Face to Face Services: Only in Miranda (Sydney) Fill out our intake form
Once you make an appointment with ACPC, you will receive an email via our booking system HALAXY requesting that you complete important information such as consent forms, details of payment method and some questionnaires.
During the first session, the psychologist will conduct an interview to gain sufficient information of your concerns and the child/adolescent's background history. This may include but is not limited to; developmental, family, behavioural, social and emotional history.
If assessments may be warranted, your psychologist will discuss with you the assessment process which may include standardised assessments with your child and/or a preschool/ school observation and/or a child interview.
Following assessment, whilst working with you, your psychologist will provide you with feedback, recommendations, and plan with you the necessary steps to address the concerns shared. During this process, your psychologist will aim to be attentive, knowledgable, and work with you in a collaborative and respectful manner.
At ACPC Psychology the general assessment & intervention process may include the following three stages
1- Gathering information through meeting and observation:
2- Gathering more information through standardised assessments to assist in determining the nature of symptoms and to allow differentiation.
Comprehensive standardized assessments (includes but not limited to):
The assessment process includes a comprehensive report demonstrating results, identifying concerns and outlining recommendations, and a feedback session to discuss what will suit the client's specific needs. For further detailed information please see link here.
3- Providing support and intervention as needed:
For most cases, the child and adolescent feel reassured by their parents prior to meeting with a psychologist. However, in some cases, it can be quite stressful for parents to discuss the possibility of seeing a psychologist. Here is a summary that may assist you in guiding your child to attending the clinic:
For further information that could be helpful for you in preparing your child, please see our Blog here.
Psychologists/ Clinical Psychologists working at ACPC combine a number of strategies and techniques from a range of evidence based practices. This is to ensure that the child or adolescent is receiving the appropriate and effective treatment based on their needs and diffiulities.
Our team of psychologists possess a number of therapeutic skills and training. They are able to provide a variety of approaches and strategies depending on the presenting problem. Such treatment approaches may include but are not limited to; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS), Interpersonal Therapy, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Neuropsychotherapy etc.
When working with children with anxiety for example, CBT is a very effective evidence based approach which provides a number of therapeutic techniques to teach the child/ adolescent skills and strategies to apply to manage their anxiety in a more efficient way. This is acheived through a combination of teaching the child ways to challenge their 'negative thinking' and ways to introduce a change in their consequential behaviours. CBT can also be used for various presentations, solely, or in combination with other treatment programs.
It is important to note that various therapies are usually modified for each case and treatment programs are tailored to meet the child/ adolescent needs.
As therapists working with children, adolescents and families, we understand that rapport building and a therapuetic relationship between the client and the psychologist is essential. We therefore our best to match the child with the most suitable clinician/ psychologist in terms of skills and experience as well as in terms of personality.
Psychologists at ACPC have strong skills in rapport building with children and adolescents to help them feel more at ease during their initial consult and during follow up sessions. The majority of children and adolescents feel less anxious following their first meeting with the psychologist. However, should you have any concerns about the rapport or if you wish to change clinicians, please do not hesitate to contact our administration staff for reallocation or to further discuss with the principal psychologist.
Our goal is to ensure your advocacy needs are met through the process of continuous engagement and genuine understanding of your needs