Mental Health

For Youth and Young Adults

Psychology

Social Work Counselling

Psychological Assessment

Professional and Clinical Supervision

Winter clinic

Low-cost individual and group counseling for the community

The Talking Couch is the only private mental health practice dedicated to helping youth and young adults (12-24 years) in the Shoalhaven.

We pride ourselves on being different. For us, being client-centred and using an evidence-informed approach to treatment are not nice-to-haves but are at the core of our practice philosophy. Working together with you is a collaborative commitment, and while our practitioners are very knowledgeable in the various areas of mental health, you are and always will be the expert of your own life.

We welcome with open arms anyone who is within the age range of 10-24 years. We embrace diversity, and while we are neither colour- nor otherwise blind, we also strongly reject putting labels on people. In the end, we are all but human.

One in seven young people aged 4 to 17 years experience a mental health condition in any given year.

Lawrence D, Johnson S, Hafekost J, Boterhoven De Haan K, Sawyer M, Ainley J, Zubrick SR. (2015).

The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents. Report on the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Canberra: Department of Health

Psychology

Counselling

Assessments

Winter clinic

Only 31% of young women and 13% of young men with mental health problems had sought any professional help.

Slade T, Johnston A, Teesson M, Whiteford H, Burgess P, Pirkis J, et al. (2009)

The Mental Health of Australians 2: Report on the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing

Life is seldom straightforward, and it hardly ever turns out exactly as planned. Sometimes, the obstacles in our way seem insurmountable, and sometimes we simply get lost somewhere. These and many other factors can lead to psychological disorders, ranging from mild anxiety to much more serious problems.

The goal of our practitioners is to lend you a helping hand in working things through, empower you to make decisions that are right for you, and ultimately provide you with a skill set that will increase your judgment and decision-making in the future.

No problem is too small or too big for us, so call us today or book yourself in to find out how we can work together.

Latest articles

Young people who witness domestic violence are more likely to be victims of it. Here’s how we can help them

Australia wants to end domestic violence in a generation. To do so, we need to focus on the next one.

GPs will be a great help for managing ADHD medications. But many patients will still need specialists

Up-skilling GPs to treat ADHD will benefit many patients, some people with more complex cases will still need to see a specialist.

Girls with painful periods are twice as likely as their peers to have symptoms of anxiety or depression

A new study found adolescents with period pain had higher levels of psychological distress as young adults, even after accounting for earlier mental health issues.

Why do I procrastinate? And can I do anything about it?

Procrastinating can be a coping mechanism for anxiety, but usually only works in the short term.

What’s the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown?

One’s about behaviour, the other about emotions. Here’s how to respond to tantrums and meltdowns without losing your cool.

Focusing on a child’s strengths can transform assessments – and help them thrive after an ADHD or autism diagnosis

A new strengths checklist aims to help parents, carers and clinicians more easily identify a child’s skills, talents and positive qualities.

The ‘monogamy superiority myth’: new research suggests unconventional relationships are just as satisfying

Many people assume monogamy is the gold standard but the secret to fulfilling relationships might not be about exclusivity at all.

Does conflict with friends make you squirm? Doing it right might make the relationship stronger

Friendships are often the first relationships we form outside of family. But how can we deal with conflict in these relationships in a grown-up way?

What can you do if your child is being bullied?

Bullying is one of the top concerns Australian parents have about their children’s health. Unfortunately, it is something about 1 in 4 students experience.

There’s a new ‘rapid review’ into school bullying. Research shows we need to involve the whole school to stop it

Approaches to school bullying have shifted from just dealing with the victim and perpetrator to involving the whole school in prevention.

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When we are open to new possibilities, we find them. Be open and skeptical of everything.

Todd Kashdan