Child Psychology
Assessments
We offer a range of assessment types for children
Cognitive (IQ) Assessment (6 years old +)
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Superior cognitive ability (cognitive/academic giftedness)
Educational Assessments
- Mathematics difficulties (Dyscalculia)
- Reading, writing, spelling difficulties (Dyslexia)
Developmental Assessments
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (incl. Asperger’s)
Counselling
Anxiety and Stress
Many children experience anxiety related to school performance, social situations, or family dynamics. Psychologists can help children develop coping strategies, manage their worries, and build resilience through techniques like cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).
Behavioural Issues
This age group might exhibit challenging behaviours such as aggression, defiance, or trouble following rules. Behavioural therapy can assist in identifying the underlying causes and implementing strategies to encourage positive behaviour and improve self-regulation.
Learning Difficulties
Children may struggle with learning disabilities such as dyslexia or ADHD, impacting their academic performance and self-esteem. Psychologists can provide assessments to identify specific learning needs and collaborate with educators and parents to develop effective support plans.
Social Skills
Developing healthy peer relationships is critical during this stage. Children might struggle with social interactions, making friends, or understanding social cues. Social skills training can help them build better relationships and improve their confidence.
Emotional Challenges
Issues such as low self-esteem, sadness, or difficulty expressing emotions can arise. Therapy can provide a safe space for children to explore their feelings, learn to express themselves constructively, and enhance their emotional well-being.
Family Dynamics
Changes within the family, such as divorce or relocation, can impact a child’s emotional state. Family therapy can support children and their families in navigating these transitions and strengthening family bonds.
Frequently asked questions
No, you do not need a referral. You can make an appointment with a psychologist without a referral from your GP or a paediatrician/psychiatrist. If you decide to do this you will need to pay the full amount for your sessions out of your own pocket.
At CAYA Psychology, individual treatment sessions are 50 minutes. Assessment sessions may be longer.
You will need to make an appointment with your GP who will assess whether you are eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan. A Mental Health Treatment Plan will enable you to claim a Medicare rebate (rebates vary by type of referral).
Click here to find out more about Fees and Rebates.
To be able to claim the Medicare rebate for your session you will need to bring a copy of your Mental Health Treatment Plan to your first appointment with your psychologist.
Psychologists are health professionals who work in a range of areas including clinical, health, neuropsychology, sports, forensic, organisational and community settings. To become a fully registered psychologist you must undertake an undergraduate degree, an Honours degree and and at least two years of supervised training and further education in the field of psychology (either a Masters or Doctorate degree).
Psychologists assist people with everyday concerns such as stress and relationship difficulties, as well as mental health issues. Psychologists use “talk therapies” to help people to develop skills to cope with difficulties and to prevent on-going issues. There are a large number of research studies supporting the effectiveness of psychological therapy.
Psychiatrists have completed a medical degree and further training and study related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatrists specialise in the medical treatment of mental illness and can prescribe medication. Some psychiatrists combine medication with therapy.
The procedure for a first appointment varies from practice to practice, but here is an overview of how things tend to work at CAYA Psychology:
At the beginning of your first session your psychologist will briefly run through important paperwork with you. This will include checking the information you provided in your online-intake documentation (including any medical referrals and service agreements).
We will also discuss issues such as privacy, confidentiality (and limits to this), fees and other important information about sessions.
The remainder of the session is usually spent discussing the issues that have brought you into therapy. As well as developing a thorough understanding of your concerns, your psychologist will explore relevant background history, for example, information about your family, social relationships, work history and any past counselling that you have done. Based on this information we will begin to help you to understand more about what might be causing and maintaining your current issues. If time allows we will also work with you to develop a collaborative and flexible plan for future therapy sessions.
If you are bringing your child for treatment, at their first session, your psychologist will typically start the session with parent/s and child together and discuss (using age-appropriate language) the role of a psychologist, and cover issues such as privacy, confidentiality (and limits to this) as above.
Your psychologist will then discuss the reasons that have brought you and your child into therapy with you all. Your psychologist will then typically spend a portion of the session alone with your child to further discuss issues of concern and to explore your child’s interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes. Your psychologist will then provide some initial feedback to you (the parent). Subsequent consultations will typically follow a similar approach.