Frequently Asked Questions
Please refer to the below questions to find out more information about our services. If you are still unsure or unable to locate the information you are seeking, please give us a call on 0461 596 675.
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What to expect in an initial appointment?
- Your Paediatric Dietitian will firstly discuss your concerns and your goals for the appointment.
- Your Paediatric Dietitian will complete a nutritional assessment, measure height and weight, review blood tests and other results, as well as discuss any relevant medication(s).
- Your Paediatric Dietitian will provide dietary recommendations, discuss realistic strategies and develop a suitable eating plan based on the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating if required.
- Within the setting of Restricted Eating, your Paediatric Dietitian will discuss realistic family goals and specific strategies to help your little one learn how to eat new food.
- Your Paediatric Dietitian will support your child and family through encouragement, advice and information to help all of the family reach their healthy eating goals.
- Your Paediatric Dietitian will monitor progress and fine tune as required.
- Your Paediatric Dietitian will support the development of nutritional knowledge, how to make healthy food choices easy choices, and provide you with skills to eat well when we are all time poor,
- Your Paediatric Dietitian wants your child and family to make the best food choices according to their health.
Your Paediatric Dietitian will provide your GP, Paediatrician and Allied Team with reports as required and requested by families.
What age groups do you work with?
We work with all children and young people from birth to 24 years of age. We see babies and toddlers for issues around feeding, communication and play to school aged children and teenagers across a range of emotional, behavioural or developmental issues. We also work with mums and dads who may need a little extra support of their own.
Are my child’s sessions confidential?
Given the nature of our integrated model, your child’s assessment will be shared with the therapists working on your child’s treatment plan. Information and treatment plans will remain confidential in accordance to Youthrive’s Privacy Policy. Your child’s information will not be shared with anyone without your written consent.
I don’t want my child to miss school. Can we come before or after?
Absolutely. We have flexible hours at all of our clinics to suit busy families! Have a chat with our receptionists to find a time that works for you.
What if I can’t afford all three therapies?
There a number of health rebates and government funding that may be available to allow your child access to the healthcare services they need. We’d be happy to talk you through your options and explain what may be available to you.
What if my child doesn’t need all four therapies? Can they just see one therapist?
Of course! You and your child can access support services from one, some or all disciplines. A benefit of our service is that if the clinician identifies additional area’s in your child’s life where they may benefit from multiple integrated therapies and you give consent, they can discuss with the relevant practitioner and present you with a treatment plan.
How do I know when is therapy completed?
The number of sessions required will be dependent on your child’s needs and how they progress through set goals. Your Occupational Therapist will work with you and keep you up to date with their progress.
When will I start seeing improvements for my child?
Occupational Therapy is not a ‘quick fix’ and requires hard work and commitment from families. Improvements may be gradual and occur over a period of weeks or even months.
What does therapy look like for children?
Therapy is different for every child, but it may include direct work with your child and also strategies for you to put in place at home to assist your child’s behaviour, emotional wellbeing and development.
What can I expect at my first appointment?
The first appointment is usually with the parent/s or carer/s, with your child present. This is so that your Occupational Therapist can collect background information about your child and observe how your child engages in the environment. We appreciate if any previous reports can be brought along to the first session if you are happy to share these with your Occupational Therapist.
How do I know if my child needs to see an Occupational Therapist?
If your child requires a little extra help with school readiness or they are beginning to show sensitivity to their environment. Parent’s instincts are often correct and if you are worried about your child’s development it may be worthwhile booking in for an assessment. Alternatively seeking information on whether they are meeting their developmental milestones by talking with your General Practitioner or your child’s educator.
How many sessions will my child need?
All children learn at different paces and there is no ‘quick fix’. It requires hard work and commitment from families. The number of sessions required will be dependent on your child’s needs and how they progress through set goals. Improvements may be gradual and occur over a period of weeks or even months.
Can I come into the session with my child?
Yes! It is important that you attend the sessions with your child. You will be taught techniques and provided with activities to continue on with at home.
What is involved in therapy sessions?
Therapy is different for every child, but it may include direct work with your child and also strategies for you to put in place at home to assist your child’s speech and language development. Sessions may be 30, 45 or 60 minutes long depending on your child’s needs and attention. You and your child will receive homework to complete between sessions – completing these activities is a very important part of the gains your child will make in therapy.
What can I expect at my first appointment?
You and your child attend the initial appointment together. This is usually an hour in duration. During the first appointment, your speech pathologist will ask detailed information about your child’s family history, health, development and education, and about the current concerns you have. They will complete an assessment to assist with identifying goals for therapy. You will also be asked to complete a consent form if this has not been completed previously. Please bring any referrals or previous reports along with you to the first session. Information about your child’s developmental history such as milestones will also be discussed.
How do I know if my child needs to see a speech pathologist?
Speech and language difficulties are common. Parent’s instincts are often correct and if you are worried about your child’s development it may be worthwhile booking in for an assessment. Alternatively seeking information on whether they are meeting their developmental milestones by talking with your General Practitioner or your child’s educator.
How do I know when is therapy completed?
Children and families can withdraw from treatment at any stage. This typically occurs when a child has made significant progress and/or when their reasons for initiating psychology support are no longer detrimental to their everyday lives. It is always a good idea to have a regular check-up every few months following the completion of therapy. This can be likened to having your car serviced. It is always a good idea to ensure that things are continuing to work smoothly.
When will I start seeing improvements for my child?
Psychology is not a ‘quick fix’ and requires hard work and commitment from families. Improvements may be gradual and occur over a period of weeks or even months.
What does therapy look and feel like for children?
Therapy is different for every child, but it may include direct work with your child and also strategies for you to put in place at home to assist your child’s behaviour, emotional wellbeing and development. Some therapy sessions may consist of game play and play-based activities. Others may involve the completion of therapeutic tasks (e.g worksheets, role plays). Most therapy sessions will involve the discussion of current events relevant to the individual in addition to their associated thoughts, behaviours and emotions.
What can I expect at my first appointment?
The first appointment is usually with the parent/s or carer/s, without your child present. This is so that your psychologist can collect background information about your child and so that you can cover all your concerns in detail. However if you are on a Medicare Care Plan your child will need to be present for the initial consultation. In the first appointment, your psychologist will ask detailed information about your child’s family history, health, development and education, and about the current concerns you have. This may include questions about stressors that may be affecting the family. You do not have to answer any questions that you do not wish to and you can always ask the psychologist why they are asking if you are unsure about a question. We appreciate if any previous reports can be brought along to the first session, if you are happy to share these with your psychologist.
Do I need a referral?
No. Although a referral from your GP, Paediatrician or Psychiatrist may entitle to you Medicare rebates which can contribute to the cost of sessions
How do I know if my child needs to see a psychologist?
If you’re worried about your child’s emotional and social wellbeing, development or behaviour it is best to seek professional advice as soon as possible.
Some common signs you should be aware of that may indicate your child should see a psychologist are listed below. It’s important to remember that every child is different and you should consider whether your child’s behaviour is appropriate for their developmental level. The following signs are given only as a guide. Please click here, if you’d like to make an appointment with one of our Psychologists.
Psychology Red Flag Checklist
- Academic difficulty
- Constant or intense feelings of worry, stress or fear
- Hyperactivity or difficulty concentrating, remembering things, processing information or problem solving
- Physical or emotional meltdowns
- Poor social skills
- Change to behaviour e.g. irritability, withdrawal or difficulty separating
- Low mood
- Disrupted sleep or eating patterns
- Compulsive or repetitive behaviour