Best 5 Child Psychologists in Vancouver
Is your child acting rashly or displaying sudden mood swings?
Are they avoiding playing with other kids at school or on the playground? These could be signs that they might benefit from a consultation with a child psychologist.
Seeking help from a psychologist for your child is nothing to be ashamed of. It demonstrates your proactive approach to ensuring your child’s emotional well-being. Here are some of the best child psychologists in Vancouver who can offer the support your child needs.
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Vancouver’s Best Child Psychologists
Choosing the right psychologist for your child can be challenging, but the right fit can make a world of difference. We evaluated a variety of factors, such as expertise, communication skills, and therapeutic techniques, to compile this list.
Expertise
- Education and Training: We considered the educational background and training of each child psychologist.
- Licensing: Only licensed child psychologists who meet the necessary requirements to practice in Vancouver were included.
Communication Skills
- Empathy: We assessed the psychologists’ ability to empathize with and understand the emotions and experiences of children.
- Responsiveness: We evaluated how quickly these psychologists respond to inquiries, concerns, and emergencies.
Variety of Techniques
- Range of Techniques: We assessed the diversity of therapeutic techniques and approaches used by each psychologist.
- Crisis Intervention: The ability to handle crisis situations that may arise during therapy sessions was also considered.
1. Charmaine Miranda of Compass Clinic
- Website: Compass Clinic
- Address: 1720 Grant St #302, Vancouver, BC V5L 2Y7, Canada
- Contact: +1 604-709-3515
- Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 8 am to 5 pm
Criteria Ratings
- Expertise: ★★★★☆ 4/5
- Education and Training: ★★★★☆ 4/5
- Licensing: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Communication Skills: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Empathy: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Responsiveness: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Variety of Techniques: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Crisis Intervention: ★★★★☆ 4/5
Charmaine Miranda, founder of Compass Clinic, is a registered psychologist with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia. She specializes in ADHD, FASD, developmental disabilities, autism, and giftedness. Her 10 years at BC Children’s Hospital have equipped her with the skills to handle various psychological needs in children.
While they don’t provide after-hours emergency care, they do offer after-hours counseling sessions. Booking an appointment is straightforward via their website. Clients praise the thorough and informative assessments and the friendly, helpful staff.
Pros
- Extensive experience with children
- Provides personalized treatment plans
- Easy booking system
Cons
- Cannot accommodate emergency cases
Client Reviews
- Very thorough and informative: “They did my daughter’s assessments. The school said they were so thorough and informative. Staff were amazing to deal with.” – Paula G.
- Friendly and helpful: “Although this clinic did my son’s assessment back in 2013, his school said it was one of the best assessments they had seen. Friendly, helpful, and informative. I would certainly recommend this clinic.” – Penny T.
2. Dr. Rae-Seebach of Aurora Developments
- Website: Aurora Developments
- Address: 1037 W Broadway #303, Vancouver, BC V6H 1E3, Canada
- Contact: +1 778-651-9589
- Operating Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm
Criteria Ratings
- Expertise: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Education and Training: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Licensing: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Communication Skills: ★★★★☆ 4/5
- Empathy: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Responsiveness: ★★★★☆ 4/5
- Variety of Techniques: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Crisis Intervention: ★★★★☆ 4/5
Dr. Rae-Seebach specializes in clinical child psychology, neuropsychological assessment, and expressive play-based therapy, addressing emotional and behavioral issues in children. She offers comprehensive psychological evaluations, autism spectrum assessments, and neuropsychological assessments.
While there is a 2.75% surcharge for credit card payments and limited clinic hours, Dr. Rae-Seebach follows the BC Psychological Association’s recommended fee of $235 per session. Her broad expertise makes her a top choice for a child psychologist in Vancouver.
Pros
- Wide range of psychological assessments
- Extensive scope of expertise
- Reasonable fees
Cons
- Limited clinic hours
Client Reviews
- Compassionate and welcoming office: “During our appointments, she was compassionate and kind. Her office environment was very welcoming.” – Eunice L.
