Reach Counselling Services provides counselling for families, individuals and couples in Delta, B.C. who have a child with a developmental disability. We also provide play therapy and counseling for children and youth with a developmental disability.

Counselling may address a variety of issues ranging from marital stress to depression to social anxiety.

Direct services for younger children up to age 12 include play therapy and parent/child interaction guidance.

The service is open to any family in Delta who has a child with a developmental disability, or any family that is already accessing one of our other services.

This service also provides educational seminars from time to time to parents and child care professionals on topics such as self-esteem, depression, attachment, and anxiety.

Reach understands that having a child with a developmental disability, or having a disability yourself, can create extra stress. Talking with a counsellor can often be very helpful. A counsellor can create the opportunity for the client to review their options and gain new perspectives. Outcomes for children are more likely to be better when parents feel positive and are able to cope.

What is Play therapy?
Play therapy is counseling for children. Children generally have a harder time expressing what they feel or what they are going through, so play therapy allows them to express themselves through the metaphors and activities of play. The play therapist encourages this expression and enters into the child’s play to reflect what is going on in the child’s life and help them to find solutions. Play therapy can help with childhood issues of grief and loss, transitions, trauma, depression and anxiety, as well as other difficulties that the child is experiencing. There is no ‘best time’ to use play therapy, but it can be effective at different times in a child’s life. Children can engage in play therapy from the time they are toddlers (when they begin to use symbolic play) until early adulthood, but expressive therapies (e.g., art, movement, drama, music, play) can be used for adults as well.
Parents need to be available during play therapy sessions, and at Reach are given a comfortable place to wait until the child is finished. Parents may be invited into some sessions, and should always be available for the child to check with during the session so that the child feels safe.

What is Parent/Child Interaction Therapy?
Parent/child interaction therapy is used to enhance the relationship of the parent and child and to help the parent be a supportive play partner with the child. Play sessions involve some instruction from the counselor and practice in the interactive play techniques. The focus is on enhancing the positive qualities that exist in the relationship and introducing other beneficial behaviours. Parent/child interaction therapy can be helpful to enhance the play therapy that a child is receiving, to encourage a stronger attachment relationship between the child and parent, to address traumatic issues that have occurred in an otherwise healthy relationship, and to provide a strong foundation for children who are adopted or fostered.



Referrals to Reach Counselling Services:
Families who are receiving other Reach services can access counselling service through a staff contact person at Reach.

Family with a child who has a developmental disability who are not receiving other Reach services can be referred by a professional from another agency in the community,  or can self refer by contacting the Program Coordinator at (604)946-6622, ext. 342 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Download the Reach Counselling Service referral form

Read Reach's parenting column the last Friday of every month in the South Delta Leader newspaper. June's article is New Prespectives - Counselling Helps Parents Struggling With Emotionsby Lisa Woudzia, Reach associate Executive Director and Manager of the Counselling Services program.

The Reach Counselling Services Program is neither a long term nor emergency service. If the situation is an emergency, the crisis line should be called at 604-951-8855. If it is anticipated that more that 10 sessions will be needed, an alternative counselling service should be used.