If your child wakes up anxious about school, gets stuck on big worries, or slips into silence with friends, you’re not alone. Since 2007, Kids First Children’s Services has helped Northern Beaches families find a way forward with warm, evidence-based care.
At a glance Who we help: Children 7 -12 and teens
Core approach: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) tailored to your child
Common goals: Reduce anxiety and avoidance, lift mood, build coping skills, improve school and social participation
Where: Brookvale clinic, school or telehealth across Sydney’s Northern Beaches
What is CBT? A child-friendly approach that makes sense
CBT teaches kids to notice unhelpful thoughts, test them against facts, and practise new behaviours so worries shrink over time. Rather than only talking about feelings, children do small, supported steps in and between sessions. This changes what the brain expects and makes everyday life feel safer and more manageable.
CBT teaches children key skills, such as how to:
- Spot thinking traps (e.g., catastrophising, mind–reading)
- Reframe negative thinking with positive, realistic thoughts
- Calm their bodies (breathing, muscle relaxation)
- Gradually face situations they fear (step-by-step exposure)
- Problem-solve and plan
- Feel self-compassion
- Label their emotions
Our aim is not to remove all worry (that’s impossible), but to help your child steer their feelings instead of being steered by them.
When is CBT recommended?
CBT is a first-line option for many presentations, including:
- Anxiety disorders: Generalised, social, separation anxiety, specific phobias
- Low mood/depression: Loss of interest, irritability, hopeless thoughts
- Emotion/anger regulation: Big feelings, meltdowns, difficulty bouncing back
- School refusal/avoidance: Re–engaging with learning and routines
- Social difficulties: Confidence, perspective–taking, friendship skills
- Life stressors: Grief, family change, moves and transitions
Children do not need a formal diagnosis to benefit from this approach. If worry or mood gets in the way of daily life, CBT can help.
What happens in a typical CBT journey?
1) Getting to know your child (Sessions 1-2)
We start by meeting the significant adult/s in your child’s life. A confidential, candid conversation allows you to share your concerns and the challenges your child is experiencing.
A ‘grown-ups only’ session also gives you the chance to meet the psychologist so that you can make informed choices for your child.
When the psychologist meets your child, they will begin with:
- Warm, play-informed rapport building
- History, goals and strengths
- Explaining the CBT model in age-appropriate language
- Parent input so home and school supports align
2) Skill building (Sessions 2-6)
Here the therapy journey involves things like:
- Thought-feeling-behaviour mapping
- Coping toolkit: Teaching breathing, relaxation, grounding strategies
- Cognitive restructuring (challenging unhelpful thoughts)
- Behavioural experiments
3) Graded exposure & generalisation (Sessions 6+)
Your child will be encouraged to take what they learn in sessions into their real world by:
- Practicing the use of ‘Stepwise’ strategies in situations they fear
- Completing home tasks (“missions”) to consolidate the gains they’ve made
- Teacher liaison (with consent) so strategies stick at school
4) Relapse prevention involves:
Making sure that your child is ready to move on includes:
- Having a simple plan for setbacks and future challenges
- Celebrating wins and naming the skills your child can reuse when they need to overcome a challenge
How long until we see change?
- Mild anxiety: notice changes in 8-12 sessions
- Moderate/complex: 15-25 sessions over several months
- Long-standing/multiple concerns: 6-12 months with staged goals
Expect a few “wobbly” weeks – setbacks are part of learning. We track progress so you can see what’s working.
Session rhythm: Most families start with weekly 50-minute sessions, then move to fortnightly as skills become routine. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Parent involvement: High for primary schoolers; consultative for teens. You’ll learn exactly how to coach skills at home (and what to avoid, like reassurance loops).
CBT vs other options – what’s the difference?
- Parent coaching: Great for behaviour shaping; less effective for internal worries unless paired with child skills.
- Cool Kids Programme: A structured CBT anxiety programme we provide in individual or small-group formats – ideal when anxiety is the primary issue and kids benefit from peer support.
- Play-based therapy: Best for younger children or those who struggle to verbalise feelings; we integrate CBT principles through play.
Which is right for your child? We’ll recommend a mix that fits age, learning style and goals.
Signs it’s time to seek support
- Persistent worries or low mood that last weeks/months
- School refusal or frequent sick-bay visits linked to anxiety
- Social withdrawal or ongoing conflict with peers
- Big, disproportionate anger outbursts
- Sleep disruption (nightmares, trouble falling asleep)
- Frequent tummy aches/headaches without a medical cause
- Recent stressors (loss, divorce, moving) and difficulty coping
If your instincts say “something’s not right,” an assessment is a safe next step.
Fees, rebates and funding (Northern Beaches)
- Private health funds: Many policies rebate psychology; check your cover
- Medicare: Rebates with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan
- NDIS: We support plan– and self–managed participants
- Schools: With consent, we liaise with teachers to embed strategies across environments
We’ll explain costs up-front and can suggest a schedule that meets your needs.
Why choose Kids First?
- Multi–disciplinary team under one roof: Psychologists, speech pathologists, OTs and specialist teachers work together to give every child the consistent, practical support they need to thrive.
- Local and experienced: Supporting Northern Beaches families from Manly to Mona Vale since 2007 Child–safe, strengths–based care: Privacy, dignity and practical help
- Flexible access: Clinic, school or telehealth options that fit family life
FAQs
Is CBT suitable for under-7s? Traditional CBT works best from age 7-8 when abstract thinking develops. Younger children benefit from modified CBT and play-based therapy.
Do parents attend sessions? For primary-aged children, yes – we coach you to reinforce skills. Teens often prefer more privacy; we still involve parents at key points.
Will my child need medication? Some children benefit from medication alongside therapy; others improve with CBT alone. Seek advice from your child’s GP or paediatrician.
How do we handle reluctance? It’s common at first. Our clinicians use engaging, child–centred activities so most kids warm up quickly once sessions feel helpful and safe.
Next steps
We’re a supportive safety net for families. If you’re ready to explore CBT for your child, book a call with our Customer Service Team or contact us on (02) 9938 5419. We’ll listen, guide you through options and help you choose a path that feels right.