- Thorough psychologist: “Highly experienced, kind, and thorough.” – Julia M.
3. Dr. David Worling of Westcoast Child Development Group Inc.
- Website: Westcoast Child Development Group
- Address: 100-1330 W 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6H 4A6, Canada
- Contact: 604-732-3222
- Operating Hours: By appointment
Criteria Ratings
- Expertise: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Education and Training: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Licensing: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Communication Skills: ★★★★☆ 4/5
- Empathy: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Responsiveness: ★★★★☆ 4/5
- Variety of Techniques: ★★★★☆ 4/5
- Crisis Intervention: ★★★★★ 5/5
Dr. David Worling, co-founder and Clinical Director of Westcoast Child Development Group, has over 27 years of experience. Specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorders, he founded the Spectrum Works Consulting Group to support individuals on the Autism Spectrum. His expertise also covers depression, OCD, anxiety, ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Patients appreciate his thorough approach and ease of communication. Though services are by appointment only, his extensive experience makes him a top choice.
Pros
- Over 27 years of experience
- Specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Cons
- By appointment only
Client Reviews
- Very thorough approach: “Dr. Worling is a great psychologist and very thorough in his approach to diagnosing ADHD. He’s also cool and easy to talk to.” – Olivia D.
4. Dr. Marjolaine Limbos
- Website: Dr. Marjolaine Limbos
- Address: 301-601 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4C2, Canada
- Contact: +1 604-346-6505
- Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 9 am to 9 pm
Criteria Ratings
- Expertise: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Education and Training: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Licensing: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Communication Skills: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Empathy: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Responsiveness: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Variety of Techniques: ★★★★☆ 4/5
- Crisis Intervention: ★★★★☆ 4/5
Dr. Marjolaine Limbos has extensive experience in child psychology, catering to children, youth, and families. She has two clinic locations in Vancouver and Coquitlam, making her services easily accessible. Her clinic hours are flexible, with availability on weekdays and some evenings.
Dr. Limbos deals with issues such as learning disabilities, giftedness, depression, anxiety, and adjustment difficulties. Her transparent approach to consultations and thorough evaluations are highly praised by her clients.
Pros
- Two office locations
- Flexible clinic hours
Cons
- No online booking system
Client Reviews
- Professional assessment: “A very thorough and professional assessment of my child with autism spectrum disorder…” – Marcus K.
- Thorough report: “Dr. Limbos does ASD Educational Reports for schools and will accept payments from DL schools directly. Her report was thorough.” – Stephanie S.
5. Dr. Carla Fry of the Vancouver Psychology Centre
- Website: Vancouver Psychology Centre
- Address: 338 W 8th Ave Suite #201, Vancouver, BC V5Y 3X2, Canada
- Contact: +1 604-733-7709
- Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday: 9 am to 3 pm
Criteria Ratings
- Expertise: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Education and Training: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Licensing: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Communication Skills: ★★★★☆ 4/5
- Empathy: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Responsiveness: ★★★★☆ 4/5
- Variety of Techniques: ★★★★★ 5/5
- Crisis Intervention: ★★★★★ 5/5
Dr. Carla Fry is a registered psychologist in BC, offering counseling and consultations for youth and adults. Her many professional memberships demonstrate her dedication to staying current in her field. Dr. Fry uses techniques such as play therapy, biofeedback, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to provide a personalized approach.
She also holds educational classes for youth to teach emotional regulation. Despite lacking emergency services, Dr. Fry offers evening and weekend appointments, which many clients appreciate.
Pros
- Many professional affiliations
- Holds emotional development seminars
- Flexible schedule
Cons
- Some complaints about responsiveness
Client Reviews
- Highly recommended: “I had the best experience with this clinic. I recommend them because both me and my kids saw a counselor and a psychologist here and it made a huge positive change in our family dynamic…” – Victor M.
- Super friendly front staff: “This clinic has been amazing for both me and my partner. Their super-friendly front-end staff always finds us an appointment when we need one…” – Datboi D.