COUNSELLING FOR CHILDREN & TEENS

When children and adolescents experience challenges or difficulties they may find it hard to regulate their emotions or communicate their thoughts and feelings. There may be changes in their behaviour, their relationships or their ability to manage their schooling.

 

You do not need a referral for your child to access therapy with us. Your GP may provide you with a referral, in which case you may be able to access a Medicare rebate for sessions attended by your child. Our team also work with children and families accessing therapy as part of an NDIS plan (self and plan managed only).

 

At Amherst Psychology, we work with children and adolescents at their developmental level. We adopt a creative approach tailored to help each young person better understand and manage their challenges, increase their self-esteem, build resilience and develop healthy coping strategies.  Often, with younger children we utilise a play based approach to therapy and for primary school aged children we generally include parents in counselling sessions.

 

For older children and adolescents, we use a range of evidence-based strategies drawn from approaches such as cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mentalisation based therapy, and mindfulness skills training.  The extent parents participation in an adolescent's therapy sessions is based on the individual needs of the young person and is discussed with parents and their child at the outset of therapy.

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We can assist with a wide range of concerns including: