“The great thing about play therapy is that I can work with (children) as young as three if there’s trauma,” she said. “Kids will play out what’s going on.”
She also has adult clients and will invite them to write, do art or play music, she said.
With adults, she often finds that they have carried traumas throughout their lives that stem from childhood adversities — which is why working with children is especially important.
“It gives me the tools to help them so they don’t have to carry that on into adulthood and maladapt and learn unhealthy coping mechanisms. They can have a way to process it,” said Wilgress.
“I figure I’ll be training my whole life, learning different therapy approaches because I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all for anyone,” she said.
Since moving to Muskoka, Wilgress has learned about the challenges youth face in navigating the mental health system and accessing the right resources.
“I feel like there’s a lot of gaps for kids and youth because they don’t know where to go,” she said. “(Some children) present well or mask well and those are the ones that I think we have to worry about because then they’re carrying that on into adulthood.”
And it can be difficult for families to find the funding to support their children’s needs.
“I find there’s these little pockets of money here and there but even for myself, as a therapist trying to figure that out and let people know, I feel like I don’t know all about them,” she said.
Wilgress offers a flat rate for her sessions on a sliding scale but said she doesn’t want people not to come to her if they’re struggling financially.
With more awareness being spread about mental health needs, Wilgress said she is hopeful that services will become more accessible.
And if clients don’t find she is the right fit for them, she will give them a referral for another local organization.
“They need that safe place where things aren’t going to go wrong and they can have that trust,” she said. “Therapy’s all about therapeutic relationships.”
Wilgress can be contacted by phone at 705-204-5436 or [email protected].
