Supporting Your Child
When Words Aren't Enough
A child's natural language isn't talk; it's play. Children respond best to therapy through interactive play, but it's completely natural for them to feel nervous or resist the idea of coming to therapy at first.
To make sure this is the right clinical fit for your child, Polaris Counselling offers a no-obligation, 30-minute in-person introductory session before you ever commit to a full therapy plan; so your child can explore the space and settle in at their own pace.
Sessions provided by a Certified Play Therapist (CPT) with the Canadian Association for Play Therapy
A space built for how children actually communicate.
Toys, sand tray, story books and games; not a couch and a clipboard.
Why this Matters to You
A real certificate, from a real governing body, not a weekend workshop.
Play therapy is a clinical modality. Anyone can buy toys for an office; not everyone has completed the supervised training hours, coursework and ethics review required to earn the CPT designation. When your child's therapist is certified, you're getting a method that's been tested, supervised and held to a professional standard of care.
Certified Play Therapist
Fatemeh Heshmati, RP
CPT · Canadian Association for Play Therapy
Fatemeh holds an active certification as a Play Therapist (CPT) through the Canadian Association for Play Therapy, in addition to her registration as a Registered Psychotherapist. You can independently confirm both credentials below; no need to take our word for it.
Certification isn't a formality; it changes what actually happens in the room with your child.
Why a Certified Play Therapist
Makes a Real Difference
The value of working with a CPT
01
Trained in child development
A CPT understands how a 4-year-old and a 12-year-old process emotion differently, and adapts every session accordingly.
02
Evidence-based methods
Sand tray, puppetry, bibliotherapy and Theraplay® aren't improvised; they're standardized, researched interventions.
03
Held to a code of ethics
Certification comes with ongoing supervision requirements and accountability to a professional college, protecting your child.
04
Knows when to involve you
A certified therapist recognizes safety concerns immediately and knows exactly how and when to bring parents into the loop.
Who We Support
Our Areas of Practice
We provide dedicated clinical support for children, adolescents, and adults navigating a wide range of developmental, emotional, and situational milestones.
Neurodiversity & Learning
ADHD, Autism, neurodiversity support, learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, giftedness, and Twice Exceptional ("2E") individuals.
Mood & Emotional Regulation
Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive (OCD) patterns, depression, sadness, low mood, coping-skill building, and adapting to new life changes.
Identity & Self-Concept
Self-esteem, body image concerns, eating disorders, and identity exploration, including LGBTQIA+ safe support.
Trauma, Grief & Family Milestones
Trauma processing, grief, loss, behavioural challenges, social or school difficulties, foster care, and adoption journeys.
Family Transitions
High-conflict parental conflict, separation, divorce, parent coaching, and structured Family Reunification Therapy.
No two individuals or families are identical. We draw from a wide selection of evidence-based interventions and distinct play therapy approaches, integrating them only when they fit best for your specific case.
Customized Modalities Built for Each Unique Case
Built Around Your Child
Play-Based
Play-Based Interventions
Multiple modalities of certified play therapy tailored to a child's natural cognitive development.
Talking Therapies
Structured Talking Therapies
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.
Trauma-Focused
Trauma & Deep-Rooted Interventions
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and the Internal Family Systems (IFS) framework.
Neuro-Developmental
Neuro-Developmental Tracking
Advanced neurofeedback brain training to objectively support focus and emotional regulation.
You're Part of the Process
Parallel Support: Empowering Parents in the Process
Child therapy doesn't happen in a vacuum. To ensure long-term stability, parents are supported in parallel with their child's clinical sessions.
Our collaborative approach ensures you're fully equipped to support your child at home and school. Dedicated sessions frequently incorporate parental psychoeducation, giving you concrete, structured tools to navigate behavioural challenges, understand your child's developmental trajectory, and build cohesive routines.
Complete Peace of Mind
Verify My Professional Credentials
Your family deserves complete peace of mind. You can independently confirm active provincial registration and advanced national play therapy training benchmarks at any time.
Who We Support
Our Areas of Practice
We provide dedicated clinical support for children, adolescents, and adults navigating a wide range of developmental, emotional, and situational milestones.
1
Book the free session
Book your child's free, 30-minute in-person introductory session — no cost, no obligation.
2
Your child explores, comfortably
Your child visits the clinic, explores the play therapy resources, and builds initial comfort with no clinical pressure.
3
We plan together
We connect to discuss parental support, psychoeducation, and custom treatment modalities if you choose to move forward.
Meet Your Child's Therapist
Meet Fatemeh Heshmati
Hello, and welcome. I'm Fatemeh Heshmati, the sole practitioner behind Polaris Counselling. With many years of experience across various organizations in Canada, I've dedicated my career to guiding individuals, couples, and families — including children aged 2 to 18 — through self-growth and mental health recovery.
Family conflict leaves no one untouched, straining bonds and deeply impacting a child's development. As a trauma specialist and family reunification therapist, I help you break away from exhausting, reactive cycles and move toward proactive, meaningful connection.
My practice is built on the belief that everyone deserves a compassionate, trauma-informed environment. Because "toys are children's words and play is their language," I provide specialized psychotherapy for children to help them communicate and process complex emotions — safely, and at their own pace.
Certified Play Therapy
Sand tray, puppetry, bibliotherapy, Theraplay® and filial therapy for children.
EMDR, IFS, CBT & EFT
Targeted interventions for deep emotional healing and cognitive restructuring.
Neurofeedback for ADHD
Technology-based brain training to help kids regulate and thrive.
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Fatemeh Heshmati
Registered Psychotherapist · Certified Play Therapist
FAQ
Let's take the first step together
Book Your Child's No-Obligation Consultation
Fill in the short form and our team will confirm your child's free 30-minute in-person introductory session as soon as possible.
Note: If the available times don't fit your schedule, just fill out the form with your availability (or email us directly) and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Request Your Free Consultation
Takes less than a minute.