Counselling for Children and Teens

Is your child:

Having difficulty managing their emotions? Tantruming or having meltdowns? Do they find it hard to ‘regulate’ and calm down when upset?
Struggling to manage their anger, and expressing it inappropriately (for example, hitting out at others)?
Unhappy a lot of the time, showing persistent ‘low mood’, spending a lot of time on their own?
Highly anxious, worrying a lot, showing physical signs of anxiety (e.g. throwing up, tummy aches), reluctant to go to school, excessively worried about tests or exams?
Sleeping or eating a lot more or less than usual?
Having issues making or keeping friends?
‘Acting out’ (e.g. physical aggression) at school and / or home, not listening to parents or school staff, displaying defiant and oppositional behaviour?
Being bullied at school, or bullying others?
Demonstrating low self-esteem / a low opinion of themselves?
Struggling to manage feelings of grief?
Having difficulty adjusting to a recent change or transition?
Struggling to remain motivated in regards to school and schoolwork?

All children encounter challenges. However, if your child exhibits emotional difficulties or behaviour which adversely affects their quality of life or that of people close to them, counselling can help. Counselling can assist children and young people to build resilience, manage emotions and express emotions appropriately, and reduce anxiety (and learn to manage it). Counselling can help children and young people learn skills to help make and maintain friendships, solve problems, and generally be happier both at school and at home. Parent involvement in the counselling process is important, especially in supporting children to practise and apply new skills.

Counselling can assist with:

Low Mood/ Depression
Anxiety
Emotional regulation
Managing anger
Social skills development
Organisation and study skills
Motivation in regards to school and schoolwork
Bullying
Friendship problems
Stress
Low self-esteem / poor self-concept
Grief and loss
Difficulty adjusting to change / transition

Please note: It is important that trust is established between the child and psychologist so that the child can speak openly to the psychologist about their concerns. As such, the information discussed in the counselling sessions is confidential, unless the child gives their consent for the information to be shared (e.g. with parents or teachers). There are exceptions to this, however. Information will need to be disclosed to a third party if the child discloses that they, or someone else, is at risk of harm, or when required by law.

Sessions will usually be of 50 minutes duration.

The first session will generally be conducted with the parent or guardian, to allow for information to be gathered (including administration of questionnaires, if required) and goals to be established.

Subsequent counselling sessions will usually involve a brief discussion with the parents following the session with the child.

Programs which are used to assist children and young people to learn skills include Secret Agent Society (Social Skills Training Institute), Cool Kids Child Anxiety Program, including the Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program and the Autism Spectrum Disorder Adaptation (Macquarie University – Centre for Emotional Health) and The Zones of Regulation (Social Thinking, Inc).

Skills development is most effective with parent (and often school) involvement. Parents will be assisted to support and maintain their child’s skill development.

Please note: This service does not provide counselling for issues such as: complex trauma, addiction, psychosis, eating disorders, or substance abuse. The service also does not provide support or legal reports for child custody disputes, or family court involvement.

This service does not provide crisis support. If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate support, the following services can assist:

Emergency

000

LifeLine

www.lifeline.org.au

13 11 14

Kids Helpline

www.kidshelp.com.au

1800 55 1800

Parent Line

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/services-for-parents/Pages/parentline.aspx

13 22 89