Frequently Asked Questions
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There are many signs to look out for that indicates your child may require support from a psychologist. The following are some signs that should not be ignored if you notice them in your own child:
Performance is affected - If your child’s behaviour is having an ongoing negative effect on their performance at school, in their extra-curricular activities, friendships or family functioning, this can be a sign that seeing a psychologist would be beneficial.
Unexplained physical symptoms - Your child’s emotions can often present as physical feelings within the body. If your child has complained about feeling sick in the tummy or headaches when they are worried, but there is no identified underlying physical health problem, this could be a sign of underlying anxiety problems, for example.
Change in emotional reactions - If your child is displaying more heightened distress, frequent crying, sadness, anger, irritability, agitation, or not engaging in previously enjoyable activities this may also signal there are mental health issues that a psychologist could help with.
Difficulty adjusting to change - While it is normal for all individuals to need some time to adapt to a big life change, such as separation or death of a loved one, some children need more support with this than others.If your child is experiencing persistent difficulties in adjusting over the course of several months, it may be a sign they could benefit from seeing a psychologist.
Bullying - Being bullied can greatly affect a child’s thoughts, moods and behaviour leading to ongoing emotional distress. A psychologist can assist children in developing social skills and to learn to cope with such distress. Alternatively, if you notice your child is bullying others, this may be a sign they need support managing their behaviours and relationships with their peers.
You feel ‘stuck’ as a parent - If you feel you don’t know what else to do to help your child’s moods or behaviour improve, seeking help from a psychologist can help. Sometimes there might also be a difference of opinion between parents about how to handle your child’s problems. Seeking help can reduce the strain this is putting on your relationship.
At the end of the day, you know your child best. If you think you or your child would benefit from seeing a psychologist, it will most likely be the right decision.
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Depending on the presenting issue and the age of the child, your psychologist may choose to meet with you alone for an initial parent consultation. During this initial session we review consent forms and other paperwork then spend some time talking about your concerns. We will ask parents questions about their child on areas such as family, development, schooling, social life and general health and wellbeing. Our first session with a child is usually used for rapport building and developing a relationship with them, prior to commencing intervention.
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Appointments are typically 50 minutes long.
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All children are different and therefore, all journeys through therapy are also different. This is largely dependent on the reason for referral and what you and/or your child is hoping to gain from sessions. Some issues may only require brief interventions while others may be more complex and require more time. We usually recommend 6-10 sessions as a starting point. Your psychologist will then review the need for further support as they work with your child. Additionally, not all sessions will be one-on-one with the child or adolescent. Sometimes the psychologist may want to hold parent-only sessions in which they can work with you on strategies to help at home.
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We are currently accepting referrals for people aged 4 to 18. Diversity is celebrated at The Youth Mind Collective and we welcome children and young people from all backgrounds.
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No, you do not need a referral. You can book an appointment with a psychologist at The Youth Mind Collective without a referral from your GP or a psychiatrist. However, if you self-refer, you will need to pay the full amount for your sessions and you will not receive a Medicare rebate.
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To be eligible to receive psychological services under Medicare, a person must be referred by his or her GP and in some instances by another medical specialist. Speak to your GP about your eligibility to claim these Medicare benefits and the best person to make your referral.
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We are able to provide psychological treatment under the Australian Government’s Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. If would like to see whether you are eligible for Medicare rebates with a referral under a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), you will need to speak with your GP or a psychiatrist prior to making your first appointment.
You will require a referral letter and MHTP from your GP to access Medicare rebates. Please ensure you provide your MHTP to us prior to your first session. You will also need a valid Medicare card.
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Rebates vary depending on the insurance company and your level of cover. If you plan to claim your sessions through private health insurance, keep a copy of your receipt so you can claim directly through your insurance company.
Please note you cannot use private health insurance in addition to Medicare rebates.
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Privacy and confidentiality are very important to us. If you decide to book an appointment, or contact us for more information about booking, we will email you our detailed confidentiality and privacy policies to consider and sign prior to commencing. All information disclosed in sessions with a psychologist is confidential. However, there are two exceptions to this rule. The first exception is if you are at risk of harm to yourself or someone else and the second exception is in relation to court orders.
