kids, not quite teens. They’re figuring out friendships, discovering independence, and feeling emotions bigger than ever before. Play therapy gives them a space to sort through it all without pressure or judgment.

What might play therapy look like for preteens?

  • A preteen learning how to handle friendship drama without feeling lost.
  • Someone who’s hard on themselves finally realizing they don’t have to be perfect.
  • Learning how to calm their mind before overthinking takes over.

How we help preteens

A child psychologist and a boy in a play therapy session, playing with a bowling toy set

Teens (Ages 13-18): A safe place to be themselves

Adolescence is a rollercoaster of emotions, expectations, and identity shifts. One day, your teen is independent and thriving. Next, they’re overwhelmed, withdrawn, or questioning everything. We offer them a judgment-free space to talk, process, and grow.

What might play therapy look like for adolescents?

  • A teen finally feeling heard, not lectured.
  • Learning how to quiet the storm of overthinking and anxiety.
  • Understanding self-worth beyond grades, likes, and achievements.

How we help adolescents

Two brothers smile as they sit together in a side hug on a play therapy couch in a child psychologist's office
A play therapist with a boy in a playroom, sitting in front of an easel and blank canvas before creating some art together

Therapy for parents – because you deserve support, too!

Parenting is equal parts love and exhaustion, and sometimes, you just need someone to say:

“You’re doing your best. Let’s figure this out together.”

Because being a “good parent” doesn’t mean knowing all the answers — it means being open to learning.

A Mom and a child psychologist in a playroom decorated with unicorns and a rainbow mural

We offer gentle, practical guidance to help parents:

What Happens Next?

  • Step 1.
    A conversation — a warm and playful, parent-only session to understand your child’s world (we will play!)
  • Step 2.
    Therapy tailored to your child – play-based, creative, and built just for them.
  • Step 3. Keeping you involved – practical tools to support your child at home.

Fees

  • The session duration is 50 minutes and the session fee is $260. Payment is due at the end of each session and we conveniently accept debit, cheque, cash, e-transfer, VISA, and MasterCard.
Unicorn Psychology playroom in Calgary

We also offer Play Therapy Services in a small group setting

Feelings & Friends Group for Kids Ages 6-8 and 9-12

We offer group child counselling through our affiliate child counselling clinic in Calgary, Kids Reconnect.

The Kids Reconnect Feelings & Friends Group is a specialized group for kids to learn, practice, and grow their emotional, relational, and communication skills in fun, gentle ways.

The next group starts in September 2025. Sessions are scheduled on weekday evenings.

Kids Reconnect Feelings & Friends Group for Kids
  • A package of eight 90-minute weekly sessions
  • Includes an introduction and a wrap-up session for parents and 5 child-only sessions
  • Small groups of 4 to 8 kids ages 6-8 or 9-12
  • $200 per session
  • Includes all materials and snacks

