Empowering Families, Nurturing Minds
Sunray Family Counselling Centre is a family-centred counselling service dedicated to offering personalized care to enhance child, youth and family mental well-being. The space is centrally located in Victoria, British Columbia on the traditional territories of the lǝḱᐜeŋǝn and ẈSÁNEĆ speaking peoples. I offer play therapy; counselling for older children and teens; parent/caregiver consultation and groups; and family therapy. My services are designed to meet the unique needs of your child, strengthen the parent-child relationship, foster healing and empower your family to support your loved one effectively.
By offering tailored mental health services for children and youth, I empower families toward connection, resilience and healing through collaboration, evidence-based therapy and education.
Kiran Dhingra Stenstrom MSW RCSW
Kiran is the founder of the Sunray Family Counselling Centre. The name Kiran originates from the Sanskrit language and has the meaning 'ray of light'. This was the inspiration for the centre's name. Kiran believes that every family and child is unique and has inherent strengths and abilities and has the capacity to heal and thrive. Kiran understands that building healthy attachments with caregivers and in families helps children to have positive mental well-being and thrive in life. She also recognizes the impacts of trauma and intergenerational trauma and the need to strive toward healing. Kiran always endeavours to offer a culturally safe and inclusive space.
Kiran has her MSW from Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) and is a Registered Clinical Social Worker in BC (#10112) with 25 years of experience. Her clinical treatment approach draws from additional education in:
- Certificate in Expressive Play Therapy from the BC Justice Institute
- Certificate in Child and Youth Mental Health from FSW Continuing Education at WLU;
- Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) from FSW Continuing Education at WLU (CBT);
Kiran also has additional specialized training in:
- Adolescent Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (A-DBT);
- Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) ; Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT);
- Ross Greene Collaborative Problem Solving
- Trauma-informed framework
- Neurodiversity Affirming Care
Kiran has experience in several clinical and community-based settings including at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children and Youth in Victoria, BC. She has a depth of experience in mental health approaches with children, youth and families.
Kiran is a proud mom to two teenaged children. In her downtime, she enjoys running, taking her dogs for beach walks and practicing meditation and yoga.
What I Can Help With:
- Worries or Anxiety
- Depression or Mood Concerns
- Obsessive Compulsive Behaviours
- Behavioural Issues at Home or School
- Persistent Anger or Aggression
- Difficulty with Routines
- School Avoidance or Absenteeism
- Peer Challenges
- Recent or past trauma
- Grief or Loss
- Attachment Concerns
- Abuse
- Family Violence
- Coping with health challenges
- Coping with significant life transitions
- Parent-Teen Conflict
- Separation or Divorce
- Other stressors
Kiran offers a free 15-min phone consultation to ensure her services will meet your needs.
Empowering Families, Nurturing Minds
Initial Intake Assessment
Individual Therapy for Older Children and Teens
Play Therapy for Younger Children
This is the first step in getting started with services. The intake assessment allows me to gather a thorough understanding of the challenges that are presenting and to understand your family's goals. We will collaborate on an individualized care plan that will help provide a map as to which services will be most helpful for your family. This appointment is in person and is 1.5 hours long.
Play Therapy for Younger Children
Individual Therapy for Older Children and Teens
Play Therapy for Younger Children
Play is the natural means of expression for a younger child and helps children to have a safe space for emotional expression and awareness; making sense of their life experiences and learning new coping skills. Play therapy is typically offered to children aged 3 - 10. Parents/Caregivers may be asked to join in some sessions. Sessions are offered in person and are 60-min long.
If you want to learn more, check out this short video link about play therapy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onn_qF4pZ9Q.
Individual Therapy for Older Children and Teens
Individual Therapy for Older Children and Teens
Individual Therapy for Older Children and Teens
Children aged 10 and up are typically able to engage in more traditional traditional talk therapy and can also include aspects of CBT; DBT; mindfulness; art; music; movement and games, depending on your child's interests and the goals identified. Sessions are offered in person and virtually (if mutually agreeable) and are 60-min long.
Family Counselling
Individual Therapy for Older Children and Teens
Families are their own unique ecosystem with each member being an important part of the whole. Sometimes things can get out of balance, particularly when there are lots of stressors or there are one or more family members who are struggling. Family counselling can help to restore the balance by facilitating improved communication, understanding and problem-solving. Families can also learn important coping skills and heal together. Depending on the age of your child, play-based or talk-based approaches may be suggested. Sessions are offered in person and are 60-min.
Parent/Caregiver Consultations
Parenting is one of the hardest jobs there is and parents need support too. If your child is struggling and you are feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next, parent consultation can be helpful for gaining a better understanding of your child's needs and for strengthening your parenting skills and abilities. Sometimes parents/caregivers have their own wounds from the past that are getting in the way of being the best parent they can be and they need support with this. Being involved in your child's therapeutic process is known to make a positive difference in faster and improved outcomes. Sessions are offered in person or virtually and are 60-min.
Parenting Groups
Parenting groups offer an opportunity to gain specialized skills and knowledge that can improve the quality of the connection you have with your child; and support their recovery from mental health challenges. Groups also offer an opportunity to connect with other parents/caregivers and know that you are not alone.
We offer two different evidence-based parenting groups that might be recommended in your individualized care plan: Circle of Security Parenting Group (COSP) and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy Caregiver Group (EFFT). Groups are delivered online weekly for 6-8 weeks (depending on the group); and are 1.5 hours long. Groups are scheduled throughout the year. If you are interested in registering, please let your therapist know to add you to the waitlist. To learn more about COSP, please see the above video. To learn more about EFFT, please click on the following link: https://mentalhealthfoundations.ca/caregivers
Your Partner in Your Child's Mental Health
I'm interested in getting help. What Next?
Contact Kiran by Email or Phone to set up a free 15-minute consultation. If it is agreed that my services can be helpful to your family, you would schedule an Initial Intake Session (1.5 hours in length) by booking it through the website.
WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED URGENT HELP?
We do not provide crisis or emergency services. If your child is experiencing an emergency, please contact 911 or go the ER (Victoria General for children aged 16 and under) and Royal Jubilee for aged 17 and up).
Other 24-Hour Crisis Services:
- Vancouver Island Crisis Line and Island Health's IMCRT (Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team): 1-888-494-3888.
- 9-8-8 Canada's Suicide Crisis Help Line
- KU-UUS Crisis Line Society (Culturally Safe Crisis Support for First Nations and Aboriginal Youth): 250-723-2040
- 310 Mental Health Support: 310-6789 (no area code needed). Provides empowering emotional support, and provides a wide range of information and resources related to mental health.
- Kids Help Line: Text CONNECT to 686868 to access confidential support.
About Child and Youth Mental Health
If you are looking for more information about Child and Youth Mental Health, Please click on the link below to view the Kelty Mental Health Website from the BC Children's Hospital for a wide range of information on various topics.
Kiran holds immense gratitude to live, work and play on the traditional lands of the Saanich, Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations.
