Finding the right psychologist for your child can feel overwhelming, especially when you're not sure where to start. This guide explains what child psychology involves, how to recognise when support might help, and how to choose a provider in Ballarat. We also feature a range of local clinics so you can compare your options.
Auxilia Health offers psychological therapy, support coordination, and behaviour intervention services, NDIS registered, with face-to-face and telehealth options available Australia-wide. Also serves DVA, ADF, and TAC clients with no gap payments.
Psychology806 offers clinical psychology services including child and adolescent psychology, cognitive/developmental assessments, adult therapy, and clinical supervision. Staff are AHPRA-registered Clinical Psychologists and APS members. No explicit mention of NDIS registration, telehealth, waitlist, or age ranges in text.
Ballarat-based psychology practice offering individual counselling, mental health support, coaching, and organisational consultancy for individuals, businesses, schools and universities. Currently accepting new client referrals. No specific ages, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist details mentioned.
Ballarat Allied Care offers psychology, speech pathology, and occupational therapy for individuals of all ages, specialising in NDIS participants to support physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
Ballarat-based psychology practice offering assessment, counselling and trauma therapy (CBT, EMDR, ACT, etc.) via in-person and telehealth. Accepts Medicare, private, NDIS plan-managed, WorkCover and TAC clients. Currently has capacity for new clients; no specific paediatric age range stated.
Ballarat Women's Psychology offers psychological assessment and therapy for ages 8+ (mainly women, adolescents, gender-diverse clients), including ADHD/ASD assessments, trauma, perinatal mental health. Telehealth available via booking notes. Waitlists range 1-6 weeks depending on clinician; NDIS reports offered by some practitioners.
New View Psychology offers counselling and psychological assessment services for individuals, couples, and families. No specific paediatric ages, NDIS registration, telehealth details, or waitlist information were explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
NDIS provider offering support coordination, psychosocial recovery coaching, and allied health services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, and dietetics. No specific ages, telehealth, or waitlist details mentioned.
Child psychology focuses on how children think, feel, learn and behave. A registered psychologist can assess and support a wide range of emotional, behavioural and developmental needs — from anxiety and low mood to difficulties with attention, friendships, sleep, big emotions or adjusting to change. For some children, a psychologist provides assessments (for example, cognitive, learning or developmental assessments), while for others the focus is ongoing therapy using approaches suited to a child's age.
Therapy for children often looks different from adult sessions. Younger children may work through play, drawing, stories and games, while older children and teens may use talking-based approaches. A good psychologist tailors their style to your child and works closely with you as a parent or carer.
Every child has ups and downs, but it can be worth reaching out if you notice changes that last for several weeks or start to affect daily life. Common signs include:
You don't need to wait for a crisis. Early support can help a child build coping skills and confidence.
Psychologists work with children across a broad age range, from preschoolers through to teenagers. The approach is matched to your child's developmental stage. If you're unsure whether a clinic sees your child's age group, ask when you enquire — some practitioners specialise in early childhood, while others focus on primary-aged children or adolescents.
The first session is usually about getting to know your family and understanding your concerns. For younger children, parents are often involved for much of the appointment. The psychologist may ask about your child's development, health, family, school and the specific worries that brought you in. They may also spend time building rapport with your child.
From there, the psychologist will suggest a plan — this might involve further assessment, a set number of therapy sessions, or a review after a few visits. It's completely reasonable to ask what the plan is, how progress will be measured, and how you'll be kept in the loop.
Private psychology sessions in Australia commonly range from around $200 to $300+ per session, though fees vary between clinics and by session length and complexity. Prices are a general guide only and change over time, so always confirm current fees directly with the provider.
There are a few ways to reduce out-of-pocket costs:
This page features a range of Ballarat clinics — including Psychology 806, Ballarat Allied Care, KIT Psychology, Peers Psychology, Blossomtree Psychology, Mind Life Clinic, Ballarat Psychology Clinic, Unique Brains, Ballarat Psychological Service, Davis Psychology, National 360 Ballarat and Kate Hearn Child Psychology Ballarat — so you can compare locations and ratings. When choosing, consider:
Taking the time to ask a few questions upfront can help you find a psychologist your child feels comfortable with — which is one of the most important factors in getting good results.
Or read the full child psychology guide, or browse all Ballarat providers.
You don't always need a referral to book privately with a psychologist. However, if you want Medicare rebates, you'll need a GP referral and a Mental Health Treatment Plan. For NDIS funding, your child needs an approved plan with capacity building funds. Check with the clinic about what they require.
Yes, psychology support for children often falls under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living in an NDIS plan. NDIS price caps apply. Confirm with the provider whether they are NDIS-registered and how they bill plan-managed or self-managed funding before you book.
Private sessions in Australia generally range from around $200 to $300+ per session, though fees vary by clinic and session type. Medicare rebates, private health extras and NDIS funding may reduce your costs. These figures are a guide only — always confirm current fees with the provider.
Psychologists work with children of all ages, from preschoolers to teenagers, using approaches matched to each child's developmental stage. Some practitioners specialise in early childhood while others focus on older children or adolescents, so ask which age groups a clinic sees.
Waitlists can vary and demand is often high in regional areas. Some clinics may see new clients within a few weeks, while others have longer waits. Always ask about current waitlist times when you enquire, and consider asking about telehealth if you need to start sooner.