Making Waves with
Play-Based services
Making Waves with
Play-Based services
AquaStar Therapies combines the power of water with the joy of play to support children’s physical, emotional, and social development. Our Aquatic Therapy sessions provide a safe, fun, and engaging environment where children can build strength, improve coordination, boost confidence, and develop essential social interaction skills all while enjoying the therapeutic benefits of water. With personalized activities designed by our skilled Therapists, we guide children to make meaningful progress through movement, exploration, and play!
Fun & Engaging Therapy
Using play to encourage movement, reduce anxiety, and create a positive therapeutic experience.
Personalized Care
Activities are tailored to each child’s needs, ensuring meaningful progress in a supportive setting.
Physical & Emotional Growth
Water supports strength, flexibility, coordination, and confidence in a safe, soothing environment.
Fun & Engaging Therapy
Using play to encourage movement, reduce anxiety, and create a positive therapeutic experience.
Personalized Care
Activities are tailored to each child’s needs, ensuring meaningful progress in a supportive setting.
Physical & Emotional Growth
Water supports strength, flexibility, coordination, and confidence in a safe, soothing environment.
Services Offered by AquaStar Therapies:
Aquatic Therapy &
Leisure Support Swims
Aquatic Therapy is a therapeutic approach that utilizes water-based activities to promote physical, emotional, and social development. Our supported leisure swims are designed to pair your child with trained support staff who understand their unique needs. This personalized support helps your child enjoy and engage in swimming, fostering confidence and enjoyment. Everyone has the right to develop and participate in lifelong leisure skills to create joyful memories in the water!
Recreation
Therapy
Recreation Therapy for children uses play and leisure activities to support physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. Through goal-oriented activities like sports, arts, and group games, children build essential skills, boost confidence, and improve social connections. This inclusive and engaging approach helps children of all abilities thrive in a fun, supportive environment.
About AquaStar Therapies:
Our programs focus on enhancing social skills, communication, emotional regulation, safety awareness,
physical abilities, and leisure skills. Aquatic or Recreation Therapy sessions can be conducted in various
locations throughout the GVRD and Fraser Valley, including community pools, recreation centres,
playgrounds, specialty recreation businesses, homes, or other pre-arranged community settings.
At AquaStar Therapies, we believe that learning should be fun! Each session is designed to engage children,
allowing them to play, learn, and grow as they discover their newfound abilities and confidence in the water.
faq
How much do your services cost?
Our Services have a range in prices depending on which AquaStar Therapies staff member a client is paired with and the session length (30, 45 and 60 minutes).
Initial Consultation: $140 – $165
Subsequent Therapy Assistant/Direct Support Professional rates: $45 – $80 per session
Subsequent Therapist session rates: $65 – $120 per session
Reevaluation Consultations with a Therapist and the assigned support staff happen typically every 3 months (or as needed) and range in pricing depending on session length starting at $95.
For full pricing info please contact us directly via the waitlist or contact forms on our Contact page.
Do you accept funding?
Yes! We are able to accept funding from AFU, as well as grant funding from Variety and CKNW.
Do I need to pay for pool admission?
Yes, but only for the client that will be working with AquaStar (unless the parent/guardian is planning to be in the water during the session). AquaStar pays our own pool admission costs for our Therapists and Therapy Assistants/Direct Support Professionals.
What is your cancellation policy?
Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a gap in the Therapist or Therapy Assistants day that could have been filled by another client. As such, we require 24 hours notice for any cancellations or changes to your appointment. Clients who provide less than 24 hours notice, or miss their appointment, will be charged the full appointment cost.
Cancellations more than 24 hours prior to your appointment can be done via your Jane portal (link at top of page). Cancellations less than 24 hours prior to your appointment can be done via text to 778-800-1675.
where are your sessions held?
Our Aquatic Therapy sessions are held in community swimming pools at recreation centres during public swim times, but we can also provide Aquatic Therapy sessions in private pools. Our Recreation Therapy sessions can be held in-home or with planned outings around the clients community.
What is assessed in the first initial consultation?
In the Initial Consultation, our Therapist will be present along with the assigned Therapy Assistant or Direct Support Professional. Together, they will support the client as needed as they participate in a few activities where their social, communication, cognitive and physical abilities will be assessed. The parent or guardian will be asked a series of questions about the client to discover the interests and motivations that will help plan activities for future sessions and work towards their individual goals.
WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF INDIVIDUAL GOALS?
“My child loves the water but has no swim skills or safety awareness.”
We can help support the client learn how to move their bodies in the water and learn what their limits are – we can incorporate the basics of water safety awareness through consistent and repeated activities that help with the learning of being safety aware while in the water and keeping themselves safe if they get into deeper.
“My child doesn’t like the feeling of water!”
