COUNSELLING

Adolescent and Child Counselling in Melbourne

Compassionate support for children and teenagers to understand their emotions and develop practical skills for everyday life.

When young people need extra support, it’s not a sign that something’s wrong. Sometimes it simply means your child may need additional support to understand their experiences and develop helpful skills.

Our counselling and therapy is neuro-affirming, meaning we work with your child’s unique neurotype and learning style rather than trying to change who they are.

We also provide therapeutic support for children and teenagers accessing NDIS funding, with sessions tailored to individual goals and support plans.

We’re here to support your child in building confidence, understanding their emotions and developing skills that help them navigate everyday situations.

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Does my child need counselling or therapeutic support?

Parents often notice that something may be feeling harder for their child than usual, even if they can’t yet explain why.

Your child may seem more worried than usual, overwhelmed by school expectations, or struggling to manage strong emotions.

Children and teenagers may benefit from child counselling if they are experiencing:

Anxiety or persistent worries
Difficulties in managing emotions
Low mood or feelings of depression
School Can’t (school refusal) or anxiety about classes
Social differences or friendship difficulties
Low confidence or self-esteem
Challenges with falling or staying asleep
Overwhelm related to learning or expectations
Situational (selective) mutism

Counselling provides a safe space where children and teenagers can explore their experiences with a child psychologist or adolescent psychologist. Through this process, they can better understand their emotions and begin developing practical tools to navigate everyday situations.

If you’re unsure whether counselling may help, an initial conversation can provide clarity about the most appropriate next step.

For families accessing the NDIS, therapeutic support may be able to form part of your child’s broader plan.

Speak to our team

child counselling step by step psychology

How counselling helps

One-on-one counselling and therapy sessions focus on helping children and adolescents build emotional skills that support wellbeing, confidence and resilience.

At Step by Step Psychology, counselling sessions are tailored to your child’s age and learning profile. Together, we develop strategies that feel achievable and meaningful.

Through child counselling, children and teenagers can learn to:

Understand and express emotions more clearly
Develop strategies to manage anxiety and overwhelm
Build confidence in social and school environments
Strengthen problem-solving and coping skills
Feel better understood and supported

Our approach focuses on building long-term emotional skills so children and teenagers feel better equipped to manage future situations with greater confidence.

This may also be delivered as NDIS therapeutic support, depending on your child’s needs and funding pathway.

Our neuro-affirming approach to counselling

Step by Step Psychology takes a neuro-affirming approach to supporting children and adolescents. This means recognising and respecting different neurotypes and learning profiles.

Rather than trying to change how a child thinks or feels, our counselling and therapeutic support focuses on helping them understand themselves and develop skills that support their wellbeing.

Work with a Step by Step child or adolescent psychologist may focus on:

Understanding how each child experiences emotions and environments
Building skills that support emotional regulation
Identifying supports that reduce overwhelm in daily life
Helping children develop confidence in who they are

Our goal is not to change your child’s identity or focus on what they may perceive to be ‘wrong’. It’s to support them in understanding themselves and their strengths, and in navigating their world with greater confidence and self-awareness.

Areas we commonly support

Children and teenagers experience many different emotional and developmental stages. Additional support from a child psychologist can help them understand their experiences and develop skills to manage them.

Through child counselling and therapy, we support young people who may be experiencing:

Anxiety or persistent worries
Separation anxiety, particularly when starting kindergarten or at a new school
School can’t (school refusal) or distress about attending school
Difficulty managing strong emotions
Friendship or social differences
Low confidence or self-esteem
Behavioural differences at home or school
Stress during life transitions, such as school changes or family adjustments

Every child’s support plan is tailored to their individual needs, developmental stage and learning profile. This includes children accessing NDIS therapeutic support for emotional regulation, social development and improving daily functioning.

Counselling for children

Counselling for children focuses on helping them understand their feelings and build the emotional skills needed to navigate everyday situations.

Sessions with a child psychologist are designed to feel safe and engaging. Younger children often learn best through interactive approaches that help them recognise and express their emotions.

Sessions may include:

Age-appropriate conversations about feelings and experiences
Visual or play-based strategies
Emotional awareness and regulation tools
Practical strategies children can use at home or at school

We prioritise creating a space where your child feels safe, understood and supported while developing the skills that help them move forward.

Counselling for teenagers

Adolescence is a time of significant emotional, social and academic change. Teenagers may experience new pressures related to friendships, bullying, identity, school expectations or future goals.

Working with an adolescent psychologist provides a supportive space where teenagers can reflect on their experiences and develop practical strategies to manage them.

Counselling for teenagers may focus on:

Anxiety, low mood and stress management
Working through self-harm and how to minimise and eliminate this behaviour
Developing confidence and sense of identity
Navigating friendship and peer relationships, as well as dealing with instances of bullying
Managing school pressure and motivation
Strengthening emotional regulation and coping skills
Providing a trusted space to be seen and heard

Our sessions aim to build insight, resilience and practical strategies that your teen can use in everyday life.

Working with parents

Parents play a vital role in supporting their child’s emotional wellbeing and development.

Alongside child counselling and therapeutic support, we work with parents to help you feel more confident in supporting your child at home and navigating new situations.

For NDIS participants, this may also include aligning strategies with your child’s plan goals and broader support team.

Where appropriate, we provide:

Guidance for supporting your child’s emotional development
Practical strategies for managing difficult situations
Collaboration around school concerns
Recommendations that can be used in everyday family life
A compassionate space that allows you to voice your concerns and stresses without judgment

Our goal is to support the whole family, so children experience consistent support both inside and outside counselling sessions.

Partnerships with schools and professionals

Young people often benefit most when the people supporting them work together.

Where appropriate, Step by Step Psychology collaborates with teachers, schools and other professionals involved in your child’s care. This may include communication with educators, paediatricians or allied health professionals, if applicable.

Coordinated support helps ensure strategies developed through your child's counselling are consistent across home, school and therapy environments.

This shared understanding can reduce confusion for families and provide children with clearer, more supportive structures in their daily life.

What to expect from counselling

Every child’s counselling journey is unique, but our process is structured, supportive and paced across ages and stages.

Counselling and therapy with a child psychologist or adolescent psychologist typically involves:

An initial session to understand your concerns and goals
Regular counselling sessions at an agreed schedule, for example, weekly or fortnightly
Guidance for parents where helpful
Ongoing review of progress and strategies

The pace and approach are always adapted to suit your child so they feel comfortable and understood throughout the process.

Take the first step in counselling for your child

Parents often sense when their child may benefit from extra support, even if they’re not sure what that support should look like.

We can also help you understand how therapeutic support may fit within an NDIS plan if applicable.

An initial conversation with us can help you explore your concerns and decide whether counselling or therapy with a child psychologist or adolescent psychologist may be the right next step.