Abby Tigchelaar

Abby has her Master's Degree from McMaster University, is registered with the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals, and is a Certified Child Life Specialist. Abby is trained to provide therapeutic intervention and developmental appropriate support for children under the age of 18. Abby has experience in supporting children and youth in the areas of: foster care and adoption; illness and injury; grief and bereavement; eating disorders and other mental health challenges. Abby can provide both preventative/preparative interventions as well as supportive/reparative interventions for optimal coping.

Abby provides an individualized approach based on detailed assessments by using a combination of bibliotherapy, medical and/or expressive play, therapeutic activities, developmentally appropriate conversations and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). These approaches assist in the learning of emotion-regulation skills, allow for emotional expression and support for the understanding of experiences, providing children and youth with a sense of mastery and control throughout their lived experiences. 

*Please note that Abby does not take on clients older than the age of 18 years old.