Finding the right psychologist for your child can feel overwhelming, especially when you're not sure what to look for. This guide explains what child psychology involves, how to know if your child might benefit from support, and how to choose a Townsville provider with confidence. We feature a range of local practices to help you start your search.
Allied health provider offering psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy, behaviour support, physiotherapy, dietetics, and allied health assistant support for adults and children, using a neuro-affirming, wholistic approach with assessments and interventions.
The Psychology Talk offers 1:1 psychology, couples, corporate, WorkCover and NDIS psychology services in Townsville, QLD. Works with Medicare, NDIS and WorkCover. No specific ages, telehealth, or waitlist details mentioned.
OnBundock is a Townsville-based counselling, consultancy and coaching practice offering psychologist and accredited social worker appointments, coaching, EAPs, critical incident management, workshops, and assessments/reports for children, adults, couples and families. No paediatric allied-health therapy types (e.g. speech, OT, physio) are explicitly listed.
City Psychology in South Townsville offers psychology services for infants through adults, including child, adolescent, and family counselling, play therapy, and assessments. Founded by Nicole Pierotti in 2018. No mention of NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlists.
NQ Family Therapy Centre offers psychology and family therapy services for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, including testing/assessments, PEERS social skills program, and neurofeedback. Telehealth available. Clinicians are AHPRA-registered. No NDIS registration, age range, or waitlist details specified.
Minding Family (Townsville/Kirwan) offers psychology and occupational therapy assessment/treatment across the lifespan, including autism, ADHD, developmental delays, and learning difficulties. Clinicians are trained to work with individuals with disabilities. No specific ages, telehealth, NDIS registration, or waitlist details, or named practitioners mentioned.
Mind Matters NQ, founded in 2006 by Dr Kasia Marneros, provides psychological services to individuals, couples, and families in Townsville and surrounding region.
Psychology practice offering play therapy, EMDR, CBT/ACT for children (2+), adolescents, adults and parents. NDIS registered, accepts plan-managed and self-managed plans, offers telehealth sessions and parent consultations.
Child psychologists support children with emotional, behavioural and developmental needs. This can include anxiety, low mood, big emotions and meltdowns, difficulties with friendships, sleep problems, school refusal, trauma, grief, and adjusting to family changes. Psychologists also carry out assessments — for example, cognitive (IQ) assessments, autism assessments, ADHD-related concerns and learning difficulties — which can help explain what's going on and guide next steps.
Therapy is tailored to the child's age and stage. For younger children this often looks like play-based work, where the psychologist uses toys, drawing and stories to help the child express feelings and build skills. For older children and teens, it may involve talking-based approaches, practical strategies and skills for managing emotions. Parents are usually closely involved, because much of the progress happens at home and school.
Every child has ups and downs, but it may be worth seeking support if you notice:
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it's reasonable to ask for a professional opinion.
Child psychologists generally work with children from around age 3 or 4 through to the late teens. Some practices have specific age ranges or particular strengths (for example, early childhood, primary-aged children or adolescents), so it's worth asking whether a provider is a good fit for your child's age when you first make contact.
The first session is usually about getting to know your family and understanding your concerns. Often the psychologist will meet with parents first — either on their own or with the child present — to gather background, discuss what you've noticed, and agree on goals. Depending on the child's age, they may spend time building rapport through play or informal conversation.
There's no pressure for your child to "perform" or share everything straight away. Building trust takes time, and a good psychologist will move at your child's pace. After the initial sessions, they'll usually outline a plan and how many sessions might be helpful.
As a general guide, private psychology sessions in Australia commonly range from around $180 to $300+ per hour, and formal assessments (such as cognitive or autism assessments) are usually charged as a package that can run into several hundred or over a thousand dollars. These are broad ranges only — always confirm fees directly with the provider, as costs vary.
There are a few ways to reduce out-of-pocket costs:
If your child is under 6 or 7 with developmental concerns, the early childhood approach through the NDIS may be the pathway — you can contact an early childhood partner even before a formal diagnosis.
This page features providers across Townsville, from Townsville City and Hermit Park to Kirwan, Mundingburra, Pimlico, Aitkenvale, Bushland Beach and Douglas. When comparing them, consider:
Taking a little time to ask these questions helps you find the right match — and gives your child the best chance to thrive.
Or read the full child psychology guide, or browse all Townsville providers.
You don't need a referral to see a psychologist privately. However, if you want Medicare rebates you'll need a GP to prepare a Mental Health Care Plan first, and some assessments may benefit from a GP or paediatrician referral. Check with each provider.
Yes, if your child has NDIS funding, psychology usually sits under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living, provided it's linked to their goals. Confirm whether the provider is NDIS-registered and how your plan (agency, plan or self-managed) affects who you can see. NDIS price caps apply.
As a general guide, sessions often range from around $180 to $300+ per hour, and formal assessments are usually a separate package that can be higher. These are broad ranges only — always confirm current fees with the provider, and ask about Medicare, private health and NDIS options.
Most child psychologists work with children from around age 3 or 4 through to the late teens, using play-based approaches for younger children and talking-based work for older kids. Ask a provider whether they're a good fit for your child's specific age.
Waitlists vary between practices and can be longer for assessments than for general therapy. It's best to phone a few providers to compare current wait times, and ask whether telehealth appointments are available if you need support sooner.