CAYA Psychology
Geelong
Neuro-affirming support for children, teens & adults with ADHD and/or Autism
This can include:
-Difficulty sustaining attention or completing tasks
-Problems with time management or procrastination
-Acting impulsively or speaking without filtering
-Forgetfulness or losing track of important details
-Strong emotions that escalate quickly
The Autism Spectrum: People with Autism may experience the world more intensely or differently, particularly in social, sensory, or communication contexts.
This may involve:
-Sensory sensitivity to noise, light, or environments
-Difficulty with unspoken social rules or expectations
-Preference for routine and predictability
-Deep focus on areas of interest
-Fatigue from masking or adapting to social norms
Neurodivergence refers to natural differences in how people think, focus, process information, and interact with the world. I work with children, teens, and adults who identify with or are exploring ADHD and/or autism, including those seeking practical support rather than a narrow diagnostic focus.
Many people reach this point after years of feeling out of step, overwhelmed, or misunderstood, often without a clear explanation. Therapy can help you make sense of these patterns and develop strategies that fit how your brain works.
What neurodivergence often looks like
Neurodivergence does not look the same in everyone. It often shows up in subtle but persistent ways.
Common experiences include:
- Difficulty with focus, organisation, or task initiation
- Mental overload or rapid, scattered thinking
- Emotional intensity or difficulty regulating emotions
- Sensory sensitivity or feeling easily overwhelmed
- Chronic stress, burnout, or exhaustion
- Feeling “different” without knowing why
These experiences are valid whether or not you have a formal diagnosis.
Assessment availability at the clinic
Assessment for ADHD and autism is available at the clinic for adults who are seeking diagnostic clarification.
Assessments are conducted thoughtfully and collaboratively, with attention to your history, current functioning, and goals. For some people, a formal assessment is helpful; for others, therapeutic support without diagnosis is more appropriate.
Click here to read more about our assessment process.
How therapy can support neurodiversity
Support may involve:
-Understanding how your brain works and what drains or supports you
-Developing strategies for organisation, focus, and emotional regulation
-Reducing shame, self-criticism, or burnout
-Navigating work, relationships, or identity-related concerns
-Building sustainable routines that work for you
The aim is support and self-understanding, not “fixing” who you are.
My Approach
Client centred: We focus on what matters most to you
Practical: Focused on real-world challenges and change
Neuroaffirming: Strength-focused, not deficit focused
Flexible: Adapted to your pace and processing style
Is therapy right for you?
You might consider support if:
- You suspect ADHD or autism and want clarity or support
- Daily life feels harder than it seems to be for others
- You’re experiencing burnout, overwhelm, or chronic stress
- You want strategies that fit how you think and function
Support can be helpful whether you’re exploring, diagnosed, or somewhere in between.
Therapy details
- Therapy is available for children, teens & adults
- Assessments are available for children, teens & adults
- Sessions are offered in person and via telehealth
- Appointments are confidential and paced to your needs
If you’re unsure whether what you’re experiencing is anxiety, we can explore that together.
Taking the next step
If you’re seeking support around ADHD, autism, or neurodivergence more broadly, you’re welcome to get in touch to discuss your options
- Contact us to make a confidential enquiry
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.