Gledswood Hills, Kingswood and online
Therapy for young people with social difficulties.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, or leave a message and we’ll call you back.
We’re away from the phones right now. Send an enquiry and we’ll get back to you by the next business morning.
- No GP referral needed to book
- Medicare rebates with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan
- NDIS and WorkCover clients welcome
What it can look like.
Some kids feel left out, struggle to read social cues or find it hard to speak up in groups. Social difficulties don’t mean a child is unfriendly or unwilling. They often reflect differences in communication style, confidence or emotional regulation.
- Trouble starting or keeping conversations
- Difficulty making or keeping friends
- Avoiding group activities or preferring to be alone
- Misreading body language or tone of voice
- Feeling anxious, shy or frustrated in social situations
These difficulties aren’t a child’s fault. They’re a sign that extra support could help.
How we approach social difficulties
Our psychologists use approaches grounded in evidence and, where helpful, work with schools.
- 1
Understanding your child’s experience
Your psychologist starts with what’s going on for your child, including where social situations feel hard, what they avoid and how it affects school and home. You’ll talk about what brought you here and what you’d like to change.
- 2
Choosing an approach together
Your psychologist explains the options and why they might suit your child, then you agree on a plan together.
- 3
Reviewing the plan together
Along the way, your psychologist checks progress with you and your child, using measures chosen for your child and what they’re working on, and adjusts the plan if needed.
What support can include
- Social skills training Practical ways to start conversations, join group activities and respond to peers.
- Role-play and practice Safe opportunities to rehearse real-life situations.
- Emotion recognition and regulation Understanding their own feelings and reading other people’s.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Looks at unhelpful thoughts like “nobody likes me”.
- Family coaching Ways for parents to support friendships at home and in the community.
- Strengths-based identity work Focuses on each child’s abilities and who they are.
Who you’ll see
A psychologist who fits.
You’ll see one of our 25+ psychologists, at Gledswood Hills, Kingswood or online. All our psychologists are registered with AHPRA.
Depth behind the person you see
Your child sees one psychologist. Behind them is a practice that invests in what they know: training through the year, supervision built in, and time set aside to keep up with the research.
Trained for the work in front of them
Our psychologists train through the year, and we train together when we take on a new approach.
Enough of us to match your child properly
With 25+ psychologists, we can put your child with someone who works with their age, what’s going on, and how they like to work.
Keeping up, on purpose
New research, new frameworks and new tools get tested against what we already do. What earns its place stays.
If something isn’t working.
Tell us, or tell your psychologist. Here’s what can happen next.
Ask for a different psychologist
We aim to get it right first time. If not, tell us and we’ll match you with someone else. No reason needed, and you won’t have to start over.
Talk it through with your psychologist
Your psychologist reviews the plan with you, and can talk your care through in supervision. All our psychologists work with regular supervision and shared clinical standards.
Wondering about medication?
If medication might be worth considering, we can write to your GP or paediatrician with what we’ve found, with your consent.
Before you book.
Where
Two locations, or online
See your psychologist in person at Gledswood Hills or Kingswood, or have your sessions online.
Fees and rebates
Medicare
No GP referral needed to book. With a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, we process your Medicare rebate on the spot, and it’s usually paid into your account within 24–48 hours.
Funding
NDIS and WorkCover
NDIS and WorkCover clients welcome.
Questions parents ask.
Can’t see yours? Our Client Care team can help on 1300 151 110.
How does Unbound Minds support children with social difficulties?
We use evidence-based approaches to help children understand social cues and practise new skills. Therapy often involves role-play, problem-solving and practical strategies children can try in real-life settings.
Do you work with parents and schools as well as the child?
Yes. We work with the whole support network. Parents learn how to encourage positive interactions at home, while schools are provided with strategies to help children feel included and supported in the classroom and playground.
How can I tell if my child’s social struggles are just shyness or something more?
Shyness is common, but children usually warm up with time. If your child consistently avoids social situations, struggles to keep friendships, or feels distressed in groups, it may point to underlying social difficulties that benefit from extra support.
What should I do when my child is excluded by peers?
Listen with empathy and avoid minimising their feelings. Encourage friendships in smaller, supportive settings, such as structured activities or with children who share common interests. We also work with children on strategies for tricky social situations.
Can social difficulties improve with the right support?
Social skills can be learned and practised. Therapy gives children structured, practical strategies to try in everyday life, at a pace that suits them.
Start with a phone call.
We’ll listen, ask a few questions and match your child with a psychologist who fits.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, or leave a message and we’ll call you back.
We’re away from the phones right now. Send an enquiry and we’ll get back to you by the next business morning.
Locations
Gledswood HillsLevel 2, 25/13 Digitaria Drive, Gledswood Hills. We call from (02) 8319 1945.
KingswoodLevel 3, 302/13 Barber Avenue, Kingswood. We call from (02) 8528 4620.
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Unbound Minds provides general mental health information and professional psychological services. This website is not a substitute for personalised advice, diagnosis or treatment.