Available Australia-wide via Telehealth, or in person at our North Melbourne clinic.
Psychological support for children and adolescents who deserve to be understood
Growing up can be challenging, and supporting a child or teenager through it often leaves parents and carers with more questions than answers. You might notice your child working harder than their peers without seeing the same results, managing emotions that feel bigger than the moment, or withdrawing in ways that don’t feel like “just a phase.”
At Vida Psychology, we work with children and adolescents from age two through to young adulthood, alongside the families supporting them. Our approach is compassionate, evidence-based, and built around understanding who your child is and what they’re finding difficult.
Recognising when your child or teenager might need support
Children and teenagers don’t always have the words to explain what they’re going through, and it often gets held internally, showing up in behaviour long before it’s been verbalised. Some signs are easy to recognise, while others can be dismissed as a phase, a difficult term at school, or just part of growing up.
It’s worth paying attention when you notice a long-term pattern or challenges across more than one area:
Emotionally
It can show up as persistent sadness or anger that doesn’t seem to pass, difficulty understanding or expressing feelings, or being easily overwhelmed by situations that others seem to manage.
Physically
Changes in appetite or sleep, restlessness, or fluctuating energy levels without a clear reason.
Mentally
Having trouble with concentration, planning, or decision making, or difficulty staying organised or following through, even when the motivation might be there.
Behaviourally
Withdrawing from friends or family, losing interest in activities they once enjoyed, or noticeable changes in how they present at home or school.
None of these signs on their own necessarily points to something serious, but when they persist or show up across different areas, it’s often a sign that more support is needed than time alone will resolve. Addressing these challenges early creates more room for things to move in a healthier direction.
Supporting children, adolescents, and families through life’s challenges since 2007
If any of the above sounds familiar, you’re not alone in noticing it. We’ve been working with children, adolescents, and families navigating these kinds of challenges for almost two decades, and we understand how hard it can be to know where to turn.
Whatever brings you here, we support families navigating:
- Anxiety, school refusal, and social difficulties
- ADHD and executive function difficulties
- Autism and co-occurring mental health presentations
- Depression, low mood, and emotional overwhelm
- OCD and repetitive behaviours
- Trauma and difficult past experiences
- Grief and loss
- Low self-esteem and identity challenges
- Learning difficulties and academic stress
- Family transitions, including separation and divorce
What support looks like at Vida Psychology
Evidence-based therapeutic techniques
We help young people make sense of what’s going on, find ways to respond that actually work for them, and feel more settled in their day-to-day lives. How we do that depends on their age, their developmental stage, and what they’re navigating.
For younger children, this might mean working through play, drawing, or structured activities rather than talk-based therapy. For teenagers, it’s about building a relationship where they’ll want to open up, which takes time, the right therapist, and appropriate technique.
Depending on your child’s needs, we draw on approaches such as:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT):
Learning to embrace difficult emotions and thoughts, build a healthier relationship with your feelings, and take action aligned with your values
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT): Identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): Effective treatment for OCD and anxiety
Mindfulness-based Therapy: Building present-moment awareness and reducing stress
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Learning specific, actionable skills to manage emotional crises.
Trauma-informed Therapy: Safe, compassionate support for trauma recovery
Psychological assessments
If you’re looking for clearer answers, either on their own or alongside therapy, we offer a full range of assessments for children and adolescents, including ADHD, autism, cognitive, and educational assessments. These provide clear documentation that can be used for NDIS applications, school support requests, and early intervention pathways.
Getting started
Choosing the right psychologist for your child is an important decision, and we don’t take that lightly. We make the process as simple and stress-free as possible by starting with a matching session, so your child is paired with the right clinician before any therapeutic work begins.
STEP 1
The matching session
Your first meeting with us is about getting to know your family and finding the right fit. Our clinician will:
- Talk through what’s brought you here and what you’re hoping to achieve
- Explain how the process works and what to expect
- Answer any questions you or your child may have
- Match your child with the most suitable psychologist from our team
STEP 2
Your first appointment
Your child’s therapist will begin by discussing confidentiality and the process so they feel comfortable from the start.
