Teen Psychologist Brisbane | Adolescent Therapy & Counselling

Most parents who ask this question already have a feeling something isn't quite right; they just don't know whether to trust it. That instinct matters. You don't need a clinical checklist to justify reaching out for support. If your teen has seemed persistently more withdrawn, more anxious, more flat, or more on-edge than usual for a few weeks, that's worth taking seriously.

It's completely normal for both parents and teenagers to feel a little nervous before the first appointment. The first session is about getting to know your teen, understanding what's been happening, and helping them feel safe and comfortable. There's no pressure to share everything straight away—we move at your teen's pace.The first session is about building trust and safety. Here's what to expect:

• Parent Discussion: We often start by speaking with parents alone to understand your concerns, your teen's history, and what you're hoping to achieve.
• Meeting Your Teen: We then invite your teen to join. The conversation is led by them—we don't force them to talk about anything they're not ready to share.
• No Pressure: Teens often worry they'll be judged or pressured. We make it clear they're in control.
• Feedback & Plan: Towards the end, we may check in with you briefly to share initial impressions and discuss a rough plan moving forward.

Many parents wonder whether they should be in the room with their teen during therapy. The answer depends on your teenager's age, comfort level, and what they're seeking support for. Our goal is to create a space where young people feel safe to open up while also keeping parents appropriately involved.Most parents who ask this question already have a feeling something isn't quite right; they just don't know whether to trust it. That instinct matters. You don't need a clinical checklist to justify reaching out for support. If your teen has seemed persistently more withdrawn, more anxious, more flat, or more on-edge than usual for a few weeks, that's worth taking seriously.
For adolescents and late teens, we typically meet with them individually to build trust and autonomy. Confidentiality is important—teens need to know they have a private space to talk.

We do, however, maintain regular parent check-ins (without sharing every detail of the conversation) to keep you updated on progress and discuss strategies to support your teen at home. We always discuss and agree on this structure with both you and your teen at the start.

Yes, and you're far from the only family dealing with this. School refusal is exhausting for everyone involved. Parents often feel torn between being supportive and being firm; teens often feel they can't even explain what's so hard about going. We work with both sides of this. We help your teen understand what's driving the refusal, build skills to manage it, and we work with you on practical strategies at home, and where helpful, with the school. School refusal in teens is often driven by underlying anxiety—social anxiety, performance pressure, or fear of failure. Our approach includes:

• Helping your teen understand and manage anxious thoughts using CBT.
• Gradual exposure plans to help them feel safer returning to school.
• Working with you (parents) on routines and responses that reduce pressure at home.
• Where appropriate and with your consent, liaising with the school to support adjustments.

We aim to understand the "why" behind the refusal and address it compassionately.

Absolutely. Many of the teenagers we support experience challenges with attention, emotional regulation, impulsivity, or behavioural difficulties. Often, these struggles are connected to underlying factors such as ADHD, anxiety, autism, or stress, and understanding the bigger picture is an important part of the support process. We support teens with ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and related concerns. Our approach focuses on:

• Helping the teen understand their brain and why they might feel "different" or struggle with focus.
• Building practical skills for organisation, time management, and emotional regulation.
• Strategies for managing study stress and workload.
• Parenting strategies to create calm, consistent support at home.
• Addressing co-occurring anxiety or low self-esteem that often accompanies ADHD.

We can also work with schools to support accommodations if needed.

Grief can affect teenagers in ways that aren't always obvious. Some become withdrawn, others become angry, anxious, or seem unlike themselves. Therapy provides a safe space for teens to process difficult emotions, make sense of their experiences, and learn healthy ways to cope with loss and change.

Teens grieve differently—they may swing between sadness and seeming fine, act out, or struggle to verbalise their feelings. Therapy provides:

• A safe space to talk (or not talk) about the loss, without pressure.
• Validation that all their feelings—sadness, anger, numbness—are okay.
• Help making sense of the loss in an age-appropriate way.
• Support for parents on how to hold space for their teen's grief at home.

You don't have to navigate this alone. We can help your family heal together.

Experiencing trauma can leave teenagers feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or constantly on edge. Every young person's response to trauma is different, which is why we take a compassionate and individual approach, using evidence-based therapies that help teens feel safe, understood, and supported.We use evidence-based, trauma-informed therapies for adolescents, including:

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT): Helps teens process traumatic experiences and develop coping skills, with caregiver involvement when appropriate.
• EMDR Therapy: Can be highly effective for teens to reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact.
• CBT for trauma: Addressing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours related to the trauma.

Our priority is always to help your teen feel safe, understood, and empowered to heal at their own pace.

Yes. We work with many autistic and neurodivergent teenagers who may be experiencing anxiety, social challenges, emotional overwhelm, or difficulties at school. Our approach is neurodiversity-affirming, meaning we focus on understanding and supporting each teen's unique strengths and challenges.We provide support for autistic teens (typically high-functioning/Level 1), focusing on their unique strengths and challenges. This can include:

• Support with anxiety, emotional regulation, or sensory overwhelm.
• Social skills and peer relationship building in a safe, neuro-affirming way.
• Building self-esteem and understanding their identity.
• Support with school stress and transitions.
• Parent guidance on navigating the teen years.

We work alongside any existing diagnoses to support your teen's mental health and wellbeing.

Many families want to know whether psychology support is eligible for Medicare rebates. The answer depends on your circumstances and whether your teenager has a valid Mental Health Care Plan from their GP. We're happy to guide you through the process and explain the options available.Most parents who ask this question already have a feeling something isn't quite right; they just don't know whether to trust it. That instinct matters. You don't need a clinical checklist to justify reaching out for support. If your teen has seemed persistently more withdrawn, more anxious, more flat, or more on-edge than usual for a few weeks, that's worth taking seriously.