The Child Development Clinic has a fantastic team of both registered and provisionally registered psychologists who are experienced and qualified to administer psychometric assessment and deliver therapeutic intervention, while working closely with our team of expert developmental paediatricians and psychiatrists to best support your child.
The Child Development Clinic uses the latest evidence-based treatment, predominantly specialising in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), the gold-standard treatment for mood and anxiety disorders. Each of our psychologists have their own areas of interest, bringing their unique expertise to the role.
The Child Development Clinic uses the latest evidence-based treatment, predominantly specialising in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), the gold-standard treatment for mood and anxiety disorders. Each of our psychologists have their own areas of interest, bringing their unique expertise to the role.
Psychology and therapeutic intervention
After an initial consultation with your child and their parents (independently and together), the psychologist can assess and discuss the best approach for your child and develop a plan and guide for your sessions together. This usually requires a block of regular sessions to address concerns. Each session is for 50 minutes.
Research suggests that parental involvement in therapy is an important component in achieving therapeutic success for children. Depending on a child's age and needs, there may be a family and/or parent component and involvement in therapy. This is discussed individually between the psychologist, child and parents after an initial session. Additionally, for best practice in CBT, homework is often provided and has been demonstrated in research, that when adhered to, leads to the best therapeutic outcomes.
Psychological services within the clinic are provided by either provisional psychologists or registered psychologists/clinical psychologists.
Provisional psychologists
Provisional psychologists have typically complete 4 years or more of foundational university training in psychology. Provisional psychologists are in the process of fulfilling additional supervised practice hours to obtain full registration as a psychologist. During this provisional period, they engage in intensive supervised clinical practice, under the guidance of a registered psychologist/supervisor. Supervision is where the provisional psychologist has confidential discussions with their nominated supervisor about the work they are doing with their clients.
Registered Psychologists
Registered psychologists have completed 4 year or more of university training in psychology. They have completed the extensive supervision period require to practice as a psychologist.
Clinical Psychologists
Clinical psychologists have been endorsed in clinical psychology following the completion of a post-graduate clinical psychology program and an approved registrar program.
Psychology appointments via tele-health
For those clients who are unable to attend the clinic for face to face appointments, we offer tele-health appointments. Your psychologist will send you a video link prior to the appointment. We recommend having the telehealth session in a private space which is free from distractions. We request that parents are present for the telehealth sessions (i.e. in the room or nearby in the home) in case any concerns arise during the session (e.g. safety/risk issues).
What does treatment involve?
The first 1-2 sessions will focus on getting an understanding of why you are seeking help for your child and your goals for therapy. For children 10 years and under, the first appointment will typically be attended by parents only. This allows for your psychologist to take a comprehensive history and provide a clear explanation of the service your child will receive. Medicare allows a rebate for two parent-only sessions under your child’s Mental Health Care Plan. Please be aware that this parent only session will use one of the two parent sessions. For children above 10 years of age, we request that both the child and parent is present for the initial session.
From there an initial session with your child and the practitioner will occur with an explanation of the services they will receive, an explanation of the confidentiality of the service and exceptions to confidentiality as well as an opportunity for them to provide verbal informed consent prior to services commencing. In that initial session and subsequent sessions therapeutic goals between child and practitioner will be established. On intake a discussion about the estimated number of sessions to achieve treatment goals may be discussed with you practitioner, however, this may change once commencing therapy with your child and during the provision of therapy.
Should you wish to engage in our therapeutic services, please call or email our reception team.
Meet the team
Research suggests that parental involvement in therapy is an important component in achieving therapeutic success for children. Depending on a child's age and needs, there may be a family and/or parent component and involvement in therapy. This is discussed individually between the psychologist, child and parents after an initial session. Additionally, for best practice in CBT, homework is often provided and has been demonstrated in research, that when adhered to, leads to the best therapeutic outcomes.
Psychological services within the clinic are provided by either provisional psychologists or registered psychologists/clinical psychologists.
Provisional psychologists
Provisional psychologists have typically complete 4 years or more of foundational university training in psychology. Provisional psychologists are in the process of fulfilling additional supervised practice hours to obtain full registration as a psychologist. During this provisional period, they engage in intensive supervised clinical practice, under the guidance of a registered psychologist/supervisor. Supervision is where the provisional psychologist has confidential discussions with their nominated supervisor about the work they are doing with their clients.
Registered Psychologists
Registered psychologists have completed 4 year or more of university training in psychology. They have completed the extensive supervision period require to practice as a psychologist.
Clinical Psychologists
Clinical psychologists have been endorsed in clinical psychology following the completion of a post-graduate clinical psychology program and an approved registrar program.
Psychology appointments via tele-health
For those clients who are unable to attend the clinic for face to face appointments, we offer tele-health appointments. Your psychologist will send you a video link prior to the appointment. We recommend having the telehealth session in a private space which is free from distractions. We request that parents are present for the telehealth sessions (i.e. in the room or nearby in the home) in case any concerns arise during the session (e.g. safety/risk issues).
What does treatment involve?
The first 1-2 sessions will focus on getting an understanding of why you are seeking help for your child and your goals for therapy. For children 10 years and under, the first appointment will typically be attended by parents only. This allows for your psychologist to take a comprehensive history and provide a clear explanation of the service your child will receive. Medicare allows a rebate for two parent-only sessions under your child’s Mental Health Care Plan. Please be aware that this parent only session will use one of the two parent sessions. For children above 10 years of age, we request that both the child and parent is present for the initial session.
From there an initial session with your child and the practitioner will occur with an explanation of the services they will receive, an explanation of the confidentiality of the service and exceptions to confidentiality as well as an opportunity for them to provide verbal informed consent prior to services commencing. In that initial session and subsequent sessions therapeutic goals between child and practitioner will be established. On intake a discussion about the estimated number of sessions to achieve treatment goals may be discussed with you practitioner, however, this may change once commencing therapy with your child and during the provision of therapy.
Should you wish to engage in our therapeutic services, please call or email our reception team.
Meet the team