Therapy · Young people
Child and adolescent psychologist in Echuca
Growing up comes with constant shifts, and some stretches are harder than others. Mantua Psychology works with children and teens aged 8 and over who are dealing with worry, low mood, school pressure or trouble with friends. Sessions are held in person in Echuca or by telehealth anywhere in Australia. The first session is about getting to know each other: what has been happening, what your family is hoping for, and whether working together feels like a good fit.
Reviewed by Alexandra (Aley) Hooper, Registered Psychologist ·
What it helps with
The things young people bring in.
Rather than waiting until things feel overwhelming, the aim is to give young people support while a difficulty is still taking shape. Common reasons families get in touch include:
- School pressure and academic anxiety
- Social difficulty and peer relationships
- Low mood and depression
- Anxiety and worry
- Big life transitions and adjustment
- Emotion regulation
- Trauma and adverse experiences
- School refusal and avoidance
Where a young person is carrying a distressing memory that keeps intruding, part of the work may use EMDR therapy. If the question is more about how your child learns or pays attention, an assessment may be the better starting point.
What sessions look like
Fifty minutes, at a pace that suits.
A standard session runs for 50 minutes, either in the consulting rooms at Office 3, 88 Wilkinson Drive, Echuca, or by telehealth. Telehealth means no drive, and the option to talk from a space that already feels familiar.
There is no set program. Some young people come with one specific concern and find a handful of sessions is enough; others want somewhere steady to think over a longer stretch. The pace and length are worked out together and reviewed as you go, with no pressure to continue longer than is useful.
Sessions draw on approaches such as CBT, ACT, DBT, schema therapy and mindfulness-based work, chosen to suit the young person in the room rather than applied as a fixed formula.
Parents or carers are involved in the first session. How much they take part after that depends on the young person’s needs and preferences. If you would rather not sit in, you are welcome to wait in the waiting room while the session runs.
Training
Thirteen years in the classroom first.
Aley Hooper is a registered psychologist and Educational and Developmental Psychology Registrar, with a Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology. Before that she spent thirteen years as a registered secondary teacher, including senior roles in Wellbeing and Learning Diversity, and provided psychological support at Geelong Grammar School’s Timbertop campus.
That time in schools means years of watching young people learn, cope and grow under everyday pressure, in the moments that rarely show up in a clinical history. Her clinical training includes CBT, ACT, DBT, schema therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, sleep psychology, EMDR and ASIST suicide first aid. More on Aley’s background.
Questions
Common questions.
No. You can book directly as a private client. If you would like to claim a Medicare rebate, you will need a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP before the first session.
The first session is mostly about getting to know each other. Nobody is expected to have everything worked out. It is a chance to talk about what has been happening, ask questions about how the work runs, and get a feel for whether it is a good fit, with no obligation to book further sessions.
Yes. Sessions are held in person at Office 3, 88 Wilkinson Drive, Echuca, or by telehealth anywhere in Australia, whichever suits your family.
It varies. Some young people come with a specific concern and find a handful of sessions is enough; others value somewhere to think regularly over a longer stretch. The pace and length are worked out together and reviewed as you go.
Children and young people aged 8 and over. If you are not sure whether this is the right fit for your child, get in touch and ask.
Fees and Medicare
Sessions are $260 for 50 minutes. Medicare rebates are available with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, and private clients are welcome. See fees and Medicare for the detail.
Currently taking new clients.
Bookings are managed through Halaxy. Pick a time that works, or get in touch first if you'd rather ask a few questions.