From there, the first session is about understanding their story, their history, what’s been happening, and what they’d like to change, at a pace that works best for them.
Parents are involved as much as is appropriate for your child’s age.
STEP 3
Ongoing support
Together, we will create a plan that fits your child’s situation and needs.
This might look like regular weekly sessions, fortnightly appointments, a combination of therapy and assessment, or parent-focused sessions running alongside your child’s work.
It depends on what your family needs.
Why choose Vida Psychology
A neuro-affirming approach
We approach neurodivergence as a difference in how a young person experiences and responds to the world. Strengths are considered alongside challenges, and we’re not trying to make neurodivergent children appear more neurotypical.
A safe space for young people to open up
For a lot of children and teenagers, the idea of talking to a psychologist isn’t exactly appealing. We get that. Building a relationship where a young person feels comfortable enough to be honest takes time, and we don’t rush it.
We work across all ages and presentations
From toddlers with developmental concerns through to teenagers who have spent years feeling misunderstood, we work across the full range of ages and presentations, including those that are frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed.
We’ve been doing this since 2007
Vida Psychology has been helping children, adolescents, and families work through life’s difficult moments for nearly two decades. That experience influences how we work, what we notice, and how we show up for those who come to us.
Parents and carers are part of the process
We liaise with schools, GPs, paediatricians, occupational therapists, and speech therapists involved with your child’s care. What happens between sessions matters, and we work with you to make sure support is consistent.
Assessments and therapy under one roof
If your child needs both an assessment and ongoing therapeutic support, they can be provided together by the same therapist. No need to coordinate different providers or repeat your family’s history from scratch.
Got questions?
What if my child doesn’t want to come?
It’s more common than you’d think. A lot of young people, especially teenagers, arrive reluctant, and some are openly resistant. We don’t take it personally, and we don’t force the process. Part of what we do in those early sessions is simply show them that this isn’t what they expected, and let them find their own reasons to engage.
For younger children, sometimes starting with a parent session can help ease anxiety.
Will you tell me what my child talks about in sessions?
Confidentiality is something we take seriously, and we talk about it openly from the very first session, so everyone knows where they stand. For younger children, parents are kept closely informed. For teenagers, we aim to protect the privacy that makes the therapeutic relationship work, while making sure you’re across anything that genuinely needs your attention. It’s a balance, and we navigate it carefully.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed. You can contact us directly, and we’ll take it from there. If you do have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, it’s worth bringing along, but it’s not required to get started.
Can we access Medicare rebates?
If you’re an Australian resident, your child may be eligible for Medicare rebates through a Mental Health Treatment Plan prepared by your GP. It’s worth booking a longer appointment with your GP specifically for this conversation, as it takes a bit more time than a standard visit. Having the plan in place before your first session is helpful, but it won’t hold things up if it’s still in progress.
Do you see NDIS participants?
Yes. We support NDIS participants. For self-managed participants, sessions are invoiced privately, and we provide the documentation you’ll need to submit your claim. If you’re unsure about your plan or what applies to psychology services, we’re happy to talk it through.
Do you offer telehealth?
Yes. Telehealth is available for therapy sessions and ADHD assessments, so if getting to our North Melbourne clinic isn’t practical, whether that’s because of location, scheduling, or your child finding in-person attendance difficult, there’s still a way to access support.
How often will my child need sessions?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and that’s intentional. Most children start weekly as the first few sessions are about getting to know each other, understanding their unique experiences, and exploring goals. From there, we work out a rhythm that feels right for you and your child. How often we meet depends on your child’s individual needs, how things are showing up in their life right now, and what they are working toward. Session frequency is something we figure out together, and it can always be adjusted as things shift.
You don’t need to have it all figured out
Most families come to us without a clear sense of what their child needs. What usually brings people here is a sense that something isn’t quite right, and a readiness to look at it through a psychological lens.
We’ll help you work out the right next step from here.