The best child psychologists in Canberra. Photo: File.
Just like adults, children are susceptible to mental health issues. Many factors can influence your child’s wellbeing. Perhaps your family is undergoing a big move, change or transition. Maybe school is becoming too much or your child is developing a phobia.
A psychologist is a registered, university-trained professional with expertise in emotional wellbeing and human behaviour. They aren’t the same as a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist has a medical degree and and can prescribe medication. Psychologists offer treatments focusing on changing behaviour and emotional responses without medication.
It’s important to find a psychologist that you and your child can trust so you can solve issues as quickly as possible.
In this article, we’ll outline the qualities to consider when choosing a child psychologist, and share where to find the best in Canberra.
Accessing Medicare benefits and private health rebates
If you’d like your child’s psychologist appointments to be covered by Medicare, you’ll need a referral before booking your first appointment. You get your referral from an appropriate medical practitioner, such as a GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. Your medical practitioner will assess if your child needs a psychologist before referring.
Once you have a referral you can see any psychologist who is registered with Medicare and has a Medicare Provider Number.
You can choose to claim benefits from your private health insurer instead. You can claim benefits from Medicare or your insurer, but not both.
If your child is already involved with ACT Health and NSW Health services, you may need to check with the service provider if you can access private services at the same time.
What makes a great child psychologist?
Choosing the right child psychologist can help fast-track the issues at hand and help with what can be an emotionally draining experience.
It can be helpful to keep the following in mind when choosing a child psychologist.
- Area of expertise. Different psychologists offer different services. Choose the clinic that is best for your child’s needs. Some child psychologists are experts in assessing education or for family court. Others focus on addressing behavioural problems. Some specialise in assessing and managing autism, ADHD/ADD and developmental delays.
- Specialist in children’s health. While children may suffer from similar mental health issues to adults, they often require specialised support. You should therefore select a psychologist who works in children’s health. You might also want to choose a clinic that has facilities such as play therapy and rooms decorated for children. This can make your child feel more comfortable.
- Experience and qualifications. Look for a highly trained psychologist who uses well-researched and proven methods.
- Compassion. Different children react in different ways to going to a psychologist so you’ll want to choose a psychologist who understands this and responds with compassion and understanding.
- Convenience and affordability. Since therapy is usually an ongoing process, your child’s psychologist should be easy, convenient and affordable.
The best child psychologists in Canberra
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PsychSessions provides assessments and psychological treatments of mental health problems in older children and adolescents. This includes depression, anxiety, panic, insomnia and other sleep problems, and eating disorders in teenagers. For insomnia and other sleep problems, PsychSessions is also the only psychology service provider in Canberra that offers multidisciplinary insomnia assessment and treatment services in collaboration with Canberra Sleep Clinic. A multidisciplinary approach is also taken with eating disorders, working closely with a person’s GP and dietitians to properly manage the disorder and achieve the best possible outcomes. PsychSessions’ treatment approach focuses on relieving distress, restoring functioning, and preventing relapse. Each of its 14 psychologists and general psychologists has a post-graduate university degree and has conducted university research, so they understand how to conduct, understand and apply research. City: Suite 4, 10th Floor, AMP Building, 1 Hobart Place, Canberra City ACT Deakin: Ground Floor, Building 2, Equinox Business Park, 70 Kent Street, Deakin ACT Brighter Beginnings Psychology and Wellbeing specialise in perinatal mental health. Understanding that having a baby is a time of transition and stress, Brighter Beginnings provides psychological treatment to mothers, fathers and their families before conception, during pregnancy and into the years following birth. Psychologists work with families experiencing antenatal or postnatal depression and anxiety, fertility issues, birth trauma, perinatal loss and difficulties feeling bonded with their baby. On Google, Sarah Blackledge wrote, “Patient, kind, friendly and genuinely empathethic.” Canberra Psychology Centre for Children and Families (CPCCF) is a highly-regarded private psychology practice in Canberra that specialises in the assessment and therapy of children, adolescents, and young adults. The qualified team of male and female registered and clinical psychologists at CPCCF are committed to maintaining the highest level of evidence-based services in a welcoming, judgement-free environment. Based out of Corinna Chambers Psychologists, Michelle Deponte is a psychologist that works primarily with adolescents and families. Deponte has a specialist interest in assisting adolescents engaging in risky behaviours, such as drugs and alcohol, anger management, and self-harming. The Canberra Psychology Clinic offers a team of passionate, committed, and experienced psychologists equipped with the skills and expertise needed to assist children, teenagers, and young adults. With an extensive team of professionals onboard, Canberra Psychology Clinic can assess, diagnose, and treat youth facing a wide range of emotional, educational, and behavioural challenges.PsychSessions
Brighter Beginnings Psychology and Wellbeing
Canberra Psychology Centre for Children and Families (CPCCF)
Michelle Deponte at Corinna Chambers Psychologists
Canberra Psychology Clinic
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