We generally see pre-school aged children with a parent or guardian present and involved in the sessions. For older children, it is often beneficial for them to spend time alone with the psychologist. If this occurs, confidentiality also applies for them as clients, in that we would request their permission to share specific information they share with us, even with parents. A certain level of confidentiality is required in order to build a trusting and therapeutic relationship with a child, which is necessary for effective psychological treatment. It can also ensure a safe space where children can share their worries and concerns without fearing negative consequences from others.
Please be assured we are happy to provide parents with general feedback and themes of our sessions to keep parents informed. We believe it is important to share information with parents to help them understand the work they are doing in therapy and how they can support this work at home. For example, we may provide feedback to parents of primary-school aged children together with the child towards the end of any child session.
When working alone with adolescents, it will be important that any feedback to parents is carefully and collaboratively discussed with the young person wherever possible.
We encourage all parents to advise if they would like additional time with us to discuss any concerns or to seek further feedback.
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We require a cancellation policy as a late, cancelled or non-attended appointment results in a loss to you and your child’s progress in therapy, another client who is on our waitlist, and the psychologist who has spent time preparing for the session.
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All three of these professionals work in the area of mental health, however there are significant differences between them.
Psychologists generally have at least six years of training, including an undergraduate degree, an Honours degree and at least two years of supervised training and further education in psychology (either a Masters of Doctorate degree). Psychologists use treatments, such as “talk-therapy” that are focused on improving a person’s mental health without medication. Psychologists also work in collaboration with GP’s or psychiatrists to provide the best possible treatment for their clients. Psychologists are required to be registered with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency) and must practice according to a Code of Ethics which outlines standards of professional conduct for psychologists, to ensure our clients are receiving a high level of professional care.
Psychiatrists are medically trained doctors who have completed further training and study related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. They specialise in the medical treatment of mental illness and are able to prescribe medication. Some psychiatrists combine medication with therapy.
Counsellors come from a broad range of training and backgrounds. In Australia, counsellors are not regulated by a specific government body and the term “counsellor” is not protected. This means that anyone can call themselves a counsellor, regardless of whether or not they have undertaken professional training in treating mental health issues.
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Online sessions, or Telehealth, are a way to connect with our psychologists without being face-to-face. Telehealth is a psychological therapy service that is provided via video conference where both a visual and audio link is established between a client and the psychologist.
Video-conferencing platforms such as Zoom allow online sessions to be conducted safely and securely from the comfort of your own home. Telehealth can be an effective and convenient way of providing services and aims to remove barriers such as distance or time which can delay the delivery of services to clients.
Clinical reasoning will be used in assessing whether sessions via Telehealth are deemed an appropriate intervention based on the child’s presenting challenges, the family/guardian’s ability to assist in the facilitation of the session and logistics in the provision of Telehealth psychological therapy.
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It is normal for children to feel nervous about seeing a psychologist because it is a new and different experience and they might not know what to expect. Many kids may worry there is something ‘wrong’ with them or they have done something ‘bad’. It may be helpful to explain to your child that seeing a psychologist is like seeing a doctor for your physical health; a psychologist can help with our thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Usually after the first appointment, children will look forward to sessions and know that they are in a safe place where they are free to express themselves.
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Sometimes your psychologist may schedule sessions with both the child and a parent present, but at other times and for various reasons, this may not be effective or appropriate. However, if you are extremely concerned for your child, we can hold additional rapport building sessions with you in the room until they feel comfortable with their treating psychologist.
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raisingchildren.net.au provides fantastic parenting resources including videos, articles and apps supported by Australian experts.
Parentline is a statewide telephone counselling service for parents and carers of children aged 0-18 years. Call 12 22 89 to speak with an experienced social worker, psychologist or family therapist.
Your psychologist will also recommend other resources and supports that can be used outside of sessions..
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There can be lots of questions that arise when making a decision about whether to see a psychologist. If you have a question that we haven’t answered here, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call us on 0480 480 865 or email contact@youthmindcollective.com.au. Our friendly team will be happy to assist you.
Want to learn more about the services we provide?
Our psychologists provide personalised support for children and adolescents dealing with anxiety, depression, and emotional challenges. We tailor our approach to each child's unique needs, ensuring they feel understood, supported, and empowered to thrive.