When something changes, you don’t always know what to do.
Parenting can be wonderful, rewarding and incredibly challenging.
And when your child is struggling, it can be difficult to know whether what you’re seeing is part of growing up, a temporary response to something happening in their world, or a sign that they need some additional support.
You don’t need to have all the answers.
The Good Place helps parents make sense of what may be happening for their child, understand their mental health and work out what support may be helpful.
When you start to wonder, “Is this normal?”
Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re experiencing.
Mental health difficulties can sometimes show up through behaviour rather than words.
You may notice:
- Increased worry or anxiety
- Big emotional reactions or frequent meltdowns
- Withdrawal or spending more time alone
- Changes in friendships
- Difficulties getting to or attending school
- Perfectionism or fear of making mistakes
- Changes in sleep
- Changes in appetite or eating
- Low confidence or self-esteem
- Anger or irritability
- Difficulty managing everyday situations
- A child who seems different from their usual self
- Or simply a feeling that something isn’t quite right
Sometimes there is a clear reason.
Sometimes there isn’t.
And sometimes you just know your child isn’t themselves.
That feeling is worth paying attention to.
You don’t need to wait for things to get worse.
Seeking support doesn’t necessarily mean that your child needs therapy.
Sometimes a parent needs reassurance.
Sometimes you need a better understanding of what your child is experiencing.
Sometimes your child needs practical strategies.
Sometimes the family needs support navigating a difficult period.
And sometimes more specialised mental health support is appropriate.
The first step is understanding what is happening.
How we can help
Understanding what’s going on
We take the time to understand your child’s experiences, their strengths, their relationships and the things happening around them.
This helps us look beyond a particular behaviour and consider what might be sitting underneath it.
Helping you understand your child
Children can communicate distress in many different ways.
We can help you understand what you may be seeing and consider how your child’s emotions, thoughts, behaviour and environment may be connected.
Practical strategies
Parents often want to know:
“What can I actually do?”
Support should be practical.
Depending on your child’s needs, we may work together on strategies around emotions, anxiety, communication, routines, confidence, boundaries, relationships or other areas of concern.
Building confidence as a parent
You don’t have to be a mental health expert to support your child.
Sometimes having the right information and a few practical tools can make a significant difference to how confident you feel responding to difficult moments.
Our goal is to help you feel more confident understanding and supporting your child.
What happens when you get in touch?
1. We listen
We start by understanding what has brought you to us and what you’ve been noticing.
2. We understand
We look at your child’s experiences in context, including their development, relationships, school and family environment.
3. We work out what is needed
Not every child needs the same type of support.
We consider whether education, practical strategies, parent support, therapy or additional assessment may be appropriate.
4. We create a plan
Where support is needed, we work with you to develop practical next steps that are realistic for your family.
Supporting your child doesn’t mean doing everything for them.
One of the most important things we can give children is the confidence to understand and manage their own emotional world.
Our role is not to take over from parents.
It’s to work alongside you.
Parents know their children better than anyone. Our role is to bring clinical knowledge, experience and perspective to help you understand what may be happening and decide what to do next.
What if my child doesn’t want help?
This is a common concern.
Children can be unsure about talking to someone new, particularly if they don’t understand why they’re being referred or feel worried about what might happen.
We take a child-centred approach and work at an appropriate pace.
The aim isn’t to force a child to talk.
It’s to create a safe environment where they can gradually develop trust, understanding and confidence.
You don’t need to know exactly what’s wrong before you reach out.
You might not know whether your child’s behaviour is anxiety.
You might not know whether their emotions are developmentally typical.
You might not know whether therapy is appropriate.
That’s okay.
You don’t need a diagnosis or a perfect explanation to start a conversation.
Sometimes the most useful first step is simply:
“I’ve noticed something has changed, and I’d like to understand it.”
A different way of thinking about children’s mental health
We believe support should be about more than identifying problems.
Children have strengths, interests, relationships, personalities and things they enjoy.
Understanding these strengths is just as important as understanding their difficulties.
We look at the whole child, not simply the problem that brought you through the door.
When should I seek help?
There is no single rule.
If you’re concerned about your child’s emotional wellbeing, behaviour or mental health, it can be helpful to seek advice sooner rather than waiting until things become overwhelming.
Early support can sometimes provide reassurance, practical strategies and a clearer understanding of what your child needs.
You know your child.
If something doesn’t feel right, you don’t have to work it out alone.
The Good Place is here to help you understand what’s happening, work out what your child needs and find a way forward.
The Good Place
Making mental health make sense.
Children’s mental health education | Parent support | Therapy | Early intervention
info@thegoodplacesydney.com
0420 821 750