Psychology for children and young people to help navigate mental health challenge
At Bowyer Psychology, we recognise that every young person is unique. Our psychologists take a gentle, evidence-based and neurodiversity-aware approach, creating a safe, calm and welcoming space where children and adolescents can develop skills and strategies to support their wellbeing now and into the future. We recognise and respect individual differences in how young people think, feel, learn and experience the world, tailoring our approach to their individual needs and strengths. We work closely with parents, caregivers and families, recognising that meaningful progress happens when everyone feels supported. Our team helps young people work towards their goals while guiding families in how to best support their child’s emotional and developmental needs. To support continuity of care, our clinicians can also communicate with relevant external supports, such as schools, teachers and other health providers.
Our clinical psychologists help children and adolescents with a range of issues
We work with children and adolescents experiencing a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and psychological challenges, including:
- Depression and emotional challenges
- Self-esteem, self-image, and confidence
- Anxiety disorders, including phobias, panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, and social anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Trauma and post-traumatic stress
- Anger management
- Eating disorders
- Self-harm and suicidal ideation
- Neuro-affirming care for neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD and Autism
- School and exam stress
- Peer relationships, social difficulties, and bullying
- Adjustment disorders
- Family and interpersonal challenges
Our team of psychologists and clinical psychologists support children and adolescents using a range of evidence-based interventions
Our experienced clinicians draw upon evidence-based treatment modalities including:
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT assists children and young people to understand the links between how they think, feel, and act. CBT involves practical activities through a collaborative approach to develop positive ways of thinking and responding to challenging situations.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
This approach is effective in helping young people to identify and manage difficult thoughts and feelings without becoming overwhelmed. ACT often uses values-based activities and creative exercises to collaboratively work towards understanding what is important to each client and how they can take positive steps towards their goals.
Dialectal Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a therapeutic approach which is helpful for young people who experience strong, overwhelming emotions. It is a practical modality which teaches healthy distress tolerance skills, coping strategies, mindfulness, and interpersonal skills to assist young people to manage their emotions.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness is a practice which can assist young clients to tune into the present moment with kindness and compassion. Many simple exercises such as breathing techniques, grounding, and mindful movement can be incorporated into child therapy to promote emotional regulation, focus, and clarity.
Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy helps young people understand recurring patterns in their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, particularly those that may have developed through early experiences and relationships. It can help them recognise unmet emotional needs, develop healthier ways of responding to challenges, and build more positive relationships with themselves and others.
FAQs about child and adolescent therapy
Why might a child or teen need therapy?
Therapy can help children and teenagers better understand and regulate their emotions, develop problem-solving skills, improve communication, and navigate identity and peer relationships. This is especially helpful during the turbulent adolescent years.
Some issues that therapy can help children and teenagers with include:
- Big life changes such as divorce, moving house, changing schools, or the loss of a loved one.
- Emotional struggles like anxiety, sadness, irritability, or low self-esteem that seem to stick around or impact daily life.
- Behavioural issues including frequent tantrums, aggression, withdrawal, or defiance.
- Social challenges like difficulty making or keeping friends, or being bullied.
- Learning or attention difficulties such as problems concentrating, staying on task, or navigating school demands.
- Trauma or stressful events including illness, accidents, or witnessing violence.
How does a child or adolescent’s age influence the therapy process?
Depending which stage in life your child is in, therapy will end up focusing on different things. For young children, therapy will put a greater emphasis on things like play, drawing, storytelling, and games. These are not just for fun, but rather powerful tools for expression and learning. Meanwhile, for tweens and teenagers, therapy tends to involve talking, creative exercises, and skill-building activities. Often, they may appreciate just having a non-judgemental adult outside of their family to talk to.
When should you reach out to a therapist for your child or teen?
Children and adolescents can experience challenges with their emotions, behaviour, relationships or everyday life at different stages of their development. If these difficulties persist, affect their wellbeing, or begin to interfere with home, school or social activities, talking with a psychologist may help. You don’t need to wait until things feel overwhelming to seek support. Therapy can provide a space for young people to better understand themselves, develop helpful strategies and navigate challenges with support from their family and caregivers.
Are parents and caregivers involved in therapy for kids and teens?
Parental involvement is a key part of therapy. Your child’s therapist might meet with you to gather background information, share progress (with your child’s consent), and offer parenting strategies. This is especially important for younger children, where change happens both in and out of the therapy room.
What skills and insights can children and teens gain from therapy?
Therapists can help children to gain some very important skills for managing their emotions and behaviours. Some of these include:
- Understanding and naming their feelings
- Learning coping strategies
- Practicing problem-solving and communication skills
- Improving self-esteem and relationships.
What are common misconceptions about child and teen therapy?
There are many misconceptions that people have about what therapy is for and what it can do. Some of these include:
- Therapy is about empowering kids, not “fixing” them. A child needing some additional support should not be treated as if it is a defect. Everyone is different and sometimes those differences require an alternative approach.
- Therapy is not about simply blaming parents or families for any issues that their children are experiencing. The process of therapy should be a team effort between the therapist, child, and family.
- Therapy is not a quick fix. Meaningful change takes time and consistency, so it’s important to be patient when it comes to how quickly you expect your child to show progress.
- There is no one-size-fits-all approach in therapy. Every child’s journey will be different, including the pace of their progress and the approach that works best for them. What’s important is to provide them with the space to feel seen, heard, and supported.
