Child psychologists help children work through emotional, behavioural and developmental challenges using age-appropriate assessments and therapy. This guide explains what to expect, how funding works, and how to choose a provider on the Central Coast — and features local clinics you can compare.
Eatsense, established 2013 on the NSW Central Coast, offers dietitian and psychology services, food-as-medicine consultations, and seminars. Team of Accredited Practising Dietitians led by Nicole Saliba. No specific mention of paediatric age range, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlists in provided text.
Eatsense is a dietitian-led practice on the NSW Central Coast offering nutrition/dietetics and psychology services. Founded 2013 by Nicole Saliba. No explicit mention of NDIS registration, telehealth, waitlists, or specific paediatric age ranges.
Dennis Kaip Psychology offers individual psychological therapy across the lifespan for anxiety, depression, trauma and more, plus telehealth for remote/rural clients. No specific paediatric age range, NDIS registration, or waitlist details are mentioned.
Provides evidence-based counselling and psychological assessment services for children, adolescents and adults across the Central Coast, NSW. Offers flexible appointments at office, schools, or home. Psychologists hold Honours and Master's degrees with specialised training.
ORS is a national, NDIS-registered provider offering Positive Behaviour Support, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Dietetics, and Key Worker Early Childhood Supports. Services span children, adults and families, with telehealth available nationally and no wait lists for Behaviour Support.
Eatsense is a Central Coast NSW dietetics practice offering food-as-medicine nutrition services and psychology services, founded 2013 by dietitian Nicole Saliba, with a team of dietitians providing tailored, non-restrictive nutrition advice.
This is a general counselling and psychology practice with multiple Sydney and Central Coast locations, including Erina. The provided text lists office locations and contact numbers but does not specify paediatric therapy services, practitioner names, ages seen, NDIS registration, or telehealth details.
Limited website text available; no specific details on ages, therapy types beyond psychology, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlists could be confirmed.
Child psychology focuses on how children think, feel, learn and behave. A psychologist working with children uses play-based activities, conversation, worksheets and structured tools to understand what's going on and to help a child build skills and coping strategies. Support can involve assessment (to clarify what's happening) and therapy (to work on goals over time), and it usually includes coaching for parents and carers so the strategies carry over at home and school.
Common areas of support include anxiety and worry, low mood, big emotions and meltdowns, behaviour that's hard to manage, difficulties with friendships, trauma or grief, sleep and toileting concerns, and developmental questions such as attention, learning and autism-related needs. Some psychologists also complete cognitive and educational assessments that can inform school planning.
Every child has ups and downs. It can be worth speaking with a professional when difficulties last for several weeks, get in the way of daily life, or worry you as a parent. Signs may include:
A chat with your GP or child health nurse is a sensible first step, as they can rule out medical causes and help with referrals.
Psychologists work with children across all ages, from toddlers and preschoolers through to primary and high school. The approach changes with age — younger children are supported mostly through play and through work with parents, while older children and teens can take part in more talk-based therapy. Early support tends to be helpful, but it's never too late to seek help.
The first session is usually about getting to know your child and family. For younger children, parents often attend part or all of the appointment. The psychologist will ask about your concerns, your child's development, health, family and school life, and what you're hoping to achieve. They may use questionnaires, observation or play activities. By the end, you should have a sense of the plan — whether that's further assessment, a set of therapy sessions, or referral elsewhere. It's normal to feel a bit unsure at first; a good clinician will explain things clearly and answer your questions.
As a general guide, private psychology sessions in Australia often range from around $200 to $300 per hour, and formal assessments cost more because they involve testing and report writing. These are indicative ranges only and vary between providers, so always confirm fees before booking.
Several funding options may help:
A quick caveat: pricing, caps and rebates change over time, so treat the figures above as a starting point and confirm current amounts directly.
This page features local providers ranked by rating, including Assess Psychology (Wyong), Associated Counsellors & Psychologists (Erina), ORS Gosford, ARC Family Psychology (Erina) and others across Tuggerah, Gosford, Killarney Vale, Berkeley Vale, Tumbi Umbi, Wyoming and West Gosford. When comparing them, consider:
Taking the time to ask these questions helps you find a provider who's the right match for your child and family.
Or read the full child psychology guide, or browse all Central Coast providers.
You don't always need a referral to see a psychologist privately, but a GP referral with a Mental Health Treatment Plan may allow Medicare rebates. Some providers also request a referral, so it's worth checking when you book.
It can, if your child is an NDIS participant and the support aligns with their plan goals. Psychology usually sits under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living, and NDIS price caps apply. Check your plan or ask your support coordinator to confirm.
As a general guide, sessions often range from about $200 to $300 per hour, with assessments costing more. These are indicative only and vary by provider, so confirm current fees and any Medicare, private health or NDIS support before booking.
All practising psychologists in Australia must be registered with AHPRA, and you can search their public register. Some also hold endorsement in areas such as clinical or educational and developmental psychology. It's fine to ask about their experience with children.
Waitlists vary between clinics and can be several weeks or longer given local demand. Ask each provider directly when you enquire, and consider telehealth options, which may have shorter waits.