Watching your child struggle with anxiety, school stress, or low mood is incredibly difficult. You want the best for them, but sometimes the more you try to help, the more they pull away. At Live Well Now, we work with young people aged 12 years and over. We provide a confidential, supportive space where teenagers and pre-teens can feel heard and learn better ways to cope. We specialise in bridge-building. We provide a space that doesn’t feel like “another doctor’s appointment,” making it easier for even the most reluctant teenager to engage.
How We Help Young People
Anxiety & Stress: Whether it’s exam pressure, social anxiety, or family changes, we help teens develop early intervention tools to manage stress and prevent long-term difficulties.
Depression & Mood: If your child is experiencing persistent sadness, withdrawal, or loss of interest, we use evidence-based techniques to help them understand the link between their thoughts and feelings.
Neurodivergence (Autism & ADHD): We offer assessments, diagnosis, and strengths-based counselling. We help neurodivergent teens navigate social anxiety, emotional regulation, and executive functioning (time management and organisation).
Trauma & Abuse Recovery: For young people who have experienced trauma, we provide expert care to help mediate effects like low self-esteem, sleep disturbances, and emotional dysregulation.
Self-Esteem & Peer Pressure: We work with teens to build a strong sense of self, helping them resist peer pressure, navigate bullying, and develop a more positive outlook.
School & Social Issues: From bullying and friendship struggles to truancy and concentration problems, we can work with parents and schools to resolve issues and improve the school experience.
Grief, Loss & Separation: We provide a safe space for young people to process the pain of family separation or the death of a loved one.
Behavioural Concerns: If your child or teen is struggling with anger outbursts, defiance, or “acting out,” we can help. We work to identify the underlying triggers for these behaviours, such as frustration, communication gaps, or unmet emotional needs, and provide practical strategies for both the young person and their parents to restore a sense of calm and cooperation at home.
Why Teenagers Connect With Us
Traditional clinical offices can feel intimidating or “forced.” Our home-based practice offers a different vibe:
- The calming effect of our Golden Retriever Bella: It is much easier to talk about hard things while patting a dog. Bella acts as a social bridge, breaking the ice and reducing the “spotlight” feel of a one-on-one conversation.
- Non-Clinical Environment: Our consultation room feels like a comfortable lounge. This helps teens feel they are having a conversation, not an interrogation.
- Respecting Their Autonomy: We treat adolescents as active participants in their therapy. We work with them to identify what they want to change, which significantly improves their willingness to attend.
The Balancing Act: Confidentiality & Communication
One of the biggest questions parents have is: “Will I know what my teenager is saying?” To build a trusting relationship where your teen feels safe to be honest, we must provide them with a degree of confidentiality. However, we also know that you are their primary support.
- The Safe Space: What your teen shares in the room stays in the room, which allows them to process difficult thoughts without fear of judgment or “getting in trouble.”
- The Safety Rule: If we believe your teen is at risk of significant harm to themselves or others, we will involve you. Safety always overrides confidentiality.
- Collaborative Updates: We typically involve parents in the first session and provide periodic “big picture” updates on progress and strategies you can use at home to support them.
How to Suggest Therapy to Your Teenager
It is normal for teenagers to feel anxious about therapy. We focus on building a trusting relationship to help them feel comfortable. We also often meet with parents or caregivers to gather background information and provide holistic support for the whole family. If you are worried about how they will react to the idea of seeing a psychologist, try these tips:
- Focus on “Support,” not “Fixing”: Instead of saying “You need to see someone to fix your behavior,” try “I can see you’ve been under a lot of pressure lately, and I’d like to find someone who can help take some of that weight off your shoulders.”
- The “One Session” Trial: Ask them to commit to just one session. Tell them if they don’t feel a “click” with the psychologist, they don’t have to go back to that specific person.
- Mention the Dog: For many animal-loving teens, the prospect of meeting Bella is often enough of a “hook” to get them into the first appointment.
- Telehealth Option: If they are too anxious to leave the house, suggest a Telehealth session from the comfort of their own bedroom.
Practical Info for Parents
- Medicare: Most teens are eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan from their GP, which provides 10 rebated sessions per year.
- School Liaison: With your consent, we can provide letters to schools regarding special considerations for exams or adjustments to their learning plan (this will involved additional fees)
- Assessments: We offer diagnostic assessments for ADHD and ASD, which can be vital for accessing the right support at school or through the NDIS.
- Support for Parents: Parents are pivotal to a child’s progress. We can provide you with practical skills and resources to boost your child’s self-worth and manage challenging behaviours or sleep problems at home.
