Providing compassionate psychological support.
Child Client Information
As an adult it can be daunting to see a psychologist. This feeling may be amplified for our child clients (and even more so for the parents and caregivers of our child clients!)
This section is designed to give parents and caregivers an idea of what to expect
Prior to the Appointment
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Read about me - the theraputic framework I work within, my education and experiences - and decide if I am the right fit for you and your child.
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Please make sure that ALL parents/guardians/caregivers who are legally responsible for your child have signed the informed consent for psychological services form. I cannot see your child until this is done, unless there are Parenting Orders in place (in which case you will need to provide a copy via email). The consent form will be emailed to you after completing the online booking. A link to the form can be found on the 'Helpful Resources' page of this webiste or you can email liz@elizabethmaier.com.au to have additional copies of the form sent to the relevant parties.
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Carefully consider the Informed Consent and the limits around privacy/confidentiality before signing the document on your child's behalf.
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Consider using the following resources as a guide for chatting with your child about seeing a psychologist so they have an idea of what to expect:
On the Day
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As a mum and former teacher I am very used to interacting with children of all ages, and my clinic space is set up with children and families in mind. The clinic waiting area has a zillion books, an arcade and our very own Blue Tongue lizard, Dougie.
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If your child is attending with third party funding, via a Mental Health Plan from your GP or using Private Heatlh, then please bring any relevant documentation with you.
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Appointments with me are for approximately 50 minutes and it will be very likely that I will teach you and your child a new strategy or skill that can (if you wish) be experimented with between visits.
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For our initial appointment I will typically have both you and your child together in the consulting room so that we are all on the same page about why we are here and any relevant history I might need to know.
After the Appointment
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Decide with your child if I am the right fit for you and your family to build a strong theraputic relationship that is aligned with your goals.
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Booking appointments and cancelling appointments can be easily done through the website.
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In subsequent visits, I will be guided by you, your child and your family's needs regarding who is in the consulting room. Our sessions could include me spending variable amounts of time with your child alone, you alone and/or all of us together. Rest assured though that I will always take time to keep you updated on your child's progress.
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I view parents and caregivers as my team mates. We are all working towards the same goal, the best for your child.
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Any strategies or skills that are modelled and practised during our sessions together would benefit from being experimented with at school or home, but there is no obligation to do that.