Frequently Asked Questions

Child psychologists specialize in understanding how children and adolescents think, feel, behave, and develop. They work with children from infancy through the teenage years to help with emotional, behavioral, social, learning, and developmental challenges.

Some of the main things they do include:

• Assess children's development by observing behavior, interviewing the child and family, and using standardized psychological tests when appropriate. 
• Diagnose mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (often as part of a multidisciplinary team), obsessive-compulsive disorder, or trauma-related conditions. 
• Provide therapy, which may include: 
  • Play therapy for younger children. 
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help children manage thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. 
  • Family therapy to improve communication and relationships. 
  • Parent training to help caregivers manage challenging behaviors. 
• Support children through difficult experiences, such as divorce, grief, bullying, abuse, chronic illness, or major life changes. 
• Help with school-related concerns, including learning difficulties, attention problems, social skills, and emotional issues that affect academic performance. They often collaborate with teachers and school staff. 
• Advise parents and caregivers on child development, behavior management, and ways to support their child's emotional well-being.

You don't need to wait until a problem becomes severe before taking your child to a psychologist. A good rule is: if something is persistent, causing distress, or interfering with everyday life, it's worth getting some advice.

Signs it may be helpful

Consider seeing a child psychologist if your child is experiencing:

• 😟 Ongoing anxiety or worries that are difficult to manage 
• 😢 Persistent sadness, tearfulness or low mood 
• 😡 Frequent or intense emotional outbursts, anger or aggression 
• 🧠 Difficulty managing emotions, frustration or disappointment 
• 🏫 Problems at school, including refusing school, difficulty concentrating, learning difficulties or significant changes in performance 
• 👧 Social difficulties, such as struggling to make or maintain friendships 
• 🗣️ Communication difficulties or difficulty understanding social situations 
• 🔄 Significant changes in behaviour, sleep, eating or usual interests 
• 🧩 Developmental concerns, including possible ADHD, autism or other developmental differences 
• 📱 Excessive reliance on screens or difficulty transitioning away from preferred activities 
• 💔 Difficulty coping with major life events, such as separation, grief, bullying or family changes 
• 🚽 Regression in previously acquired skills or behaviours 
• 🛌 Sleep difficulties that are affecting daytime functioning 
• 💭 Negative self-talk, low self-esteem or excessive perfectionism 

You don't need to know what's wrong

Parents often think they should wait until they're certain their child has ADHD, autism, anxiety, a learning difficulty, etc. You don't need to have a diagnosis or even know what the problem is.

A psychologist can help work out whether what you're seeing is within the expected range of development, whether further assessment would be useful, and what strategies might help.

When I would seek help sooner

I'd recommend getting professional advice promptly if there is significant deterioration in your child's functioning, prolonged school refusal, serious aggression, self-harm, talk about suicide, or behaviour that puts your child or someone else at risk.

For many children, early support is preferable to waiting until difficulties become entrenched.

Yes we sure do. 

For more information about ADHD assessments, visit our assessment page

Yes we sure do. 

For more information about Autism assessments, visit our assessment page

Yes we sure do.

This is a particular interest area of Katie's. She has 19 years assessing neurodiverse girls, providing comprehensive assessments, understanding masking/camouflaging and looking beyond how a child appears on the surface. 

Yes we sure do. 

For more information about Autism assessments, visit our assessment and fees page

Yes we sure do. 

For more information about Dyslexia assessments, visit our assessment page

Yes we sure do. 

For more information about Educational assessments, visit our assessment page

We provide services to children and adolescents aged 2–18. We support families with concerns including autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, anxiety, behaviour and developmental differences.

We are located in Killarney Vale (2261) on the NSW Central Coast.

We see families from all over the Central Coast including Killarney Vale, Bateau Bay, Long Jetty, The Entrance, Berkely Vale, Wyong, Tuggerah, Gosford, Erina, Terrigal, Woy Woy, Umina, Toukley and more. 

Our assessment fees range from $1000- $4000

For more information about assessments, visit our assessment and fees page

Assessments are a process and can take a different amount of time for each individual.

We allow the following time allocation per booking:

• Parent interview: 60 minutes
• IQ test- 60 minutes
• ADHD assessment- 2 hours in clinic (this includes IQ test and observations) and 30-60 minute observation at school/pre school/home
• Autism assessment- 2 hours in clinic (this includes autism specific questions and observations)
• Parent feedback session- 30 minutes

If more time is required, we will make another booking

The child will spend the allocated time with the Psychologist. Parents are welcome to start the assessment process in the room to assist with transition and rapport building. We will encourage the parent to leave after a period of time, once the child is settled.

Depending on reason for referral assessment, questions will be asked to the child (some answered on iPad) others playing with sensory toys, looking at pictures or having conversations.

A GP referral is not required however with a referral and mental health care plan you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate.

Yes absolutely. We love working collaboratively with schools, and allied health/ support teams. We see a large number of children at school, and we have built great relationships with them.

With a referral from the GP and a mental health care plan you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate of $101.55 for our registered psychologists and $149.05 for our clinical psychologists.

Sprout Psychology Centre provides skill development (capacity building) and behaviour support (improved relationships) under the NDIS. Some of the goals we work towards are: emotional regulation, social skills, 

Absolutely you can. When you are not sure of what is the best way to support your child an initial assessment with the psychologist is a great way for them to be able to provide some guidance and recommendations around moving forward.

Parent concern                                       Possible assessment   

* Attention, impulsivity,                         * ADHD assessment  

executive functioning                      

* Social communication/                       * Autism assessment

developmental differences    

* Reading/spelling difficulties               * Educational assessment (Dyslexia) 

* Maths difficulties                                   * Educational assessment (Dyscalculia) 

* Writing difficulties                                * Educational assessment (Dysgraphia)

* General learning concerns                   * IQ+ educational assessment

* Behaviour/emotional concerns           * Psychological consultation 

 An assessment should be selected based on the child's individual history and presenting concerns. Contact Sprout Psychology Centre to discuss which assessment may be appropriate.