Therapy Services

Individual Therapy
We offer individual therapy to young people and their families as needed. Individual therapy is a space for exploring whatever difficulties and goals a young person or their family may have. This therapy may take place with the young person, with the young person’s family, or with the young person together with their family. The format of therapy will be decided jointly by the young person, their family, and the Psychologist.
Each member of our team is well trained, professional, and person-focused. The cost per session is determined by the seniority of the individual clinician.
We recommend that you see your GP to discuss your difficulties and goals. Your GP may consider a Mental Health Care Plan, so that you can claim a Medicare rebate, which usually covers 40-50% of the cost of the therapy.
Group Therapy
We are proud to offer our CBT Skills group program called Stronger Wings to children, young people, and their families who are experiencing social, behavioural, or mood difficulties. This is a strength-based program designed to develop core cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and social skills in the following areas: Energy, Balance, Purpose, and Connection.
The Stronger Wings program is a six-session group intervention. We offer both a young person’s stream and a parents’ stream, to accommodate children and young people’s varying motivation and engagement. We usually recommend starting with the parents’ stream if the difficulties impact everyone in the family. If you are unsure which stream to start with then please feel free to submit an enquiry and we can discuss your individual circumstances.
Understanding Your Mind
Assessment Services
IQ Assessment
We offer stand-alone IQ assessments where there is a need to evaluate a child or young person’s level of intellectual functioning. This type of assessment may be appropriate in cases where there is a sense that the child or young person may be delayed intellectually, or potentially ‘gifted’. This type of assessment is designed to measure a person’s overall intellectual ability, in addition to profiling their strengths and weaknesses in five main areas: verbal intellect, visuospatial abilities, fluid/conceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed.
Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment
We offer Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessments where there is a need to measure a range of intellectual, cognitive, and academic abilities. This type of assessment begins with a measure of intellectual functioning, with more specific measures as required. Areas assessed may include for example attention, learning and memory, fine motor skills, expressive and receptive language, executive functions (such as planning/organisation), and academic abilities. This assessment type is required to provide an opinion as to the presence of Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia (otherwise known as Specific Learning Disorders).
ADHD Assessment
The Clinical Neuropsychologists at Kirwan Clinic offer comprehensive assessment of ADHD symptoms as a part of, or supplement to, assessment by a medical practitioner.
ADHD assessments at Kirwan Clinic include a diagnostic interview, review of records such as school reports, self- and informant-report questionnaires, and a Neuropsychological assessment.
Assessment of ADHD by a Clinical Neuropsychologist may be useful in cases where:
- A medical practitioner such as a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist requires assistance to distinguish ADHD from a different presentation such as behavioural, intellectual, academic, or language difficulties.
- A child or young person wishes to understand their cognitive strengths and weaknesses as part of their ADHD assessment process.
Please note that the first-line treatment for ADHD is stimulant medication, which may only be prescribed following an assessment by a medical practitioner. If you are experiencing difficulties with attention and organisastion, and would like to pursue an ADHD assessment, we recommend you see your GP to begin the process of referral to a specialist medical practitioner.
Assessment of ADHD by a Clinical Neuropsychologist may allow a child or young person and their family to begin exploring non-medication management options for ADHD while awaiting assessment by a medical practitioner, given that wait times can be lengthy to see a medical specialist.
Autism Assessment
We offer diagnostic assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These assessments are a complex but important pathway towards gaining a full understanding of the unique social and behavioural experiences of people who may be on the Autism Spectrum. Our Autism assessments are person-focused. We acknowledge each person’s unique strengths in addition to their challenges.
People on the Autism Spectrum may require support to achieve their goals in a world designed with Neurotypical norms in mind. NDIS funding may be accessible where a person on the Autism Spectrum has a higher level of support needs. This support is designed to boost social/communication, emotional, adaptability, and independence capabilities.
Empowering Growth Through Supervision