Child and Adolescent Psychology Services
Being a parent is hard work but it also should be fun. When the balance of fun is lost it can feel like a burden.
Usually behaviour problems in children can be a signal that something isn't right. Our job is to help understand what might be driving the problem and also to discern your child’s perspective on what’s happening. That may require work with yourselves and/or work with the child but we will help you find a solution that brings joy back to your family so that your child is helped to make sense of life.
Assessments
An assessment is a structured process that allows us to get to know your child better and it helps us to formulate a plan to support you and your child.
How Child & Adolescent Pyschological Assessments Work
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Our assessment process begins with an initial interview the parents or caregivers. This important meeting allows the psychologist to gather essential background information and gain a clearer understanding of the concerns. It's also an opportunity to outline the steps that will follow and plan the sessions required.
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In the initial session, the focus is on understanding your child's perspective and experiences. This is explored through conversation or play, depending on what suits your child best. The primary goal is to establish trust, ensuring your child feels safe and comfortable with the psychologist.
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Following the establishment of trust, we usually proceed with specific assessments, including psychometric testing. These are standardised tests that provide a precise information about your child’s strength and difficulties. The tests are designed to be engaging and enjoyable for children, serving as a helpful way to break the ice and observe how your child thinks and solves problems.
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It is vital for your child to feel empowered by recognising their strengths and having some understanding of any difficulties. This might be a worrying for your child but this process helps them gain perspective and confidence with what’s happening. We use the insights gained to offer tailored advice and make informed recommendations for the family and also for your child's school if appropriate.
We don’t believe that focussing solely on deficits is either useful or fair to the child’s developing sense of self.
Behavioural Patterns and Broader Perspectives
If there are behaviours causing concern, we assess these through various questionnaires and tasks for both you and your child. Understanding the pattern of these behaviours often involves gaining perspectives from your child's school as well.
Our approach considers the broad system your child interacts with, including family, school, and community, acknowledging that isolating the problem to just the child is not beneficial.
We aim to help uncover what is happening with your child and the wider family and suggest practical strategies for addressing the presenting problems.
Reporting & Feedback
A detailed report is compiled when necessary, such as for school supports or other professional consultations.
We involve you the parent closely in this process, ensuring that any communication, whether reports or letters, is agreed with you. Regarding schools, our policy is that school letters are given to you so you can bring them directly to the school.
Nothing is finalised or communicated without your consent and understanding.
Feedback sessions are arranged to discuss findings and recommendations, making sure everything we do is transparent and makes sense to you.