VOL 2 • ISSUE 2 • JUNE 2010 PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, PARENTS & FAMILIES We are very pleased to announce our new location: Suite 3, 836 Military Road, Mosman. Our new family-friendly centre, with its purpose-built assessment and therapy rooms, is close to Mosman Post Office and directly opposite Westpac bank and above “Made In Paris” hair salon and “The Mosman Language and Learning Centre”, (Speech Pathologists and part of our CATS network). The closest carpark is accessible via Raglan Street, which is connected to Military Road via a laneway, known as “The Passage”. When you reach our door, just buzz Suite 3 to come up for your appointment. Sydney Child Psychology Centre is also proud to offer two new services. The first is our Non-directive Pregnancy Support Counselling, that offers pregnant or post-partum women (who have given birth within the past 12-months) an opportunity to access non-judgmental, confidential and unbiased support. This service is for planned terminations, full-term and part-term pregnancies. The other new service is our Social Skills Training groups which brings together two children (maximum) per session, to role play and learn appropriate behaviours for social situations. Anxiety, fretfulness or extreme apprehension in a child can present in various ways. Some of the more common signs include, avoidance, physical complaints, sleeping problems and / or anger. This behaviour is often perpetuated by a Negative Emotions Cycle. The cycle starts with the child’s anxious or over-emotional behaviour and continues with the parent’s negative reaction to the child’s behaviour. This often sees the child’s negative behaviour escalate. The cycle ends when the parent changes their own behaviour. New Premises, New Services Positive Parenting Tips IN THIS ISSUE • New Premises, New Services • Positive Parenting Tips • Meet our Team • Some of our Services • Medicare Update • FaHCSIA • C.A.T.S Sydney Child Psychology Centre is a family centered psychology practice located on Sydney’s North Shore. We offer a range of psychology services to children, adolescents, parents and families. Parent’s negative reaction Child’s negative behaviour escalates Child’s anxious behaviour For further information or support about anxiety in children, come and see us. Ph: 02 9960 1222 Negative Emotions Cycle Parenting the Anxious Child • Reduce reassurance over time: Eg: “You’re such a big girl now - you don’t need me to stay with you at the party”. Speak confidently and mean what you say. • Be consistent: Ensure all family members are on board and are encouraging bravery. 2. Handling an anxious child • Remain calm and use self control. Sometimes anxious children can be frustrating but your anxiety can add to theirs. • Aggression from your child is unacceptable under any circumstances. This sort of behaviour should gain immediate and substantial consequences. Eg: Time-out. • Look for the motivation behind avoidance or anxiety: Do they always avoid the task or can they sometimes manage it? 1. Steps to overcoming anxious behaviour Encourage Bravery: When your child exhibits confidence, acknowledge this with praise. Avoid bribery and instead give rewards for bravery. Eg: “Your teacher told me you spoke very well today when you did your news. I think we should celebrate by having a milkshake on the way home”. • Give proportional rewards: Often verbal praise and acknowledgement is enough. • Be a role model: Try to show your child how to be brave. Eg: “I’m a bit scared about going to a new place, so perhaps you can help me? Let’s take a deep breath together and go in, because we both know its fun to meet new people”. • Encourage independence: Being over-protective or too controlling can promote irrational fears. Allow the child to make his/her own mistakes. Avoid questions like: “Do you want me to come with you?” or “Will you be ok?” These sorts of words reinforce anxiety.
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V O L 2 • I S S U E 2 • J U N E 2 0 1 0
P S Y C H O LO G I C A L S E R V I C E S F O R C H I L D R E N , A D O L E S C E N T S , PA R E N T S & FA M I L I E S
We are very pleased to announce our new location: Suite 3, 836 Military Road, Mosman. Our new family-friendly centre, with its purpose-built assessment and therapy rooms, is close to Mosman Post Office and directly opposite Westpac bank and above “Made In Paris” hair salon and “The Mosman Language and Learning Centre”, (Speech Pathologists and part of our CATS network).
The closest carpark is accessible via Raglan Street, which is connected to Military Road via a laneway, known as “The Passage”. When you reach our door, just buzz Suite 3 to come up for your appointment.
Sydney Child Psychology Centre is also proud to offer two new services. The first is our Non-directive Pregnancy Support Counselling, that offers pregnant or post-partum women (who have given birth within the past 12-months) an opportunity to access non-judgmental, confidential and unbiased support. This service is for planned terminations, full-term and part-term pregnancies.
The other new service is our Social Skills Training groups which brings together two children (maximum) per session, to role play and learn appropriate behaviours for social situations.
Anxiety, fretfulness or extreme apprehension in a child can present in various ways. Some of the more common signs include, avoidance, physical complaints, sleeping problems and / or anger. This behaviour is often perpetuated by a Negative Emotions Cycle. The cycle starts with the child’s anxious or over-emotional behaviour and continues with the parent’s negative reaction to the child’s behaviour. This often sees the child’s negative behaviour escalate. The cycle ends when the parent changes their own behaviour.
