Parents and general practitioners are often the first to notice when something seems amiss in a child’s development or behaviour. Whether it’s a sudden withdrawal, prolonged sadness, intense fears, or difficulty regulating emotions, these early signs often reflect deeper internal struggles that a child may not yet have the capacity to articulate. This is where timely access to children’s mental health support becomes essential.
In the realm of psychoanalytic work with children, early intervention is not about fixing a “problem” but about listening—deeply, carefully—to the symptoms that emerge when a child is struggling. A symptom, in this sense, is not merely a sign of pathology, but a message: it says something is not working as it should in the child’s world. Recognising this can be the first step toward helping the child make sense of their experience.
Signs a Child Might Benefit from Therapy
While every child is different, there are common signs that may suggest the child would benefit from psychological consultation:
- Persistent sadness, anxiety, or irritability
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Regressive behaviours (e.g. bedwetting, baby talk, clinginess)
- Difficulty concentrating, disruptive behaviour at school
- Social withdrawal or conflict with peers
- Strong reactions to separations, transitions, or changes in routine
- Excessive perfectionism, worry, or fearfulness
- Verbalising thoughts of self-harm or worthlessness
Often, the question arises: Is this just a phase? While many developmental changes are indeed transient, when distress becomes prolonged, intense, or interferes with daily functioning, it may be a sign the child needs therapy. In psychoanalytic work, the concern is not just how the child behaves, but how they experience—and often suffer through—their inner life.
How Child Psychologists Help
A child psychologist does more than assess or intervene in overt behaviours. In the psychoanalytic framework, the work is centred on understanding the child’s inner world: their fears, fantasies, family dynamics, and how they make sense of relational experiences. Through conversation, play, and symbolisation, the child is supported to find meaning and develop new ways of managing internal and external conflicts.
Unlike directive approaches, psychoanalytic child therapy is not solution-focused in the immediate sense. Rather, it respects the tempo of the child and supports the unfolding of thought, language, and symbolic play. This process allows for deep changes—not only in behaviour but in the child’s sense of agency, subjectivity, and relation to others.
For parents, this also often means working collaboratively with the therapist to better understand the child’s emotional needs and how to respond to them outside the clinical setting.
How GPs and Schools Can Support Referrals
GPs play a central role in initiating child therapy referrals. Given their long-standing relationships with families, they are often the first to observe patterns of concern. A referral under the Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) allows families to access Medicare rebates for an initial 6–10 sessions with a psychologist.
It is helpful for GPs to:
- Take concerns from parents and teachers seriously, even when the symptoms appear subtle.
- Offer a gentle, non-pathologising explanation of what therapy involves.
- Recommend psychologists who are trained specifically in working with children—not all psychologists are equipped for this specialised work.
Similarly, teachers and school wellbeing staff are in a unique position to notice emotional, social, or behavioural shifts. While schools often offer internal support, external referral to a child psychologist in Melbourne can provide continuity and depth of support, especially when challenges are longstanding or multifaceted.
Why Choose a Child Psychologist in Melbourne
In a city as diverse as Melbourne, families seek clinicians who understand not just psychological development, but also cultural context, language, family systems, and the demands placed on children in contemporary life. Choosing a child psychologist Melbourne based ensures that therapy is accessible and embedded within the child’s daily ecosystem—schools, activities, routines.
It’s also important to choose a psychologist who offers more than just short-term behavioural interventions. While these can be useful, they often don’t address the root of the issue. A psychologist grounded in psychoanalytic and psychodynamic approaches is trained to listen beyond symptoms and to work with complexity—respecting the child’s individuality, family structure, and unique path of development.
Bita Psychology’s Approach
At Bita Psychology, our approach to working with children is grounded in psychoanalytic principles. We view each child as a subject in their own right—with thoughts, questions, and meanings that deserve space and time to emerge.
We do not impose pre-formed interpretations or rigid treatment plans. Instead, we work with the child’s own language—whether verbal, symbolic, or behavioural—and follow their lead as they begin to make sense of their experience. Sessions may include talk, drawings, games, or silence. What matters is not what the child does, but how they are heard.
Parents are engaged as collaborative partners, and when appropriate, parent sessions are offered to think together about the child’s struggles, without blame or judgement. Our practice offers child therapy referrals for children dealing with emotional distress, trauma, school-related difficulties, family transitions, or longstanding anxieties.
We also offer psychological reports when needed for school support or allied health coordination, while always keeping the child’s clinical needs and wellbeing at the centre.
Conclusion: When to Refer and How to Take the First Step
Recognising the signs a child needs therapy does not mean something is fundamentally wrong with the child. On the contrary, it reflects care, attentiveness, and the desire to support the child’s emotional life in the most meaningful way.
Whether you are a parent concerned about your child, or a GP or educator supporting a family, timely referral to a child psychologist in Melbourne can create the space for something new to emerge—for the child to be heard, understood, and supported in their own voice.
To refer a child or book a consultation, please visit the Bita Psychology website, or contact us directly to discuss your concerns and how we can support the child and family moving forward.