Counselling and anxiety
Children withanxiety
General anxiety, separation anxiety, fear, social phobias, school refusal, obsessive compulsive disorders.
Typically functioning children with anxiety.
Process: Contact ‘Learn to Shine: Psychology for Children’ Parents complete ‘Client Information’ form and send to ‘Learn to Shine’.
Parents provide referral letters from G.P to obtain Medicare rebates.
Anxiety diagnosis:
Clinical interview with parent assessing all areas of possible pathology - Intake questionnaire: anxiety-beh-soc-em
Structured interview/questionnaire to determine type of anxiety, e.g. generalised, social, separation, phobia, panic etc. - See diagnostic criteria/checklists for each Anxiety-related disorder
Child interview (depending on age) or work with child – look for irrational thinking patterns and underlying anxiety symptomology
Obtain information from other informants, e.g. teaching staff
Measurement: SDQ, SCAS, DASS, IQ, WIAT, CONNERS (depending on clinical interview)
Follow up appointment – discuss diagnosis, underlying issues, intervention options (i.e., psychoeducation, CBT, play therapy, school staff liaison)
