Finding the right psychologist for your child can feel overwhelming, especially when they're struggling emotionally, behaviourally or developmentally. This guide explains what child psychology involves, how it's funded, and how to choose a provider in Bendigo. This page features local providers including Island Psychology, Eden Psychology, Get Psych'd Youth Psychology and others listed below.
Island Psychology (Bendigo & Castlemaine, VIC) offers psychology services for children, adolescents, adults and couples, including ADHD assessments (Conners 4 for ages 6-18) and therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma and neurodivergence. No NDIS or telehealth mentioned.
Care For Your Mind is a private psychology and counselling clinic in Bendigo and Castlemaine offering individual, couples and family therapy, psychological assessments, art/expressive therapy, EMDR, and support work; no ages, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist details specified.
Right Brain Psychology (Bendigo, VIC) offers individual therapy, including work with youth, using EMDR, CBT/ACT, Somatic Experiencing and Gestalt approaches. Sessions offered in English, Catalan or Spanish; no explicit NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist details provided.
Private psychology practice seeing clients of all ages including children and adolescents, offering child/adult psychology services (e.g., CBT, ACT, trauma, anxiety). Medicare rebates available with GP referral; no bulk billing. Waitlist 2-6 months. One psychologist offers telehealth-only appointments.
Qurious Psychology, founded 2023, provides psychological assessment and therapy for children, adolescents, and adults in Bendigo. APS and ACPA member. Not a crisis service. No mention of NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist.
Avanti Psychology offers autism assessments (ADOS-2) conducted by Megan Phillips. No explicit details on age range, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist are provided on the site.
Wholeness Psychology in Bendigo offers Clinical Psychology services led by Mary Sandilands, focusing on anxiety, PTSD, grief, chronic pain, and depression using CBT, ACT, Schema Therapy, EMDR, and mindfulness approaches.
Telehealth-only psychology service (Zoom or phone) in Bendigo offering counselling, psychological therapy and hypnotherapy for mental health issues; accepts private clients or GP/Psychiatrist/Paediatrician referrals. No face-to-face appointments available.
Child psychologists support children with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and developmental needs. This can include anxiety, low mood, difficulties with friendships, big feelings and meltdowns, trauma, family changes, school refusal, and challenges linked to conditions such as autism or ADHD. Some psychologists also carry out formal assessments — for example, cognitive (IQ) assessments, learning assessments, or contributing to autism and ADHD diagnostic processes.
Rather than sitting a young child down for a formal chat, psychologists often work through play, drawing, games and age-appropriate activities. For older children and teens, sessions may look more like talking-based therapy. A good psychologist tailors their approach to your child's age, personality and needs, and works closely with parents and, where helpful, schools.
Every child has hard days, but you might consider seeking support if you notice patterns that last several weeks or interfere with everyday life. Common signs include:
If you're ever worried about your child's immediate safety, contact your GP, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or in an emergency call 000. This guide is general information only and isn't a substitute for advice from a qualified health professional.
Child psychologists work with children and adolescents, often from around age 3 or 4 through to 17 or 18. Some providers, such as youth-focused practices, specialise in teens and young adults. When you enquire, ask whether the psychologist regularly sees children in your child's age group and has experience with your specific concerns.
The first session is usually an intake or assessment appointment. For younger children, the psychologist may spend most of this time with parents to gather background — your child's history, current concerns, family situation, sleep, and what you'd like to achieve. For older children and teens, the psychologist may spend part of the session getting to know them directly.
From there, the psychologist will suggest a plan, which might include a set number of sessions, a formal assessment, or referral to another service. Progress is often reviewed along the way, and many psychologists provide strategies for parents to use at home.
Private psychology sessions in Australia commonly range from around $200 to $300+ per session, though fees vary by provider and session length. A few things worth knowing:
Always confirm fees and any gap payment directly with the provider before booking, as pricing changes and varies between practices.
Use the ratings on this page as a starting point, but dig a little deeper before committing:
Taking the time to ask these questions helps you find a psychologist who's the right fit for your child and family.
Or read the full child psychology guide, or browse all Bendigo providers.
Consider support if you notice persistent worry, sadness, withdrawal, sleep or appetite changes, big behavioural shifts, or difficulty coping at school lasting several weeks. Your GP can help you decide and can provide a referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan. If you're worried about immediate safety, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 in an emergency.
Yes, if your child has an NDIS plan, psychology typically falls under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. The NDIS sets price caps for these supports. Ask each provider whether they're NDIS-registered and whether they work with plan-managed or self-managed participants, as this affects how you use your funding.
Private sessions in Australia commonly range from around $200 to $300+ per session, though this varies by provider and session length. A Medicare Mental Health Treatment Plan can provide rebates for eligible children. Assessments are usually quoted separately. Always confirm current fees and any gap with the provider directly.
All practising psychologists in Australia must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia through AHPRA. You can verify a psychologist's registration on the AHPRA website. It's also worth asking whether they're a general or clinical psychologist and how much experience they have working with children your child's age.
Waitlists for child psychology can vary from a few weeks to several months, depending on the provider and demand. Ask each practice about their current wait time when you enquire, and whether they keep a cancellation list. Some providers offer telehealth, which may give you faster access while you wait.