Adolescent counselling

How to get started

Find the right Psychologist

Most of our psychologists work in the Melbourne CBD Clinic, and the rest in different locations across Melbourne. You can find out all about our psychologists – when, where and what issues they work with – on our online booking page or you can call our reception on 1300 161 639.

Personal Matching

We recommend that your first step is an online Personal Matching appointment. Research shows that the key to successful outcomes is the relationship between client and psychologist. At Psychology Melbourne, we don't leave that to chance. We offer a personal matching session with one of our trained Matching Psychologists who will expertly choose the right psychologist for you and your issues.

Fees & rebates

GP Referral

All our psychologists are registered with Medicare, allowing clients with a referral and a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from their GP to receive a substantial rebate.

Note that you do not require a referral from a GP unless you intend to claim a Medicare rebate.

Find out more about MHCP Medicare rebate.

Information for referring GPs

Opening hours

Reception is open:
Mon–Thu 8:30 am - 6:30 pm
Friday 8:30 am - 6 pm
Saturday 9 am - 3 pm
closed public holidays

After hours appointments may also be available.

Find out more about our counselling hours and appointments.

Phone & video counselling

If you are can't get to the clinic, you can use our secure phone and video counselling services. This allows you to get expert, effective psychological help from your home, but also from work or your hotel room when you’re interstate or overseas.

FAQs

See answers to frequently asked questions about our clinics, treatment, EAP, fees and rebates.

medicare rebate

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

—Albert Einstein

Immediate appointments available
Psychologists Online across Australia for counselling, testing and groups - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth and Canberra

With so many physical and mental changes happening between the ages of 11-19, the teenage years can be a confusing and stressful time. Sometimes a little professional treatment can help young people navigate through the myriad of changes and conflicting pressures.

Counselling for Adolescents in Melbourne

In Australia, the prevalence of mental health problems among adolescents aged 13-17 years is as high as 19 percent and increases again to 27 percent among young adults aged 18-24 (McLennan, 1997).

Based on these figures, approximately one in four to five young Australians are likely to suffer from a mental health problem, most commonly substance use or dependency, depression, anxiety and eating disorders (Australian Institute of Health & Welfare: AIHW, 2003). Co-morbidity (another co-existing condition) is unfortunately the norm in this population.

Furthermore on average some 400 young people take their own lives each year, roughly one quarter of them involving substance misuse. 

Adolescent risk factors include:

Adolescents and Depression

The teenage years are a time when individuals develop their identity and sense of self. If depression is left to develop, it can lead to isolation from family and friends, risk-taking behaviours, inappropriate sexual involvements and substance use. It can also impact on school performance and study, which can have downstream effects on later career or study options.

Both biological and developmental factors contribute to depression in adolescence. If bipolar disorder or psychosis is suspected, an assessment by a mental health professional is recommended. 

An adolescent who is depressed may not show obvious signs of depression. It is often hard to distinguish adolescent turmoil from depressive illness, especially when the young person is forging new roles within the family and struggling with independence, and having to make academic and career decisions.

Signs of a depression include:

Bullying and Mental Health

Bullying behaviours include:

Research has demonstrated strong negative associations between a young person's experience of bullying and their physical and emotional wellbeing, both at the time of and well after the bullying experience. The Centre for Adolescent Health's Gatehouse Project survey showed that students who reported being victimised were three times more likely to be at risk of reporting depressive symptoms when compared with those not reporting such experiences.

Body image and Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex and chronic illnesses that require particular medical and psychological treatment. Some of the most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. Another type of disorder under examination is extreme exercise to control weight.

Many factors play a role in the development of an eating disorder, including personality, self-esteem, genetics, environment, and body chemistry. It has been shown that female adolescents and young women are generally more susceptible and vulnerable to body image problems and eating disorders.

Psychological Support at Psychology Melbourne

As with a range of mood-based problems, the above issues affecting adolescents can be treated and there are a number of effective and specific approaches available. Psychologists often use a combination of evidence-based techniques, sometimes alongside medication for the most effective results.

These well-researched interventions aim to change patterns of unhelpful thinking and  behaviour, negative mood states, and the person's response to life events that may trigger changes in mood. Most widely used psychological interventions include cognitive-behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, sex therapy, narrative therapy, psycho-analytic therapy and couples therapy.

If you’re a parent with concerns about your teenager's mental health, it's best to contact us sooner rather than later to arrange an assessment and referral to the most suitable psychologist for treatment and support.

Things we can help with include:

Our psychologists work from the following frameworks:

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OUR LOCATIONS

MELBOURNE CBD
(main practice)
2/50 Queen Street
VICTORIA
accessible
Phone 1300 161 639 for all locations
Reception Hours:
Mon - Thurs 8:30 am - 6:30 pm
Fri 8:30 am - 6 pm,  Sat 9 am - 2:30 pm
SYDNEY
NEW SOUTH WALES
BRISBANE
QUEENSLAND
ADELAIDE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
HOBART
TASMANIA
PERTH
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
CANBERRA
ACT

 

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