Our playful Instagram

⏰ 📖 How much time should you allocate to bedtime stories with your child? Five minutes, 15 minutes, half an hour…? The answer might surprise you!
As a parent, have you ever asked yourself whether bedtime stories and snuggly reading with your little one really make a difference? Research says yes, big time! A study by Demir-Lira et al. (2019) found that early parent-child book reading plays a key role in children’s later language and literacy skills, even when factoring in socioeconomic background and general language exposure.   Why does reading together matter so much?  Demir-Lira et al. (2019) state that books expose kids to a vocabulary and more complex sentence structures than everyday conversations; engaging with books helps kids develop critical thinking, comprehension, and problem-solving skills.   The best part? It’s not about how long you read — it’s about how you engage. Make it interactive! Point to pictures, ask questions, change your voice, and connect the story to your child’s world.   Reference Demir-Lira, Ö. E., Applebaum, L. R., Goldin-Meadow, S., & Levine, S. C. (2019). Parents’ early book reading to children: Relation to children’s later language and literacy outcomes controlling for other parent language input. Developmental Psychology, 55(7) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6927670/
Unicorn Psychology is seven! Seven years ago, we opened our doors with a dream: to create a space where kids feel safe, understood, and free to be themselves. Since then, we’ve played, painted, listened, cried, and laughed with hundreds of incredible little kiddos and their grown-ups too! Thank you for trusting us with your stories! Here’s to seven more years of healing and unicorn-level magic.
Spring is a reminder that growth does not happen in one second. Flowers and trees don’t rush to bloom, and neither do children. Parenting, like nature, moves in seasons: ☔️ Some days feel stormy. ☀️ Some are bright and easy. Your child is growing every moment - even when you don’t see it yet. This spring, we would like to remind parents to be kind to themselves. Science backs up the good news —the spring season brings shifts in our brain that support well-being. A brain imaging study from Finland’s Turku PET Centre (Sun et al., 2021) found that the availability of opioid receptors, which regulate mood and social connection, fluctuates with daylight length. Their findings suggest that mu-opioid receptor availability peaks in spring, supporting emotions and sociability. This means that, biologically, the spring season is primed for connection, growth, and emotional balance. 🌷So, as the spring flowers bloom, know that both you and your child are growing together. Be patient with their growth — and yours, too! Reference: Sun, L., et al. (2020). “Seasonal rhythms influence emotion and sociability.” Journal of Neuroscience. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/ 341595145_Seasonal_variation_in_brain_mu_opioid_receptor_availability

Our playful Instagram

⏰ 📖 How much time should you allocate to bedtime stories with your child? Five minutes, 15 minutes, half an hour…? The answer might surprise you!
As a parent, have you ever asked yourself whether bedtime stories and snuggly reading with your little one really make a difference? Research says yes, big time! A study by Demir-Lira et al. (2019) found that early parent-child book reading plays a key role in children’s later language and literacy skills, even when factoring in socioeconomic background and general language exposure.   Why does reading together matter so much?  Demir-Lira et al. (2019) state that books expose kids to a vocabulary and more complex sentence structures than everyday conversations; engaging with books helps kids develop critical thinking, comprehension, and problem-solving skills.   The best part? It’s not about how long you read — it’s about how you engage. Make it interactive! Point to pictures, ask questions, change your voice, and connect the story to your child’s world.   Reference Demir-Lira, Ö. E., Applebaum, L. R., Goldin-Meadow, S., & Levine, S. C. (2019). Parents’ early book reading to children: Relation to children’s later language and literacy outcomes controlling for other parent language input. Developmental Psychology, 55(7) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6927670/
Unicorn Psychology is seven! Seven years ago, we opened our doors with a dream: to create a space where kids feel safe, understood, and free to be themselves. Since then, we’ve played, painted, listened, cried, and laughed with hundreds of incredible little kiddos and their grown-ups too! Thank you for trusting us with your stories! Here’s to seven more years of healing and unicorn-level magic.
Spring is a reminder that growth does not happen in one second. Flowers and trees don’t rush to bloom, and neither do children. Parenting, like nature, moves in seasons: ☔️ Some days feel stormy. ☀️ Some are bright and easy. Your child is growing every moment - even when you don’t see it yet. This spring, we would like to remind parents to be kind to themselves. Science backs up the good news —the spring season brings shifts in our brain that support well-being. A brain imaging study from Finland’s Turku PET Centre (Sun et al., 2021) found that the availability of opioid receptors, which regulate mood and social connection, fluctuates with daylight length. Their findings suggest that mu-opioid receptor availability peaks in spring, supporting emotions and sociability. This means that, biologically, the spring season is primed for connection, growth, and emotional balance. 🌷So, as the spring flowers bloom, know that both you and your child are growing together. Be patient with their growth — and yours, too! Reference: Sun, L., et al. (2020). “Seasonal rhythms influence emotion and sociability.” Journal of Neuroscience. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/ 341595145_Seasonal_variation_in_brain_mu_opioid_receptor_availability

A little message can go a long way

Whether it’s a big question or just a small thought, we’re here to listen. Drop us a note below and we’ll reach out soon!

Or if you’d rather hear a friendly voice, call us at 403-815-0271 – we can’t wait to connect!

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