Counselling for Children

Our children are gifts loaned to us for a short time.  These gifts enable us to look at ourselves in ways we would never knowingly chose to look.; to grow in ways we never imagined we could grow. To assist a child to grow from infancy to adulthood is one of the greatest pleasures and most difficult burdens in which we will engage. 

What do the psychologists at Northern Life Services do:

kids

  1. A wide variety of evidence-based counselling practices are utilised. These include
    1. cognitive behaviour play therapy,
    2. mindfulness, guided visualisations for children,
    3. art and play therapies,
    4. parenting ideas,
    5. family therapy.
  2. Psycho-educational assessments – WISC-V, and other tests and assistance to schools.
  3. Assessments regarding mental health issues, esp. regarding children’s issues such as ASD Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders including separation anxiety.

Where:

  • Mareeba clinic rooms, Far North Queensland, Australia
  • Dimbulah Community Centre
  • By telephone or Zoom

Cost of Clinical Help:

Pat Woodcock –  $200.00 per hour payable by cash or eftpos/credit card.

With a GP Mental Health referral (we need to have a copy of the form, not just a letter from the doctor), Medicare may partially rebate your clinical fee – Check with Medicare for details. However, in special circumstances where the client/patient eligible, there is no cost involved.  Refunds may also be available through your private medical insurance.

5 Tips on Raising Happy Children

  1. Be a parent first, a friend second.  Children need to know where the boundaries are – you are the adult you must provide the rules – particularly around sleep, permissible activities and social interactions.
  2. Be consistent – Do not allow one day what you would not allow the day before – make the rules and then follow them.
  3. Be observant and give feedback – catch your kids doing appropriate things spontaneously, such as getting dressed for school without being reminded, putting the cup in the sink, smiling at the cat, playing quietly, kicking the soccer ball outside.  Children need at least 5 encouraging words (not necessarily praise) daily.
  4. Spend time with your children – reading to them, kicking the soccer ball with them, playing games with them (not just educational games either), talking with them about what they are interested in (not just what you expect of them).
  5. Keep your children physically busy  – moving children are happy children.