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

6 ways to talk to your teens about sex without the cringe

‘The sex talk’ is not one single conversation. Here’s how to get started even if this seems super awkward.

When Society Turns Difference into Disability: What Neurodivergent Young People Say About Their Struggles

A new study shows that for neurodivergent teens, the real struggle isn’t difference itself — it’s stigma, exclusion, and environments that don’t adapt.

What is psychosocial therapy? And why is the government thinking about adding it to Medicare for kids?

New bulk-billed health checks for three-year-olds would refer them for additional support – including psychosocial therapy.

1 in 3 teens has thought about suicide this year. Here’s what to look for – and where to get help

A suicide attempt doesn’t always involve prior planning or thinking. But there are warnings signs.

Are you really an ISFJ? The truth about personality tests – and why we keep taking them

Tests such as Myers-Briggs promise self-discovery – but here’s why you shouldn’t take them too seriously.

The social media ban is coming, whether families like it or not: 5 ways to prepare kids and teens

World-first legislation will ban under 16s from certain social media platforms in less than four months. This could be a shock – but there are ways to prepare

‘Several teachers didn’t believe in ADHD’: families speak about how students with disability are bullied and excluded

Researchers heard from students who described ‘being picked last for everything’, as well as teasing and physical pushing at school.

When the System Meant to Protect Hurts: Insights from “Harm in the Name of Safety”

Safety is more than the absence of violence—it’s the presence of trust, dignity, and care. True safety begins when we stand with survivors in empathy and solidarity.

What to say and how to help if someone close to you has attempted suicide

You might feel worried, shocked and unsure what to say. But staying connected to the person can be powerful.

Often parents and schools disagree about whether something is ‘bullying’: what happens next?

When we look at the definition of bullying, it is not surprising disagreements occur. Identifying bullying is not clear-cut.

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

Todd Kashdan