Adolescent & Child Psychologist in Melbourne

Q: Will you work with my child’s school or other health professionals?

Yes, where it’s useful and with the appropriate consent.Depending on what your child needs, that might include liaising with their school, paediatrician or another psychologist completing a formal assessment.I can also help you understand what different professionals do and where it makes sense to go next.

Q: Do you have children yourself?

No, I don’t have children of my own.My experience with children and families comes from more than 10 years working with them as a psychologist, along with my earlier experience as a nanny, foster carer and disability support worker.And I really love working with kids and teens. It’s why I’ve chosen this as a special interest area and continue to dedicate so much of my professional development to understanding them better. Even after all that experience, I’m still learning from the kids and families I work with every day.

Q: How do payments work?

Payment is due on the day of your appointment. For in-person appointments, payment is made by EFTPOS. For telehealth appointments, I’ll email you an invoice with my bank details so you can make payment via bank transfer.Once I have received payment, I will process your Medicare rebate for you. You will receive a receipt by email which includes the Medicare claim receipt.

Psychology support for children, teens and the parents trying to figure out how best to help them.

When something feels off, it’s hard to know what counts as “normal kid stuff”

Kids have big feelings. Teenagers aren’t as interested in spending time with you. Mornings can be naturally chaotic. Friendships get messy. School can be hard.

So when you notice your child is struggling, it’s not always obvious where the line is between ‘something they’ll move through with time’ and something they could use extra support with.

It could be a change in their mood or behaviour.

Maybe food and eating have become more stressful.

Or school has raised concerns.

Or maybe there isn’t one big thing you can point to; you just keep finding yourself thinking, “Growing up shouldn’t feel this tough for them.”

Helping your child starts with making sense of what you’re noticing

You know your child better than anyone.

But noticing something has changed doesn’t always tell you why it’s happening, or what might help life feel easier for them.

That’s something we can work out together.

We can look at what’s happening for your child at home, school and in their relationships, understand what might be contributing to the difficulties they’re having and find practical ways forward.

And if it becomes clear that another professional or formal assessment would be useful, I can help you navigate what comes next rather than leaving you with another thing to Google.

Psychology for children & teenagers

If you’re looking for an adolescent and child psychologist in Melbourne, I work with infants and preschoolers through to primary school children and teenagers, as well as providing support for parents.

With younger children, our work may involve more support and strategies for you as the parent. With teenagers, I make sure they have space to build their own relationship with me and feel a sense of agency over their therapy.

I can help with:

Appointment Fees & Rebates

50-minute appointment: $270
30-minute appointment: $200

30-minute appointments can be particularly useful for younger children.

Medicare Rebate: Available with an eligible Mental Health Treatment Plan or Eating Disorder Management Plan

Private Health Insurance: Please check with your provider

Meet child & adolescent psychologist Jess Green

Working with kids has been part of my life for a long time

Before becoming a psychologist, I worked as a nanny, foster carer and disability support worker, spending time with children and families in their homes and experiencing the reality of family life up close.

Today, I’m a Clinical Psychologist with more than 10 years of experience working with infants, children, adolescents and their parents.

I hold a Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) from Monash University, where I completed the clinical child, adolescent and family psychology specialisation, including a year-long internship at The Royal Children’s Hospital.

I love supporting families through the really challenging years of raising children.

And even after all that training and experience, I don’t assume I know your child better than you do.

You know them in a way I never will. My job is to bring my clinical experience, get to know the child in front of me and work alongside you to understand what they need.

What can you expect when working with a child psychologist?

01.

Tell me what’s been happening with your child

Send through an enquiry and let me know whether you’re seeking support for yourself or your child, along with your preference for Collingwood, Camberwell or telehealth.

02.

Before the first appointment

Once your appointment is booked, I’ll send you an email confirming the date and time, along with an online form for you to complete before we meet.

If your child has a Mental Health Treatment Plan, Eating Disorder Management Plan or any relevant reports or information from other professionals, you can send those through too.

03.

During the first appointment

The first appointment is about getting to know your child: what’s going well, what they’re finding difficult, and what’s happening around them at home, at school and in other parts of their life.