New Premises, New Services
Positive Parenting Tips
I N T H I S I S S U E• New Premises, New Services
• Positive Parenting Tips
• Meet our Team
• Some of our Services
• Medicare Update
• FaHCSIA
• C.A.T.S
Sydney Child Psychology Centre is a family centered psychology practice located on Sydney’s North Shore. We offer a range of psychology services to children, adolescents, parents and families.
Parent’s negative reaction
Child’s negative behaviour escalates
Child’s anxious behaviour
For further information or support about anxiety in children, come and see us. Ph: 02 9960 1222
Negative Emotions CycleParenting the Anxious Child
• Reduce reassurance over time: Eg: “You’re such a big girl now - you don’t need me to stay with you at the party”. Speak confidently and mean what you say. • Be consistent: Ensure all family members are on board and are encouraging bravery.
2. Handling an anxious child• Remain calm and use self control. Sometimes anxious children can be frustrating but your anxiety can add to theirs. • Aggression from your child is unacceptable under any circumstances. This sort of behaviour should gain immediate and substantial consequences. Eg: Time-out. • Look for the motivation behind avoidance or anxiety: Do they always avoid the task or can they sometimes manage it?
1. Steps to overcoming anxious behaviour Encourage Bravery: When your child exhibits confidence, acknowledge this with praise. Avoid bribery and instead give rewards for bravery. Eg: “Your teacher told me you spoke very well today when you did your news. I think we should celebrate by having a milkshake on the way home”. • Give proportional rewards: Often verbal praise and acknowledgement is enough. • Be a role model: Try to show your child how to be brave. Eg: “I’m a bit scared about going to a new place, so perhaps you can help me? Let’s take a deep breath together and go in, because we both know its fun to meet new people”.• Encourage independence: Being over-protective or too controlling can promote irrational fears. Allow the child to make his/her own mistakes. Avoid questions like: “Do you want me to come with you?” or “Will you be ok?” These sorts of words reinforce anxiety.
P S Y C H O LO G I C A L S E R V I C E S F O R C H I L D R E N , A D O L E S C E N T S , PA R E N T S & FA M I L I E S
We are also thrilled to add to our team three Early Intervention Therapists (EIT’s). They include Ms Rhia Fenech, Ms Kristel Tay and Ms Leila Wearing whose role in the practice is to implement the early intervention therapy programs in the home and/or preschool environment. All EIT’s are screened and trained by Dr Fiona Martin in accordance with the FaHCSIA guidelines and receive ongoing supervision by the attending psychologist.
Ms Rhia Fenech, Bachelor of Arts/ Sciences (Psychology and Human Resource Management) Candidate.
Ms Kristel Tay, Intern Psychologist, Bachelor of Arts /Bachelor of Psychology (Sociology and Psychology), Master of Health Science (Child and Adolescent).
Ms Leila Wearing, Intern Psychologist, Bachelor of Arts (Psych), Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
Other members of our team include our centre co-ordinators, Ms Sharnie Connell and Ms Theresa Bulgin. Ms Connell, B.Sci, (Psych) has an Advanced Certificate in Enrolled Nursing, is completing her Hons (Psych) and has a current Senior First Aid Certificate including anaphylaxis training.
Ed uc ati o n al an d Deve l o p me nt al Psychologist, is the newest member of our team and is a fully registered psychologist and full member of the Australian Psychological
Society and a recognised provider with most private health f u n d s a n d M e d i c a r e . His f o c us is lear ning, d e v e l o p m e n t a l a n d b e h a v i o u r a l
disorders and he has received specialised training in cognitive behaviour therapy and psycho-educational assessments. During his Masters in Educational and Developmental Psychology, Mr Bryant investigated the relationship bet ween working memor y and reading comprehension in Australian primary school students. Mr Bryant’s last appointment was as a school counsellor to students aged 4 to 18 years. For more information on Mr Bryant go to: www.sydneychildpsychologist.com.au/About Us
Dr Hosford is a fully registered psychologist with the NSW Psychologists Registration Board and a fully trained Pregnancy Support Counsellor and a recognised provider
with most private health funds and Medicare. She completed her education and training in Canada and South Africa with a focus on the effects of Childhood Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Her area of special interest is counselling children and adolescents experiencing grief and/ or loss, family break-up and divorce. She is also highly skilled in the assessment, diagnosis and intervention of children and adolescents with anxiety and depression, developmental delays, intellectual, behavioural and attention difficulties. Dr Hosford also conducts social skills training for children along with anger management and assertiveness training. For more information on Dr Hosford go to: www.sydneychildpsychologist.com.au/ About Us
Ms Schmidhofer is a fully registered psychologist with the NSW Psychologists Registration Board and is an associate member of the Australian Psychological
Society, and a recognised provider with most private health funds and Medicare. Her PhD focus is on high-functioning Autism and Aspergers Disorder. She has received specialised training in the diagnostic assessment tools for Autism Spectrum Disorders, including the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales-Extended Revised (GMDS-ER). Ms Schmidhofer has had years of experience working with children in her work at The University of Sydney and at Autism Spectrum Australia. For more information on Ms Schmidhofer go to: www.sydneychildpsychologist.com.au/ About Us
Dr Martin is a fully registered Psychologist and full member of the Australian P s y c h o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y. She provides a broad r a n g e o f a s s e s s m e n t and therapy services to
children, adolescents, young adults and their families. Dr Martin is experienced in the assessment and treatment of developmental, emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties and disorders. She consults to preschools and schools and enjoys designing and implementing early intervention programs and conducting complex diagnostic assessments. In addition to her own practice, Dr Martin is co-director of the Children’s Assessment and Therapy Services network (CATS), and she is also a fully trained Pregnancy Support Counsellor. For more information on Dr Martin go to: www.sydneychildpsychologist.com.au/ About Us
M e e t o u r T e a m
Farewell to Dr Kathryn Vanny: Earlier this year Dr Vanny was offered a full-time senior role in the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DaDHC). We wish her all the very best in her new role.
