Child and Adolescent

Our children and youth face many difficulties and sometimes they need a little extra support and assistance. If children are experiencing emotional problems it is imperative to seek early intervention, so that they can learn how to manage their feelings as well as feel a greater sense of control in their world.

• Anxiety, including Social Anxiety, Panic Attacks, nervous/obsessive behaviours and excessive Worrying
• Mood Swings, including feeling sad and angry much of the time
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity presentations
• Conduct and Oppositional problems
• Issues of Self Esteem
• Being bullied
• Adjusting to parents breaking up or conflict at home
• Bedwetting
• Parenting issues

Psychologists tend to take a systemic approach when working with children. They will often take time with the parents as well as the child, to understand the difficulties completely, and to provide a comprehensive intervention that involves the parents reinforcing strategies within the home. There may also be occasion to include the school, so that consistent support is provided for the child across all settings. The level of involvement with parents varies depending on the age of the child. For example, the Psychologist will liaise more with the parents when the child is 5 years of age, compared with when the client is an adolescent of age 16.