Practical Skills to Build Resilience in Children and Teenagers

Excessive stress and anxiety causes a lot of pain for kids and parents alike and can lead to a wide range of issues…

From worrying thoughts to sleep problems…

Avoiding school, sports or other activities…

Difficulty concentrating and learning…

..and sometimes even physical symptoms like fatigue, lightheadedness, upset stomachs or vomiting…

And what’s more, if the underlying issues are not addressed, things can worsen over time…

In fact, roughly half of all mental health disorders start by the age of 14.

That’s why early intervention is vital.

But the good news is resilience helps children to cope with stress and overcome everyday challenges.

And the best part?

Resilience can be boosted by teaching children practical skills.

For example, skills to help them:

  • cope with adversity
  • recognise and change unhelpful thoughts
  • solve problems independently
  • reframe setbacks as opportunities for growth and improvement
  • break free of the “worry loop”
  • understand and regulate emotions
  • express how they feel
  • understand how others feel
  • reduce anger, frustration and conflicts
  • manage difficult social interactions

Research shows that children with these skills perform better, feel more in control and are less stressed.

And these skills are not “quick-fixes”…

Rather, they are “life skills” that remain relevant and effective through adolescence and adulthood.

That’s why we developed a Resilience-Focused Counselling program.

This program is delivered on a one-to-one basis by experienced child psychologists and carefully tailored to the needs of each child.

In these sessions, we teach children practical skills to help them build resilience and become more confident and capable of handling their everyday challenges.

“The best feeling is when clients tell us how much our efforts have helped create a positive difference in their lives. Our main aim is to help kids become empowered to reach their full potential and learn how to thrive at school, at home and in life!”

Deborah Jepsen, Educational Psychologist

What issues can we help with?

Here are the main ones:

  • Emotional challenges such as anxiety and worry, angry or difficult behaviour and grief or depression
  • Social challenges such as friendship problems, bullying or difficult social interactions
  • Learning challenges such as study and exam skills, organisation and planning, motivation and goal setting

How is our service different from other counselling services?

We focus on evidence-based methods that have been shown to effectively build resilience.

We offer a private and independent service, away from the distractions of school.

Our psychologists have postgraduate training in educational psychology and experience working in schools.

Each one is an expert in children’s learning, psychological wellbeing and development.

And we include parents in the process as much as possible to help get the best possible outcomes.

When is counselling helpful?

Counselling may be helpful whenever a situation or feeling is affecting a child enough that it interferes with their ability to:

  • participate in school, sports or other activities
  • concentrate in class
  • do their schoolwork
  • communicate and get along with others
  • relax and sleep
  • make friends
  • or enjoy life

What does counselling involve?

At each counselling session, a child will spend some time individually with the psychologist, learning new skills and strategies, understanding emotions and strengths, reviewing progress and making adjustments.

At the end of the session parents are invited back for a brief summary of what was achieved and what skills need to be practised.

What are our qualifications and experience?

Our staff are fully registered psychologists with postgraduate training and experience working in schools.

Is this a private service?

Yes, we offer a 100% private, independent and confidential service.

What about fees and rebates?

A comprehensive initial parent consultation is $250, less any applicable private health rebate. The psychologist will explain counselling fees and rebate options in more detail during the initial parent consultation.

How many sessions are required?

It depends on the issues but as a rough idea most children with mild-to-moderate challenges require around 6 sessions, following the initial parent consultation.

This usually includes a few weekly sessions to learn and apply new skills and strategies and then a few less frequent sessions to reinforce healthy habits.

Because we are focused on teaching practical skills (rather than non-specific “talk therapy”) we typically expect to see good progress within the first few sessions.

Where are we located?

Suite 1 / 11 Beach Street, Port Melbourne (one block along the beach towards Albert Park from the corner of Bay Street).

What is the next step?

If parents think their son or daughter might benefit from our help, the first step is to book an initial parent consultation.

A 50 minute initial parent consultation is an opportunity for parents to:

  • discuss their concerns in detail
  • ask questions and get the right advice for their child
  • make sure it is the right fit

But please keep in mind our small team only has a few times to offer each week for these consultations.

So if you think our service might be helpful for your child or teenager?

Click here to book now

How can we help?

Book your initial parent consultation to get the right advice for your child's needs

Book Now »

Got any questions before you book? Click here to request a phone call and a psychologist will call you at a convenient time (prospective clients only). Please keep in mind we are often busy with clients but we do our best to respond to all enquiries within one business day. :-)

Why have 2,866* parents chosen us?

(*As of 24th July, 2019.)

  • Private and confidential: We are a private service so you will receive 100% independent and confidential advice.
  • Child and adolescent experts: We only work with school age children, teenagers and parents.
  • Education and school experts: We will help you navigate the school system to get the best possible results for your child.
  • Qualified and experienced: We only employ psychologists with a master degree or higher and experience working in schools.
  • Fast appointments: We don't keep a waiting list and see most new clients within 7 days.
  • Convenient location: We are in Middle Park with easy access from many parts of Melbourne and unrestricted street parking.
  • Trusted methods: We use approaches that are strongly supported by research evidence or clinical experience.
  • Lovely beachside office: You will love our quiet, modern and attractive office, with its beach and ocean-themed rooms.