What is child therapy?
This page is about therapy for children. What it involves, what it can help with, and how our practitioners at Integro Health support children in a safe, warm environment in South West WA.
Child therapy is psychological support designed specifically for children, delivered in ways that make sense to them. Because children often do not have the words to explain how they feel, we use age-appropriate approaches, including play, drawing, stories, and activities, to help them express and work through what is going on. It is not about labelling your child or finding fault with your parenting. It is about understanding your child’s world, helping them feel safe and supported, and giving them tools to manage big feelings. Parents and carers are an important part of the process throughout.
What child therapy can help with
Children come to therapy for many reasons. Common ones include big or overwhelming feelings, worry and anxiety, low mood, anger and behaviour that is hard to manage, friendship and school struggles, and difficulty with change. Others need support through a specific experience, such as family separation, grief and loss, bullying, or a frightening or traumatic event. Sometimes a child’s distress shows up in their body or behaviour long before they can put it into words.
What we often see in practice is that a child’s difficulty makes complete sense once you understand what they are experiencing and how they are trying to cope. Meeting that with patience and the right support, rather than pressure, is what helps them settle.
At Integro Health, we work with the whole picture, the child, the family, and the world around them, because children do not exist in isolation, and lasting change usually involves the people who love them.
How we work with your child
There is no single correct path for a child, and every child is different. What we do is work at your child's pace, in ways that suit their age and personality, using approaches grounded in psychological evidence and shaped around them.
Building safety and trust
Before anything else, we help your child feel safe and comfortable. A child who feels at ease will open up in their own time, and we never rush that. Trust is the foundation of everything that follows.
Working in their language
Rather than expecting a child to sit and talk like an adult, we meet them where they are, through play, drawing, stories, and activities that let them express and process what is going on.
Understanding what sits underneath
Children’s difficulties often make sense in the context of their experiences and their world. We work to understand what is really going on, so we are helping with the cause, not just the behaviour on the surface.
Partnering with parents
You know your child best. We work closely with you, helping you understand what is happening and giving you practical ways to support your child at home, so the change continues beyond the session.
Support at the right pace
Every child moves at their own speed. We check in with you regularly and let the work unfold in a way that feels manageable for your child and your family.
Meet the Team
At Integro Health, you do not just book a clinic. You choose a practitioner who understands you. Our team of experienced psychotherapists brings clinical depth, genuine warmth, and a broad range of specialisations together under one roof. Take a moment to read about each of our practitioners and find the right fit for where you are right now.
Dr Paul King
General Practitioner
MBBS Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery
FRACGP Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Jools Fordyce
Social Worker & Family Therapist
Bachelor (Hons) – Applied Social Science with Diploma in Social Work
Postgraduate Diploma in Family and Relationship Therapy
Brooke Eden
Psychologist
Bachelor of Psychology
Graduate Diploma of Education
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.
Nicholas Kerr
Psychologist
Masters of Psychology (Organisational)
Bachelor of Arts
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.
Carli King
Office Administrator
As Practice Manager, Carli keeps the daily operations of Integro Health running smoothly, ensuring our clients always receive the highest standard of care.
What you can expect when you reach out
A safe, warm space
Your child will be met with patience and genuine care, in an environment designed to help them feel at ease. Not clinical, and not intimidating.
The whole family in mind
We keep you involved and look at the full picture, because a child’s wellbeing is closely tied to the family and world around them.
Evidence-based and age-appropriate
We use approaches proven to help children, adapted to your child’s age and stage, rather than a one-size formula.
In-clinic and online options
Whether you can bring your child to our Eaton clinic in Bunbury or you need the flexibility of telehealth, we can work with your family wherever you are in South West WA.
What people get wrong about child therapy
One of the most common worries parents have is that seeking therapy means they have failed, or that they will be judged as a parent. Nothing could be further from the truth. Reaching out for your child is an act of care, and good child therapists work with parents as partners, never as the problem.
Another misconception is that children are too young to benefit from therapy, or that they will simply grow out of their difficulties. Some things do pass, but when a child is genuinely struggling, early support can make a real difference and prevent difficulties from taking deeper root. Children are often remarkably responsive to the right help.
We also hear from families in South West WA who waited a long time, hoping things would settle on their own, before reaching out. Waiting sometimes helps, but when a child’s distress is affecting their daily life, friendships, or learning, support is worth seeking sooner rather than later.
Finally, many parents worry therapy will be confronting or upsetting for their child. Good child therapy is the opposite. At our Eaton clinic near Bunbury, or by telehealth, sessions are warm, playful, and paced entirely to what your child is ready for.
Is child therapy right for my child?
It is common to wonder whether your child’s struggles are serious enough for therapy, or whether you are overreacting. The honest answer is that if you are worried about your child, that is reason enough to seek advice.
If your child is anxious, withdrawn, unusually angry or upset, struggling at school or with friends, having trouble sleeping, or working through a difficult experience, even some of the time, then support can help. You do not need a diagnosis, or a crisis, to reach out, and an early conversation can bring real reassurance.
How child therapy works
Every child and family is different, but there are a few things most can expect:
We usually start with the parents, so we can understand your child, your concerns, and their world before your child comes in.
Sessions are built around your child, using play and age-appropriate activities rather than expecting them to sit and talk like an adult.
You stay involved throughout, with regular check-ins and practical guidance, so you can support your child at home. Where helpful, we may also suggest family therapy.
At Integro Health, our aim is to help your child feel understood, settled, and able to thrive. You can read more about what to expect on our first session page.
Your questions answered
Yes, in many cases. A Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP gives you a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year with a registered psychologist. Your GP will assess your eligibility. It is worth getting a referral in place with your GP in Bunbury, Busselton, or wherever you are located before your first session.
You will be involved throughout. We usually begin by meeting with you to understand your child and your concerns, and we keep you updated and guided as things progress. The balance of parent and child involvement depends on your child’s age and what they are working through, and we will always talk that through with you.
What your child shares is treated with care, and building their trust matters. For younger children, we keep you closely informed. As children get older, they need some privacy to feel safe opening up, so we balance their confidentiality with keeping you informed about anything important, especially anything to do with safety. We explain how this works clearly from the start.
Yes, telehealth is available and can work well, particularly for families in regional areas or for older children. For younger children, in-person sessions are often more effective because so much of the work happens through play and connection, but we are happy to talk through what would suit your child best.
This varies with what your child is working through. Some children settle within a handful of sessions, others benefit from longer support, particularly after a significant experience. We review progress with you regularly and never keep a child in therapy longer than they need.
We work with children across a broad range of ages, adapting our approach to each stage. If you are not sure whether therapy suits your child’s age or situation, get in touch and we can advise, and point you toward teenage therapy if that is a better fit.
No referral is needed to book a session. You can contact us directly to arrange a first appointment. If you would like to access Medicare rebates through a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you will need a GP referral first, and we can guide you through that.
We use approaches designed for children, including play-based and creative methods, alongside evidence-based models such as child-focused CBT, adapted to your child’s age and needs. Where a frightening or traumatic experience is involved, we draw on trauma-informed approaches. Everything is tailored to your child.