For more information on any of our team members, please visit: www.sydneychildpsychologist.com.au/About Us
Dr Donna Hosford - PhD, MAPS B. Sci Hons (Psych), M.Sci (Psych) Senior Psychologist
Ms Katherine Schmidhofer - PhD Candidate, Assoc MAPS, B.A (Psych), Grad Dip Sci (Psych) Senior Psychologist
Dr Fiona Martin - PhD MAPS BA (Psych), Grad Dip Sci (Psych) Principal Psychologist and Practice Manager
Mr Patrick Bryant - MAPS B. Sci (Psych)/B.A (History), PG Dip. Psych, M.Psych
Ms Rhia Fenech Ms Kristel Tay Ms Leila Wearing
Ms Theresa Bulgin Ms Sharnie Connell
P S Y C H O LO G I C A L S E R V I C E S F O R C H I L D R E N , A D O L E S C E N T S , PA R E N T S & FA M I L I E S
Some of our Services
Assessment• Developmental Disorders: Autism, Aspergers Disorder and related disorders • Behavioural Disorders: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) • Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) • Anxiety Disorders • Depression and other Mood Disorders • Intellectual Disabilities • Learning Disorders and Difficulties (including Dyslexia)• Developmental Assessment (for Pre-schoolers)• School Readiness• Psychometric (IQ educational assessment)• Giftedness
For more information on the wide variety of assessments we provide go to: http://www.sydneychildpsychologist.com.au /assessments Or for information about our intervention programs go to: http://www.sydneychildpsychologist.com.au /therapy
We provide a range of assessment and therapy programs to assist children and adolescents with emotional,
behavioural and learning difficulties or disorders. These services can be used to improve your child’s wellbeing
and ability in particular areas.
Therapy • Early intervention programs • Social skills training • Anxiety treatment • Anger management skills • Strategies for handling teasing and bullying • Parenting support and counselling for problematic behaviour • School based consultations • Counselling for emotional issues • Pregnancy support (non-directive pregnancy support counselling) • Customised training workshops for teachers and parents
We help children and adolescents with the following:
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Low self-esteem
• Social difficulties
• Relationship issues
• Teasing and bullying
• Attention problems
• Behavioural difficulties
• Body image
• Grief
• Family break down
• Exam stress
P S Y C H O LO G I C A L S E R V I C E S F O R C H I L D R E N , A D O L E S C E N T S , PA R E N T S & FA M I L I E S
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N E W C L I N I C C O N T A C T D E T A I L SSuite 3, 836 Military Road, Mosman NSW 2088
Don’t forget! Eligibility to claim depends upon your specialists’ referral.
A medical referral is not always necessary. Children can be referred by their parents directly to our team. However, if you are eligible for Medicare rebates or funding, in order to claim you must be referred under a Care Plan or Care Initiative from your GP, Paediatrician or Psychiatrist.
The following are Medicare initiatives that are available for psychological services:
1. Mental Health Care Plan
2. The “Helping Children with Autism” Initiative
3. Pregnancy Support Counselling
4. Chronic Disease Management Initiative
For further information about the various Medicare programs contact us or Medicare Australia Ph: 132 011 *(local call rate).
The Sydney Child Psychology Centre is a member of the C.A.T.S network.
Through this network, children have access to a multidisciplinary team including Clinical Psychologists, Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists.
Our C.A.T.S team members are:
1. Sydney Child Psychology Centre (new location) Suite 3, 836 Military Road, Mosman.
2. Mosman Language and Learning Centre (Speech Pathologists) Suite 1, 836 Military Rd, Mosman. (downstairs from us)
3. Beverley Clarke (Occupational Therapy Services) (new location) 108 / 506 Miller St, Cammeray.
Medicare Update Rebates for Psychological Services
FaHCSIA
The Sydney Child Psychology Centre is now a recognised provider under FaHCSIA.
Under FaHCSIA’s Helping Children with Autism package, there is increased access to early intervention services and programs that are aimed at providing improved cognitive, emotional and social development for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as support for parents.
For more information: Ph: 1300 653 227 OR E: [email protected] or go to: www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/progserv/people/
