Psychology for Children
Psychologists work on maximising a child’s wellbeing and helping them through difficult times.
When should I seek help for my child?
It is increasingly common to access psychology for kids. Here’s some suggestions for knowing when it is the right time to seek help:
- If you think something is interfering with your child’s friendships, learning, home life, behaviour or self-esteem.
- If you think your child is not developing social, life, academic or developmental skills as normally expected.
- If your child is frequently distressed, sad, angry, or anxious.
- If you are unsure how to help your child.
Speak to your child’s teacher, childcare educator, GP, and your friends and family to see what they think.
Remember earlier is often better! Many mental health issues develop early in life, and most learning and developmental issues can be picked up in preschool or primary school. Research shows that getting in early can stop issues becoming lifelong problems or at least minimise them. Treatment may be relatively brief and easy if issues are picked up early.
Kirsty can assist primary school children with:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Phobias
- Generalised anxiety
- Separation anxiety
- Social anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Tic Disorders
- Parenting issues
- Parenting children with additional needs, such as mental illness, neurodiversity and learning disorders
- Relationship, friendship and family issues
- Carers and families of children with mental or physical Illness
- Bullying
- Coping with separation and divorce
- Adjustment to stressful life events and changes
- Behavioural problems
- School refusal
- Self-esteem
- Sleeping problems
- Self-harm
- Bereavement and loss
- Health-related issues and pain management
- Learning and development
- Specific Learning Disorders (e.g., Dysgraphia, Dyslexia etc)
- ADHD
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- NDIS Self-Managing or NDIS Plan-Managing clients
Benefits of seeing a psychologist
- Develop lifelong skills for managing feelings, behaviour and coping through difficult times
- Improve self-esteem
- Improve resilience to difficult life events
- Provide extra care and support for your child through difficult times
- Identify and intervene on learning problems and developmental issues. Research and experience shows that early identification of issues and early intervention is incredibly helpful for maximising a child’s abilities in life and education
- Provide advocacy and support with your child’s school or advise on how to do this yourself
- Guidance about how to help your child, and how to do your best for them. Many parents also seek our help about how to look after themselves while parenting
Not sure what to expect when you bring your child or teen to therapy? Download our Fact Sheet for some useful tips.
Dr Kirsty Hildebrandt
I have been specifically trained in Child, Adolescent and Family Clinical Psychology. I am highly experienced in working with children and their parents. I have an approachable and fun style, so your child will feel comfortable getting the support they need. I use therapies and strategies shown by research to be effective for this age group. But I will also design assessment and treatment according to the needs of the child and family to help them change and grow.