Child & Adolescent Counselling in Illawong
Compassionate, age-appropriate support for children and teenagers across Illawong and the Sutherland Shire — helping young people feel calmer, more confident and better understood.
YOUR CHILD OR TEEN MAY BE EXPERIENCING
Persistent anxiety, worry or unexplained fears
Big emotions that feel hard to manage or express
Difficulty at school, with friends or at home
Withdrawal, low mood or changes in behaviour
As a parent, it can be hard to know when to seek help — and harder still to watch your child struggle. You don't have to figure it out alone.
"Children don't always have the words for what they're carrying — but they always have a way of showing us, if we create the right space to listen."
SONYA THOMPSON · COUNSELLOR, MINDNEST COUNSELLING
Play Therapy & Child Counselling
Younger children don't always have the words to explain what they're feeling — and we don't ask them to. Play therapy is an evidence-based approach that meets children in their natural language, using creative activities, storytelling and play to help them express, process and make sense of their inner world.
Sessions are warm, unhurried and child-led. Parents are kept involved through regular check-ins and are an important part of the support process.
Teen & Adolescent Counselling
Teenagers face a unique set of pressures — identity, social dynamics, academic stress, family changes and the complexity of growing up in a connected world. Adolescent counselling uses conversation-based approaches tailored to each young person's needs and communication style.
Sessions are confidential, non-judgmental and built around what matters most to the young person — creating a space where they can talk openly, at their own pace.
How Child & Adolescent Counselling Can Help
Children and adolescents don't need to be in crisis to benefit from counselling. Many families seek support to help their child feel more secure, understood and equipped with tools to navigate life's challenges.
Whether your child is dealing with anxiety, struggling socially, processing a family change, or simply finding the world a bit overwhelming right now — counselling provides a safe and supported space to work through it.
Through counselling, children and teens can work toward:
Understanding and managing big emotions
Building confidence, resilience and self-esteem
Developing healthy coping skills for anxiety and stress
Navigating friendships, school and social challenges
Processing family changes, grief or difficult life events
Strengthening communication and self-expression
Mindnest Counselling is an ACA registered practice. We work with children and adolescents experiencing low to moderate challenges, and collaborate with parents, schools or other health professionals where additional support is beneficial.
Areas Supported in Child & Adolescent Counselling
Children and young people face a wide range of challenges — and many of them don't have words for what they're going through. We support children and teens experiencing:
Every child is different — counselling is shaped around their unique needs, age and experience.
Our Approach to Child & Adolescent Counselling
At Mindnest Counselling, we use age-appropriate, evidence-based approaches tailored to each child or young person — never a scripted program, always a response to the individual in the room.
All sessions are trauma-informed, recognising that children's challenges are often shaped by their experiences and environment — and that safety, warmth and consistency are the foundation of any effective therapeutic work with young people.
What to Expect in Your Child's First Session
The first session is gentle — a chance for your child or teen to meet their counsellor, explore the space and start to feel safe. There is no pressure to talk about everything straight away.
For younger children, the initial session may involve:
A brief check-in with parents to share background and concerns
Introducing the space, materials and what sessions look like
Letting your child lead at their own pace
A warm, low-pressure environment with no expectation to perform
For adolescents, the first session focuses on building trust and understanding what the young person wants from counselling — in their own words.
A space to slow down and breathe
What our customers say
Kind words from Mindnest clients
"Mindnest Counselling provides a calm and supportive environment. The sessions are thoughtful, professional and focused on helping people better understand their experiences. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a counsellor in the Sutherland Shire."
"From the very first session I felt comfortable, listened to and genuinely supported. The guidance I received was thoughtful, practical and helped me gain clarity. It never felt rushed and I always left each session feeling lighter and more empowered."
"I am so grateful to have Sonya on my journey as my support. From the moment I met her, she made me feel calm, supported and connected. Always puts me at ease with continuous nurture and care. Can not recommend Sonya enough."
"She is thoughtful and relatable. Other therapists have felt very one dimensional — I feel that Sonya is a real person with real life experiences and real emotion. I'm always in awe of the breakthroughs I have working with her."
"Sonya immediately put me at ease within the first few minutes of meeting. She is very insightful and talks to you on your level — she'll tell you what you need to hear with compassion and understanding."
"Super easy to talk to and really helped me work through some things I'd been struggling with for a while. I always felt comfortable and understood during our sessions. If you're looking for someone who listens, I'd definitely recommend."
"Sonya is very thoughtful and demonstrates a lot of empathy, which made me feel truly understood and supported. I always leave our counselling sessions feeling better and clear-minded."
"I came to counselling feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward. From the very first session, I felt truly heard and supported. My counsellor created a safe and non-judgmental space where I could open up at my own pace."
"Sonia is so kind and down to earth, it honestly just feels like talking to someone who really gets it. I always leave our sessions feeling lighter and a bit more like myself. I'm really grateful I found her."
Also at Mindnest Counselling
Anxiety Counselling
Evidence-based support for worry, panic, social anxiety and overwhelm.
→ CouplesCouples Counselling
Support for communication, conflict, trust and reconnection in relationships.
→ IndividualIndividual Counselling
Personalised one-on-one support tailored to your unique experiences, goals and wellbeing.
→ Stress & BurnoutStress & Burnout Counselling
Practical support for chronic stress, exhaustion and burnout — helping you recover and rebuild.
→Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from parents about child and adolescent counselling at Mindnest Counselling.
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Some signs to look for include changes in behaviour or mood, increased withdrawal or clinginess, persistent worries or fears, difficulty sleeping, declining school engagement, or emotional outbursts that feel out of proportion. You don't need to wait for a crisis — if something has felt different for a few weeks, it's worth exploring. Trust your instincts as a parent.
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Play therapy is an evidence-based approach for younger children — typically under 12 — that uses play, creative activities and storytelling to help them express and process their feelings in the natural language of childhood. Children don't need to have words for what they're experiencing. Play therapy meets them where they are and at their own pace.
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No referral is required. You can book directly through the online portal or contact Mindnest to have a conversation before booking your child's first session.
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Parent involvement is an important part of the process. For younger children, a parent or caregiver check-in is typically included to share observations and discuss how things are going. For adolescents, the level of parent involvement is discussed with both the young person and their family — balancing the teen's need for a confidential space with parents staying meaningfully informed.
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Online counselling is available for adolescents across Australia. For younger children, in-person sessions are generally recommended to allow for play-based and creative approaches — though online sessions can be considered depending on the child's age, needs and circumstances.
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This depends on how long stress has been building and what your goals are. Some clients notice meaningful shifts within 6–8 sessions; others benefit from ongoing support across a longer period. Session frequency and focus are reviewed together regularly so the work stays relevant and useful.
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This is very common. It can help to frame counselling as a private, judgment-free space that's just for them — not something being done to them. Some teens open up more when given a choice about the process. If your teenager is resistant, contact us and we can talk through the best way to approach it together.
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Mindnest Counselling is located at 9/273 Fowler Road, Illawong NSW 2234, supporting families across the Sutherland Shire including Menai, Bangor, Padstow Heights, Miranda, Gymea, Caringbah and Cronulla. Online sessions for adolescents are available throughout Australia.
Book Child & Adolescent Counselling
If you're concerned about your child or teenager and wondering whether counselling could help — reaching out is a good first step. You can book directly or contact us with any questions before booking.
No referral required
Age-appropriate, evidence-based and trauma-informed
In-person in Illawong — online for teens across Australia