Acorn Counselling

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Hamilton, ON
Acorn Counselling

Dedicated group of Child & Family Therapists & Counsellors serving children, youth, adults & families

12/15/2025

As the lights of Hanukkah shine this week, we are holding space for hope, comfort, and connection within our community. We know these can be challenging times, and we hope this season offers moments of reflection, resilience, and gentle joy for you and your loved ones.

May the glow of the menorah remind us of the strength that comes from supporting one another, and that even small lights can guide us through darker moments. For anyone feeling the weight of recent events, know that you are not alone - there is care, compassion, and community around you.

From all of us at Acorn Counselling, we send warmth, safety, and light to your homes this Hanukkah. ✨

12/04/2025

We are honoured to share that Acorn Counselling has been awarded Platinum in the Best of Hamilton Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Marriage, Family, and Individual Counselling.

Thank you to our incredible community for your trust, support, and belief in the work we do. It’s a privilege to walk alongside children, youth, adults, and families, and we’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to support your journeys.

Your continued trust means the world to us. 💛

12/04/2025

When a child is anxious, parents often try to soothe or remove the cause of distress. While this feels loving, it can accidentally teach the child that anxiety is dangerous and that relief only comes through avoidance. Over time, this strengthens fear and dependency. The SPACE model helps families shift that pattern.

Through structured strategies and therapist guidance, parents learn to stay supportive while reducing accommodations that reinforce anxiety. The goal is not to ignore fear but to respond to it differently. Parents practice validating their child’s emotions while showing belief in their ability to cope. This subtle change communicates, “You are safe, and you can handle this.” Families find that both child and parent anxiety begin to ease as confidence grows on both sides.

Want support learning these strategies in a group setting? Join our Parenting Anxious Childhood Emotions Group to connect with other parents, learn practical tools, and gain guidance from our experienced therapists.

11/26/2025

This winter, our donation drive is more than just giving - it’s supporting , a local non-profit dedicated to ending poverty and building a safer, more resilient community.

What Mission Services offers:

▪Emergency food and hygiene support through their Good Food Centre
▪Safe housing and shelter, including Inasmuch House for women and children fleeing abuse, and Willow’s Place for women experiencing homelessness
▪A 24-hour men’s shelter
▪Addiction recovery programs using a harm-reduction and trauma-informed approach
▪Additional supports for youth, families, and individuals facing complex challenges

If you feel called to support, we welcome donations at either of our locations:

📍 Drop-off Locations:

565 Sanatorium Road, Unit 209

845 Upper James St., Suite 230B, Hamilton

Thank you for helping us support Mission Services in offering dignity, safety, and compassion to our community this winter. 💚

11/11/2025

𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁

Today, we pause to honour and remember the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of those who served. Their bravery has shaped our communities, and their legacies remind us of the importance of compassion, resilience, and care.

As we reflect, we hold space for all the emotions this day can bring - gratitude, pride, and even sorrow - and we extend kindness to ourselves and others in remembrance.

11/10/2025

When our kids are melting down, it’s easy to get swept into the storm. In those moments, our calm isn’t just helpful — it’s regulation in action. They aren’t misbehaving, their nervous system is dysregulated, and we become the anchor that can help them return to safety

Mantras can be a powerful grounding tool for parents to stay regulated when emotions run high. These short affirming phrases can be just the thing we need to help interrupt our automatic stress response and remind us what’s really happening beneath the behaviour.

Regulation starts with us. When we can steady our breath, soften our tone, and hold boundaries with warmth, we model the very skills our children are still learning 🧠💛

💬What phrase helps you stay grounded when your child’s emotions feel big?

11/07/2025

Today we recognize International Inuit Day.

First declared in 2006 by the Inuit Circumpolar Council, this day honours the birth of Eben Hopson Sr., a visionary leader who worked to unite Inuit voices across the Arctic.

Inuit are one of the three recognized Indigenous groups in Canada, known for their rich culture, language, and deep connection to the land. The word Inuit means “people,” and a single person is an Inuk.

Most Inuit in Canada live across four regions - Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region - together known as Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland.

Today, we celebrate the strength, history, and contributions of Inuit communities in Canada and around the world, and continue our commitment to learning and reconciliation.

10/20/2025

Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating! 🪔

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, bringing joy, hope, and togetherness.

We hope this season brings warmth, peace, and connection to your home. May it remind us all of the light, hope, and resilience we carry within us.

10/16/2025

💙OCD Awareness Week💙

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can bring intense worry, doubt, and distressing thoughts that feel impossible to control. But there is hope, OCD is highly treatable with the right kind of care.

One of the most effective, evidence-based treatments is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. ERP is hard work and can feel uncomfortable at times, but it allows individuals to start understanding where their thoughts come from and how they impact their lives.

ERP involves facing the thoughts, images, or situations that trigger anxiety (the exposure) while resisting the urge to perform rituals or avoidance behaviours (the response prevention). Over time, this process helps reduce fear, break the OCD cycle, and build confidence in one’s ability to cope. ERP encourages people to face their fears without using compulsions and helps the brain begin to change the danger cues that fuel anxiety.

At Acorn Counselling, we believe in compassionate, evidence-based care that meets families where they are. With understanding, guidance, and support, recovery from OCD is possible - and hope can grow again. 🌱

10/15/2025

🦸‍♂️ Calling All Young Superheroes! 🦸‍♀️

Join us on Friday, October 24th, 2025, for the Superhero Academy PA Day Camp at Acorn Counselling! Designed for children aged 5–8, this one-day adventure blends imaginative play with essential emotional learning.

🌟 Why Enroll Your Child?

🦸‍♂️Build Emotional Resilience: Activities that help kids recognize and manage big feelings.
🦸‍♂️Boost Confidence: Discover inner strengths through superhero-themed challenges.
🦸‍♂️Develop Coping Skills: Engage in fun exercises that teach practical tools for managing stress.
🦸‍♂️Enhance Problem-Solving: Team missions that foster collaboration and creativity.
🦸‍♂️Therapy-Backed Approach: Led by experienced child therapists focusing on social-emotional development.

Spaces are limited! Secure your child's spot today: https://www.acorncounselling.org/pa-day-camp/

📍 Location: Acorn Counselling, 845 Upper James St., Hamilton, ON

Let's empower our little ones to become the heroes of their own stories! 💪✨

10/14/2025

Social skills aren’t just about being polite or getting along - they are the foundation for how children connect, communicate, and build confidence in who they are.

From learning how to share and take turns to recognizing emotions in others, these skills help children:

🧠 Understand themselves - naming feelings helps kids make sense of their inner world.
💬 Communicate clearly - finding words for needs, boundaries, and ideas reduces frustration.
🤝 Build relationships - empathy and perspective-taking help friendships grow and repair.
🌿 Navigate challenges - with problem-solving and flexibility, children recover more easily from setbacks.

Social skills don’t appear all at once - they are learned, practiced, and shaped through experience. When children have chances to play, express emotions, and connect with supportive adults, these everyday interactions become powerful learning moments.

💡 Remember: Emotional and social growth are just as important as academic learning. When we nurture both, children develop the confidence and compassion to thrive - in school, at home, and within themselves.

10/12/2025

Whether this weekend is joyful, quiet, or complicated - may you find small moments of peace and gratitude.

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Hamilton, ON

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+12897999622

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http://www.acorncounselling.org/

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