Finding the right psychologist for your child can feel overwhelming, especially when you're worried about their wellbeing. This guide explains what child psychology involves, how to know if your child might benefit, and how to choose a qualified provider in Adelaide. We feature a range of local practices offering assessments and therapy for emotional, behavioural and developmental needs.
Little Allied Health offers paediatric speech pathology, audiology, and psychology/counselling services for children, with a family-centred early intervention program (Little Listeners) for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Locations at Westbourne Park and Elizabeth Vale, SA.
Adelaide-based provider (Blair Athol & Salisbury Downs) offering Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, and Psychology for children, adolescents, and adults. No waitlist; play-based, personalised, evidence-based therapy; Speech Pathology Australia certified team.
Adelaide-based provider (incl. Stirling) offering speech pathology, autism assessments, group therapy and counselling for children and young people. Certified Practicing SPA members. No referral needed; accepts self- and plan-managed NDIS clients; Medicare rebates possible with referral.
Mindful Pathways provides psychological therapy for children, adolescents and adults, using evidence-based approaches to address mental health concerns. Located in Wayville, SA, with a team of registered and clinical psychologists.
Adelaide-based provider supporting children and adolescents aged 0–18 with disability, developmental delay, and emotional/behavioural challenges. Offers occupational therapy, child psychology, exercise physiology, hydrotherapy, art therapy, support work, and group programs. Supports self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants; no referral required.
Provider has rebranded to Brain Matters Allied Health, relocated to Semaphore Road, Semaphore, SA, and expanded services to include Psychology and Dietetics alongside existing Speech Pathology. New referrals directed via email to the new practice.
Adelaide-based psychology practice offering neuroaffirming autism and ADHD assessments for children, teens and adults, including NDIS functional capacity assessments. Suitable for NDIS clients. Offers in-person or Telehealth appointments and a no-obligation screening service.
Adelaide-based psychology practice offering educational, ADHD, and autism assessments for children aged 6-17 (adult assessments also available). No referral needed. Medicare not covered; NDIS plans may apply. Current wait times 4-6 weeks.
Child psychologists help children and young people who are struggling with emotions, behaviour, learning, social skills or development. Their work generally falls into two areas: assessment (understanding what's happening for a child, which can include cognitive, behavioural or developmental assessments) and therapy (helping a child build skills and strategies to cope and thrive).
Unlike therapy for adults, child psychology is playful and practical. Younger children often work through games, drawing, storytelling and structured play, while older children and teens may do more talking-based work. Parents and carers are usually closely involved, because change at home is a big part of progress.
Every child has ups and downs, but you might consider a psychologist if you notice patterns that don't settle over time, such as:
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it's worth seeking advice — early support often makes a real difference.
Child psychologists typically work with children from around age 3 or 4 through to adolescence. Some practices focus on early childhood, others on primary-aged children, and some (such as teen-focused services) specialise in adolescents. When you enquire, ask whether the psychologist regularly works with your child's age group and presenting concerns.
The first session is usually about gathering information and building rapport. Often the psychologist will meet with parents or carers first — sometimes without the child present — to hear your concerns, background and goals. They may then spend time with your child, sometimes through play or informal conversation.
Expect questions about your child's development, family situation, school, sleep, friendships and any recent changes. The psychologist will explain how they work, roughly how many sessions might be helpful, and what the next steps could be. If a formal assessment is recommended, they'll outline what it involves and what it costs.
In Australia, private psychology sessions commonly range from around $200 to $300 per hour, and formal assessments (such as cognitive or developmental assessments) can cost several hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on scope. These are general figures only — always confirm fees directly with the provider.
There are a few funding paths to ask about:
If you're using NDIS, check whether a provider is NDIS registered or whether you're self-managed or plan-managed (which lets you use non-registered providers too). Ask how they invoice and whether they claim directly.
The practices featured on this page — including Little Allied Health (Westbourne Park), South Australia Speech Services (Blair Athol), Adelaide Paediatrics (North Adelaide), Sage Psychology (Payneham South), Nurture Allied Health SA (Beulah Park), Connect Allied Health (Norwood) and OutsideIn Teen Psychology (Myrtle Bank), among others — sit across different suburbs and specialties. When comparing options, consider:
Taking time to ask these questions helps you find a psychologist your child feels comfortable with — which is one of the biggest factors in whether therapy works.
Or read the full child psychology guide, or browse all Adelaide providers.
You don't need a referral to see a psychologist privately. However, if you'd like a Medicare rebate, you'll need a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral. For NDIS funding, psychology needs to align with your child's plan goals.
Often yes. Psychology is usually funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living, subject to NDIS price caps and your child's plan and goals. Check whether your provider is NDIS registered, or whether you're plan- or self-managed, which allows you to use non-registered providers.
As a general guide, private sessions often range from around $200 to $300 per hour, and formal assessments can cost several hundred dollars or more. Medicare rebates, private health extras and NDIS funding may reduce your out-of-pocket cost. Always confirm current fees with the provider.
All psychologists in Australia must be registered with AHPRA through the Psychology Board of Australia. You can check registration online. It's also worth asking whether they're a general or clinical psychologist and how much experience they have working with children.
Waitlists vary widely between practices and can be several weeks to months given high demand. Always ask about current wait times when you enquire, and consider joining more than one waitlist or asking about cancellation lists if you need support sooner.