We can help the client participate in activities while slowly adjusting and getting used to how the water feels on their skin, helping to reduce sensory issues regarding water.
“My child always drinks the pool water!”
We can help by teaching with consistent reminders and activities to help the client learn to play and potentially blow bubbles, or redirect that behavior to allow the client to continue enjoying playing in the water safely without drinking it.
“My child is afraid of the water.”
We take activities very slowly and use many different play-based approaches to build trust and keep demands low for clients who are adjusting to the new and sometimes overstimulating pool environment. All games are pulled from the clients personal interests and likes in order to keep activities engaging and comfortable.
What should my child wear or bring to their session?
For Aquatic Therapy sessions they should wear a swimsuit (and pool diaper, if needed)! Swim goggles are optional if they’re more comfortable swimming while wearing them, or even their favorite small pool toy if they have one. A lifejacket or swim belt brought from home is optional depending on the client’s comfort and ability to play and swim without. Community pools also have swim aides available for use at no charge. AquaStar Therapists and Therapy Assistants will always be with your child and will utilize pool space to keep them safe.
For Recreation Therapy sessions outside of the pool they should wear whatever they are comfortable in that makes sense for the planned activity (ie athletic wear like shorts and a t-shirt for active sessions).
Do I stay with my child during the session?
You are more then welcome to join the sessions if it is helpful for your child to become comfortable with new people, though most parents/guardians prefer to sit in the poolside viewing area to watch. We do ask that you stay in the building incase of emergency.
Are these sessions 1:1?
Yes, our sessions are 1:1 unless a sibling session has been booked.
Who benefits from your services?
Everyone! There are MANY evidence based research studies on the benefits of being and playing in the water can provide. Our services offer a unique set of benefits as we set out to help children work on their goals.
Here are some of the main benefits from our sessions:
1. Physical strength and coordination: Water resistance helps build muscle strength, improve balance and enhance motor skills – all while reducing strain on the joints. The buoyancy of water provides a supportive and low impact setting making participation in activities easier for anyone with restricted ROM. Swimming can also help in calming children who may have sensory processing disorders by providing tactile stimulation.
2. Boosted Social Skills: Our sessions involve a large variety of games and activities that encourage communication, team work and social interactions. These activities allow children to practice cooperative behaviors and improve confidence.
3. Cognitive Development: Water-based activities often require concentration, coordination and problem solving. For children, these activities can help develop cognitive skills like focus, memory and attention. All activities are presented and encouraged with a non threatening and low demand manner.
4. Increased Independence and Confidence: As children progress, they gain confidence in their physical abilities. Successfully performing activities in the water during their sessions can translate into greater self esteem and a sense of accomplishment – which fosters independence in other areas of life.
5. Motivation for Physical Activity: Many children find water activities more enjoyable than traditional forms of exercise which can increase their motivation to participate in therapy sessions. The fun and playful nature of these therapy sessions can be more appealing to some who struggle to participate in other therapies. Anyone who can enter the water can experience a great number of benefits!
Are there age limits for your services?
No, we can help support children of all ages.
what is aquatic therapy?
Our Aquatic Therapy sessions are built around play-based approaches to help support your child work on their individual day to day life goals. It can help with the development of physical, social, communication, cognitive and emotional regulation skills. Our entire session is in the water with preplanned activities to help your child work towards their goals.
what is recreation therapy?
Recreation Therapy for children is a therapeutic approach that utilizes fun and engaging recreational activities to enhance physical, emotional, cognitive and social well being. It is particularly beneficial for children facing day to day challenges such as disabilities, chronic illness, behavioural concerns or developmental delays. The primary objective is to encourage development and help support growth in life skills by following a carefully designed and enjoyable program plan.
can your staff do pickup and drop off sessions?
We are in the process of working on offering more support services with the potential to pick up clients swim and drop off! Stay tuned!
“My youngest son has been seeing Tess at AquaStar Therapies for 2 years. He’s an autistic teenager who loved the water but wasn’t a super strong swimmer. He is a much more confident swimmer now. Tess wasn’t fazed by any of his behaviour or if he got overwhelmed. Would highly recommend!”
Crystal V.
Maple Ridge, BC
“My youngest son has been seeing Tess at AquaStar Therapies for 2 years. He’s an autistic teenager who loved the water but wasn’t a super strong swimmer. He is a much more confident swimmer now. Tess wasn’t fazed by any of his behaviour or if he got overwhelmed. Would highly recommend!”
Crystal V.
Maple Ridge, BC
Contact
AquaStar Therapies
Join us at AquaStar Therapies, where play and water come together to support your child’s growth and development! Our engaging, play-based Aquatic Therapy helps children build strength, confidence, and essential skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Contact us today to learn more or add your child to our waitlist. We can’t wait to make a splash with you!