When you are concerned about your child, finding someone you can speak with openly matters. You may be noticing difficulties at school, changes in their mood, or arguments at home that seem to return without resolution. For families looking for a Persian speaking child psychologist in Melbourne, there may also be a question of language: how can you explain what is happening in the words that feel closest to your experience?
I am Bita Riazati, a registered psychologist and Lacanian psychoanalyst. At Bita Psychology, I work with children aged five and over, adolescents and adults in English and Persian. My consulting rooms are in Hawthorn and Belgrave, Melbourne.
When parents begin looking for support
Sometimes there is a particular event behind a parent’s enquiry: a separation, a move, a bereavement, or a difficult experience at school. At other times, the concern is harder to name. Your child may seem unhappy, become easily upset, or repeatedly ask questions that your reassurance does not seem to settle.
You may be wondering about anxiety, friendships, anger, or your child’s reluctance to attend school. Perhaps home life has become increasingly difficult, and you find yourself responding in ways you had not intended. These concerns can be brought to an initial appointment. You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis or a complete explanation.
Speaking Persian and English in therapy
For some parents, speaking Persian, also called Farsi, makes it easier to describe family relationships and difficult experiences. A familiar expression, a remembered conversation, or the particular way someone addressed you may carry something that is difficult to convey in English.
Your child may have a different relationship with language. They may speak English at school, understand Persian at home, and prefer one language when talking about certain things. Some children speak Persian fluently; others understand much more than they speak.
In my practice, there is room for these differences. A parent can speak Persian while their child prefers English. Your child does not need to be fluent in Persian for you to enquire. We can discuss the language arrangements together, with attention to how each person is most able to express themselves.
Growing up within more than one culture
Family life in Melbourne can involve connections across countries, languages and generations. A child may have grandparents in Iran, relatives elsewhere, and friendships formed here. Some families have recently migrated; others have lived in Australia for decades.
These circumstances have different meanings for each child. One may miss a familiar home or a relative. Another may have questions about their name, their language, or what other children say about where they come from. Parents may also be working out how to pass on something important about their family while allowing their child room to find their own interests and relationships.
I approach these questions without assuming that speaking the same language means having the same experience. Each family’s history deserves to be heard in its particularity. Culture may be significant in what brings you to therapy, and we can explore how it matters to your child.
How I approach work with children
My work is informed by psychoanalysis, with careful attention to the child’s own expressions and the place a difficulty has in their life. I am interested in what your child says, what returns in their account, and how they experience the people and situations around them.
Children can express themselves through speaking, play and drawing. The work takes shape through meeting the particular child and allowing time to become familiar with the sessions. A child who initially says little still has a place in the work.
Parents bring important observations, but a child’s account may differ from what adults have understood. Making room for that difference is part of listening. A recurring difficulty can become something we explore together, with attention to what is happening for this child.
A place for parents’ questions
Seeking help for your child can bring questions about your own position as a parent. You might feel worried, frustrated, uncertain, or tired of receiving conflicting advice. There may be differences between parents about what the problem is or how to respond.
These questions also deserve space. We can discuss your concerns and how parents will be involved in the work, while allowing your child room for their own expression. The arrangements depend on the child’s age, circumstances and what emerges in our meetings.
Appointments in Hawthorn and Belgrave
I offer in-person appointments in Hawthorn and Belgrave for families seeking a Persian-speaking psychologist in Melbourne. Online sessions may be considered by prior arrangement, depending on suitability for your child and the work.
Before beginning, we can discuss practical questions, including fees, appointment times and the arrangements for ongoing sessions. You are welcome to ask about anything you need clarified when making your enquiry.
You may wish to ask whether to attend the first appointment with your child, and what information would be useful to bring. We can clarify this.