Sometimes you’ll have a pretty good idea of what’s going on. Other times, the school has told you to “see someone”, and that’s about as far as you’ve got.

Both are fine.

If I’m working with you and your teen, I always allow 1:1 time with them in the first appointment.

At the end of the session, I’ll talk with you about what I’m noticing, the approach I recommend and how frequently it makes sense to meet.

04.

Subsequent appointments

Depending on what we identify together, our ongoing work might involve individual therapy with your child or teenager, working with you as their parent, practical strategies to use at home or school. It might also involve collaborating with their school or other professionals involved in their care, or referring for further assessment.

We’ll keep checking in on how things are going and adjust our approach as your child’s needs change.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few things parents usually want to know before reaching out

If you need support now:
contact your GP, call the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call 000. I’m not an emergency or crisis service, and I reply to enquiries within two business days.

What ages do you work with?

I work with children and adolescents from infancy through to the teenage years.

For infants and very young children, the work will naturally involve you more heavily. As children get older, the way I work adapts to their age, development and what they need from therapy.

Do you do ADHD or autism assessments?

No. I’m a therapist and don’t provide formal ADHD or autism assessments or diagnostic reports.

If you’re wondering whether your child may be neurodivergent, I can work with them therapeutically and help you understand what you’re noticing. If a formal assessment is appropriate, I can also refer you to a paediatrician or psychologist who conducts assessments.

Will you work with my child’s school or other health professionals?

Yes, where it’s useful and with the appropriate consent.

Depending on what your child needs, that might include liaising with their school, paediatrician or another psychologist completing a formal assessment.

I can also help you understand what different professionals do and where it makes sense to go next.

What if my teenager doesn’t want to see a psychologist?

I’m happy to speak with your teenager over the phone so they can ask any questions they may have about seeing a psychologist before making an appointment.

I encourage young people to come for one appointment without any ongoing commitment so they can get a feel for whether we are a good fit. I need their consent to proceed, so we only continue with therapy if they agree to come back.

Do you have children yourself?

No, I don’t have children of my own.

My experience with children and families comes from more than 10 years working with them as a psychologist, along with my earlier experience as a nanny, foster carer and disability support worker.

And I really love working with kids and teens. It’s why I’ve chosen this as a special interest area and continue to dedicate so much of my professional development to understanding them better. Even after all that experience, I’m still learning from the kids and families I work with every day.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can make an appointment for your child and pay privately.

If they have an eligible referral from a GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist and a Mental Health Treatment Plan or Eating Disorder Management Plan, Medicare rebates may be available.

How many appointments will my child need?

There isn’t one answer because it depends on your child’s age, what they’re experiencing and what we’re working on together.

Once I’ve had a chance to get to know your child and understand what’s going on, we can work out how frequently it makes sense to meet together.

Can I claim a rebate on my child’s psychology appointments?

I will need a copy of your child’s current Mental Health Treatment Plan or Eating Disorder Management Plan for you to be able to claim a Medicare rebate.

You will need to check whether your private health extras cover includes psychology appointments.

Note: You must choose whether to apply for the Medicare rebate or private health cover rebate; you cannot receive both. The Medicare rebate is typically higher, so people generally claim their appointments under Medicare first and then use private health insurance once their Medicare-rebated appointments have run out.

How do payments work?

Payment is due on the day of your appointment. For in-person appointments, payment is made by EFTPOS. For telehealth appointments, I’ll email you an invoice with my bank details so you can make payment via bank transfer.

Once I have received payment, I will process your Medicare rebate for you. You will receive a receipt by email which includes the Medicare claim receipt.

Do you offer a concession rate?

A small number of concession sessions may be available if you are experiencing financial hardship. Places are limited and reviewed periodically. Please let me know when you enquire so we can have a conversation about your options.

What happens if I need to cancel or change my child’s appointment?

Please give at least two business days’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Weekends and public holidays don’t count. For example, for a Monday appointment, I’d need to hear from you by the Wednesday before. Cancellations with less than two business days’ notice are billed at 100% of the appointment fee.

Wondering if your child could use some extra support?

If you’re worried about your child, or someone else has raised a concern, tell me a little about what’s going on, and we can work out the next step together.