About Us

At Thrive Kids, children are supported in developing the emotional strength, confidence, and self understanding they need to navigate challenges and grow into their full potential. The work begins by creating a safe and nurturing environment where children feel seen, respected, and able to express themselves in ways that feel natural to them.

Every child experiences and understands the world in their own way. Some children may feel overwhelmed by big emotions, struggle with friendships, experience anxiety, face challenges within school environments, or feel misunderstood in systems that are not always designed for how they think, learn, and process the world. Others may already carry a diagnosis, or be in the process of understanding their needs more fully. Thrive Kids takes a neuroaffirming approach that recognizes and respects neurodiversity, focusing on understanding each child’s unique strengths, sensitivities, and ways of engaging with their environment rather than trying to change who they are.

Support is individualized and developmentally informed, meeting each child where they are while helping them build emotional awareness, regulation, confidence, and stronger relationships. Children are given space to explore their experiences, make sense of their feelings, and develop the internal tools they need to navigate the world around them.

This work also recognizes that children exist within larger systems. Thrive Kids collaborates with families and, when helpful, schools and other professionals to create greater understanding of a child’s needs across environments. With a background in counselling, child development, and education, this approach helps bridge communication between home and school so children can experience more consistent support in their daily lives.

At Thrive Kids, the focus is not on fixing children or fitting them into narrow expectations. The focus is on understanding them, supporting their development, strengthening their resilience, and helping them feel confident in who they are so they can truly thrive.

Dr. Shaista is a registered clinical counsellor who works with children, youth, and families through a thoughtful, relational, and developmentally informed approach. With a PhD in childhood development, training in Synergetic Play Therapy and EMDR, and experience as an educator who understands the school system from the inside, she brings together clinical insight, developmental expertise, and practical understanding of the environments where children spend much of their lives.

Her work is grounded in a neuroaffirming perspective that recognizes that every child thinks, learns, and experiences the world in their own way. Some children may feel overwhelmed by big emotions, struggle socially, face challenges at school, or feel misunderstood in environments that do not always match how they process the world. Others may already carry a diagnosis or be in the process of understanding their needs more fully. Dr. Shaista’s approach focuses on understanding each child’s unique strengths, sensitivities, and developmental pathway while helping them build emotional awareness, regulation, confidence, and resilience.

Through Synergetic Play Therapy, children are able to express and process experiences through play, the language that comes most naturally to them. This approach supports nervous system regulation, emotional expression, and the development of stronger internal resources. When appropriate, EMDR therapy is also used to help children and youth process distressing experiences, fears, or overwhelming memories in a developmentally sensitive and trauma informed way.

Dr. Shaista also works closely with parents and caregivers, recognizing that meaningful change for children often happens within the context of supportive relationships. Parents are guided in understanding their child’s emotional world and are provided with practical strategies that strengthen connection, communication, and emotional safety within the family.

Because of her background in education, Dr. Shaista is also able to help bridge the gap between families and schools. She understands the realities of classrooms, educational expectations, and the challenges children may face in school systems. She often supports families in navigating school concerns, understanding assessments and reports, and aligning support across home and school so children receive consistent and thoughtful care in all parts of their lives.

Her work brings together counselling, child development, and educational insight in a way that views the child as a whole person within a larger system. The focus is not on fixing children or fitting them into narrow expectations, but on understanding them, supporting their development, and helping them build the tools they need to move through the world with greater confidence and self trust.

Dr. Shaista is committed to creating a space where children and families feel respected, understood, and supported as they navigate challenges and growth. Through collaborative and compassionate care, she works alongside families to help children develop resilience, strengthen relationships, and move toward a future where they can truly thrive.