Child Psychologist Gold Coast
Childhood is the period of the human lifespan between infancy and adolescence. This developmental period is marked with significant social, emotional, physical, social and developmental changes. In today’s world, children experience a substantial level of challenges and stress. For some children, they can navigate these challenges with ease and with support from family and their community network. For other children and families, additional support and care is required.
With an endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist, and through our range of child psychology services and treatment plans, we can help children to break down the barriers in their life preventing happiness, and eliminate the factors creating unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Child Psychology Services
Based in Coolangatta, Vibe Psychology provides therapy for children (7 years and above) to assist with a range of issues and concerns. Some of the difficulties we support are:
- Anxiety (selective mutism, social anxiety, school refusal, phobias)
- Developmental issues, attachment, ADHD, ASD
- Depressive mood (including depression, grief/coping with death)
- Anger management, emotion regulation difficulties, behaviour problems
- Adjustment to separation/divorce, bullying
- Difficulties with transition to school
- Trauma
- Peer issues- difficulties in friendships, making friends, social skills
- Academic issues- navigating learning difficulties/disorders, problems with attention
- Other issues: perfectionism, self-esteem, sleeping problems, assertiveness
- Practicing strategies such as EMDR, CBT, EFT, ACT, Narrative therapy
- Tuning into Kids Program for parents
** If the concerns you are seeking support for your child are not in the above list, please reach out via email to provide information and we can problem-solve the next steps together.
We also provide preliminary screening for children with a range of emotional and learning needs before referral to more specialist services.
Parent Collaboration & Involvement
We understand getting the right fit of psychologist for your child is critical.
Both you and your child need to be comfortable with the person you choose, and with the methods of assessment and the type of therapy chosen.
For younger children, they may or may not want mum or dad to sit in on child psychology sessions.
Sometimes, when skills building, children may explain to their parents what they have learned, or the child may ask for help with their home practise. Skills building is a large part of cognitive behaviour therapy and parents are a key part of this process to help with reinforcing and implementing the skills their child learns in therapy, in their life world context for greater transferability. This means that parents may be provided with a summary of sessions (in person) after the session to help their child in their skill development. It may also involve sessions with parents to help in skill development and parent training to help support their child.
Referral Process & Stakeholder Collaboration
Vibe Psychology is experienced in working with children to provide assessment and intervention. We can work closely with primary schools (upon consent of child and parent) to improve the mental wellbeing of our clients.
Children and families may opt to work privately with Vibe Psychology, or seek a referral from a GP or paediatrician for therapy under a Mental Health Care Plan.
We often work in conjunction with the school learning support team, school counsellors and with class teachers. When necessary, we visit schools to meet with relevant staff to ensure a team approach to solving problems and supporting the social, emotional and learning needs of the child.
A collaborative, holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing underpins our work at Vibe Psychology. In order to have a meaningful understanding of past specialist involvement we will want to read any reports you have already gathered, to help us in addressing the referral question and to gain a deeper understanding of your child.
Additional Information for Separated Families
At Vibe Psychology we recognise the challenges that can be placed on parents and children when parents are in the process of/or have separated, or who have divorced. Therapy may be of benefit for children adjusting to all the changes that can occur at these transitional times.
To ensure your child’s time at Vibe Psychology does not become an extension of other conflict, we require both parents to provide written consent for therapy to continue and attendance is focused on the emotional health and safety of your child.
Please note: Vibe Psychology does not provide statements to support court proceedings in process of separation or divorce.