When your child is struggling with anxiety, it can feel like your whole family is walking on eggshells. The worry, the meltdowns, the avoidance of school or friends—it all takes a toll. Many parents in the Sutherland Shire and beyond start looking for professional help straight away, often typing child psychologist or teen psychologist near me into Google.
But psychology and counselling aren’t the only options. There’s also coaching, which is becoming more popular with families who want fast, practical tools to support their kids. Both child counsellors and psychologists play an important role in children’s mental health. Coaching, on the other hand, offers a slightly different approach.
So, how do you know what’s right for your child? Let’s break it down way.
What Does a Child Psychologist Do?
A child psychologist is a university-trained professional who assesses, diagnoses, and treats mental health conditions in children and adolescents. If you visit a child psychologist in the Sutherland Shire, they may use tests or formal assessments to understand what’s going on for your child.
They use evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Sessions may involve talking, drawing, role-play, or practising coping strategies.
An adolescent psychologist or teen psychologist works with older kids who might be experiencing stress at school, friendship struggles, self-esteem problems, or more complex mental health conditions.
Psychology is an excellent choice if you want a diagnosis, a treatment plan, or support for a mental health condition that needs long-term care. Medicare rebates are often available if you get a referral from your GP.
What About a Child Counsellor?
A child counsellor provides emotional support and guidance but does not diagnose conditions. Counsellors focus on listening, helping children express their feelings, and teaching general coping skills.
For example, if your child is going through a tough time after a divorce, a move, or bullying at school, a counsellor can give them a safe space to talk and process their emotions.
Counselling is often shorter term and less formal than psychology. Some parents find it’s a gentle first step into professional support without the intensity of a psychological assessment.
How Is Coaching The Same?
Child psychologists, counsellors, and coaches all share a common purpose: helping children and families build healthier emotional and behavioural patterns. Each provides a safe and supportive space for children to talk through challenges, gain perspective, and learn practical strategies for coping.
Psychologists, counsellors and coaches all work with issues such as:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- ADHD or autism spectrum conditions
- Trauma
- Behavioural challenges
While their methods differ, all three specialists aim to reduce distress, strengthen resilience, and equip children with tools that improve both their wellbeing and their ability to thrive at school, at home, and in relationships.
How Is Coaching Different?
Coaching is not about diagnosis or medical treatment. Instead, it focuses on removing triggers by rewiring the brain at the unconscious level. Coaches teach children and teens practical tools to handle their emotions and build confidence.
Think of coaching like deleting and uploading apps for the mind. Just as an IT specialist helps you with your computer software when it is not functioning properly, a coach helps your child with the unhelpful programs that have been installed in the mind. A coach will also teach strategies for calmness, resilience, and motivation.
Here are some examples of what coaching can do:
- Show a child how to calm their body quickly when anxiety kicks in
- Teach teens how to reframe negative self-talk into positive motivation
- Help kids set goals for school or friendships and change their programming so that they can stick to them
- Teach parents to create helpful thought patterns, or ‘programs’ in their mind
Where a psychologist might spend time exploring the why behind a child’s anxiety, a coach often moves faster to the how. This can be a relief for families who want practical steps to see changes quickly.
A Simple Comparison
Here’s a simple way to think about the differences between Child Psychologists and Kids Anxiety Coaches:
| Aspect | Kids Anxiety Coach | Child Psychologist |
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Practical strategies, mindset shifts, confidence-building, resilience, and day-to-day coping skills. |
Clinical diagnosis, treatment of mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety disorders, depression, trauma). |
|
Approach |
Future-focused, solution-oriented. Emphasis on removing triggers, building calmness, confidence, and emotional regulation. |
Past- and present-focused. May explore root causes, family history, or deeper emotional issues.
|
|
Methods |
Coaching tools, NLP techniques, relaxation strategies, positive psychology, confidence-building exercises, parent guidance. |
Evidence-based therapies such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), ACT, or play therapy. May involve assessments. |
|
Who It’s For |
Children experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, shyness, worry, or low confidence. Families seeking practical, non-clinical support. |
Children with diagnosable anxiety disorders or trauma history, or when a medical/clinical approach is necessary, to access medication or funding for example.
|
|
Accessibility |
Often quicker to access (no long waitlists). Flexible in delivery — online or in-person. |
Can be long wait times (especially in Australia). Requires referral in some cases. Sessions may be subsidised by Medicare. |
|
Duration of Work |
Short to medium term as focus is on quick wins, developing lifelong skills and reprogramming the mind for success without the need for further intervention. |
Short to medium term as focus is on quick wins, developing lifelong skills and reprogramming the mind for success without the need for further intervention. |
|
Outcome Emphasis |
Confidence, resilience, calmness, emotional regulation, life skills. |
Symptom reduction, diagnosis, clinical treatment, relapse prevention. |
Coaching and Psychology Can Work Together
It’s not an either/or choice. Many families use coaching alongside psychology. For example, a teen psychologist may work on long-term treatment for anxiety, while a coach teaches the teen how to calm down before a big test.
Some parents prefer to try coaching first, especially if they don’t want their child to feel “labelled” with a condition. Others use coaching after psychology sessions have finished, as a way of keeping their child on track.
When one approach doesn’t bring the change they’d hoped for, many families explore coaching as a fresh option in the hope of greater success.
The key thing is that both options exist, and you can choose what feels best for your family.
Why Parents Choose Coaching
Parents often tell me they love coaching because:
- It’s practical and solution-focused
- Children notice changes quickly
- Sessions often feel fun and empowering, not clinical
- Parents can be involved, so the whole family benefits
Most importantly, coaching can change the trajectory of a child’s life. By learning tools to manage anxiety early, children avoid years of struggle, saving families money and heartache down the track.
If your child is experiencing anxiety, you don’t have to face it alone. Whether you choose a child psychologist, a child counsellor, or try out coaching, the most important step is reaching out for support.
Coaching won’t replace psychology, but it can be a valuable complement or even a first step for families who want fast, practical results.
If you’re curious about whether coaching might suit your child, I’d love to have a quick phone conversation. No pressure, no commitment – just a chance to talk about what’s going on for your family and how I might be able to help.
Book your free call at the link below. Together, we can give your child the tools they need to feel calm, capable, and ready to thrive.