Finding the right psychologist for your child can feel overwhelming, especially when you're worried and unsure where to start. This guide explains what child psychology involves, how to spot when your child might benefit, and what to look for when choosing a Gold Coast provider. This page features a range of local practices to help you begin your search.
Family-owned Gold Coast (Robina) clinic offering paediatric and adult physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and NDIS services for babies through adults. Provides in-clinic, mobile (home/school/community), and telehealth appointments. Supports self- and plan-managed NDIS, private and Medicare clients; no waitlist mentioned.
Psychology practice offering individual, adolescent, and family therapy for children, adolescents, adults; NDIS (Improved Daily Living), WorkCover/NIISQ, DVA referrals; telehealth available across Queensland.
Gold Coast-based psychology practice offering telehealth and face-to-face child and adolescent therapy, anxiety, depression, trauma, and diagnostic assessments. Uses CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR. Immediate availability noted; no explicit NDIS registration or age range stated.
Gold Coast-based mobile therapy provider serving children aged 0-18 (early years, school age, teenagers) with speech pathology and early intervention services, offering multidisciplinary, holistic care tailored to developmental delays.
Australian Paediatric Specialists provides paediatric medical and allied health services across Brisbane, Gold Coast, SE Queensland and Northern NSW, including psychology, neuropsychology, and dietitian services, alongside paediatric medical specialties such as neurology, surgery, and nephrology for children and adolescents.
Mudgeeraba-based paediatric occupational therapy clinic seeing children aged 2–17 across the Gold Coast and Northern NSW, offering play-based, neurodiversity-affirming OT in clinic, home or community; independent speech pathology and psychology clinicians also share the space.
Gold Coast clinic in Mermaid Waters offering psychology services (CBT, ACT, DBT, Schema Therapy) for adults and adolescents dealing with anxiety, trauma, ADHD, depression. Both in-person and telehealth appointments available across Australia. No NDIS registration or waitlist details mentioned.
Psychology practice offering clinical counselling for adults, children, couples and families, including adolescent issues and adult ADHD diagnosis; based in Southport, Gold Coast, established 2004.
Child psychology focuses on the emotional, behavioural and developmental wellbeing of children and young people. A psychologist can carry out assessments (for example, to help understand learning, attention, anxiety or developmental differences) and provide therapy tailored to a child's age and needs. Common approaches include play-based therapy for younger children, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for older kids and teens, and parent-focused sessions that give you practical strategies to use at home.
Psychologists don't just work with the child in isolation. Good child psychology usually involves parents, and sometimes teachers or other therapists, so support is consistent across the settings where your child spends time.
Every child has ups and downs, but you might consider seeking support if you notice patterns that persist or interfere with daily life. Some common signs include:
You know your child best. If something feels off and it's not improving, it's worth reaching out. Seeking an assessment or a chat with a psychologist is not a sign anything is "wrong" — it's a way to understand your child and give them the right tools.
Child psychologists work across a broad range, typically from toddlers and preschoolers right through to teenagers. The type of therapy is matched to your child's developmental stage — play and creative approaches for younger children, and more talk-based or skills-focused work for older kids and adolescents. When you contact a provider, it's worth asking which ages they specialise in, as some focus on early childhood while others are more experienced with teens.
The first session is usually about getting to know your family and understanding your concerns. For younger children, parents often attend part or all of the appointment. The psychologist may ask about your child's history, development, routines, strengths and the challenges you're seeing. They might use questionnaires, observation or play to build a picture.
This first appointment is also your chance to ask questions and see whether the psychologist feels like a good fit for your child. After the initial sessions, the psychologist will usually talk through their impressions and suggest a plan, which might include further assessment, ongoing therapy or referrals to other supports.
As a general guide, private psychology sessions in Australia often range from around $200 to $300+ per hour, and formal assessments can cost significantly more depending on their scope. These figures are indicative only and vary between providers — always confirm current fees directly.
There are several ways to help with costs:
Costs and funding can be confusing, so don't hesitate to ask a provider's admin team to explain how billing works before you book.
This page lists a range of Gold Coast practices across suburbs including Nerang, Varsity Lakes, Labrador, Southport, Oxenford, Robina, Burleigh Heads and Miami. When comparing options, consider:
Taking the time to ask these questions helps you find a psychologist your child feels comfortable with — which makes a real difference to how therapy goes.
Or read the full child psychology guide, or browse all Gold Coast providers.
Child psychologists work with a wide age range, from toddlers through to teenagers. The approach is tailored to your child's developmental stage — play-based for younger children and more talk-based for older kids and teens. Ask each provider which ages they specialise in.
Yes, if your child is an NDIS participant, psychology usually sits under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. NDIS price caps apply and are updated by the NDIA. How you access it depends on whether your plan is self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed, so check with the provider and your plan manager.
As a general guide, private sessions in Australia often range from around $200 to $300+ per hour, with assessments costing more depending on their scope. These are indicative figures only — always confirm current fees with the provider, and ask about Medicare, NDIS and private health rebates.
All psychologists in Australia must be registered with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). You can search the AHPRA register online to confirm registration and check for any area of practice endorsements before booking.
Waitlists vary between practices and can range from a few weeks to several months given high demand. It's best to contact providers early and ask about their current waitlist. Some may offer telehealth or cancellation lists that can shorten the wait.