About

Hello and welcome to my website!

My name is Sharon Selby B.Ed, M.A. (Counselling Psychology), and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor. I was an elementary school teacher for four years and have since been counselling children and families for the last twelve years. I have many years experience as an elementary school counsellor and I provide private counselling at the ABLE Developmental Clinic. I am a happily married mother of two (a son and a daughter) who continue to educate me on a daily basis!

Because of my profession and role as a mother, I attend numerous workshops, conferences, and read countless articles and books. Furthermore, through my work experience and real-life experience, I have become specialized in the area of child and family counselling. The purpose of this blog, Mama Compass – Guiding Parents, is to synthesize the large quantities of parenting literature and child psychology research. Subscribers to this blog, will receive one article per week, highlighting a particular topic, to guide individuals in the areas of the 4Ps: Parenting, Psychology, Personal Growth and Play. You can subscribe by entering your confidential e-mail in the right-hand bar on the home page.

We are parenting in exciting times! Brain research is constantly making new discoveries, and research is guiding us in proven parenting practices that produce resilient children. Our goal is to raise children who will grow up to be competent and connected; children who will be able to make responsible decisions for themselves, show empathy toward others, and express themselves.

Parenting can be an incredibly rewarding but also a challenging journey. If there are topics you would like me to cover, please contact me at: http://www.mamacompass.com/contact-me If you would like more information about my Connected Parenting sessions, groups for children,1:1 sessions or testimonials, please refer to my private practice page.

Together we can… “Be the change you want to see in the world” ~ Ghandi

Warmly,

Sharon

Testimonials:

Hi Sharon,

Just wanted to tell you that this morning’s workshop was great! You explained everything really well and I liked how you used different ways to illustrate your points (real life situations, your son’s Halloween story). I was most impressed with how you obviously know your material and stayed on focus because there are so many ways one could go off on a tangent!

So thanks for the very informative workshop! I plan to attend the next one.

Brenda R

My daughter was struggling with anxiety and it was getting to the point where it was beginning to affect her and our life on a daily basis. If she was knew she was going to be outside of her comfort zone she would start to panic and focus on something in an obsessive and negative way in anticipation of the upcoming situation. She was the most anxious she had ever been when she started the six week anxiety management course with Sharon. She loved Sharon immediately and felt very comfortable with her. She has learned through Sharon why she may feel this way and how to use skills to help her cope better. I wondered how much she might absorb as a six year old but she seems to be able to remember and use what Sharon has taught her. As she was taking the course her anxiety decreased dramatically. When she begins to get anxious again we use the skills she has learned and talk about how she can manage and cope with the things that are bothering her. I have also learned how to help her. Our experience with Sharon has been invaluable. My daughter says she is the best teacher she has ever had! Thanks Sharon. Carrie

I have relied on Sharon for exceptional parenting advice, particularly related to anxiety, for several years. She has guided me through the system, directed me to various practitioners, resources, books, etc., and offered me great comfort and perspective when I really needed it. I recently attended one of Sharon’s Connected Parenting series workshops on anxiety and I was so impressed by both the content and Sharon’s communication style. Without even a glance at any notes, Sharon walked us through the latest brain research about anxiety. She has such a clear and thorough understanding of the material that she is able to break it down and share it in a simple and practical way. Sharon also shared some of the ‘tools’ that she has used with her own children and students that she has worked with over the years. I have found these tools particularly useful. We are lucky to have Sharon as a valuable resource in our community.

Heather W

My daughter, 7yrs, has attended Sharon’s anxiety group and benefited greatly from them even after the first session. She was having problems with coping in school and after Sharon’s group she was better able to cope with everyday situations that arose at school and at home. Less extreme outbursts with us and her sister. I also have attended Sharon’s parent group and found her sessions informative and practical. Sharon is a warm and friendly coach to assist my daughter in learning to improve her emotional intelligence.

~ Sara Bishop

As a Primary School Teacher, I worked with Sharon Selby in her role as our Elementary School Counsellor. Sharon always proved to be a wonderful team resource, as a highly dedicated professional. She provided guidance and support to myself, my students, and their parents on numerous occasions. My students and their parents were always happy to meet with Sharon, and like myself, were thankful for the insight she provided.

~ Dorothy Kenna