Lionheart Clinic

Get to know Lionheart Clinic

From Lionheart Clinic's website.

• Our approach

  Lionheart Clinic provides comprehensive psychiatric assessments and evidence-based treatment tailored to each young person's unique needs. Sessions are delivered via secure telehealth, allowing children and adolescents to access specialist care from home in a private, comfortable environment. The clinic's RANZCP-qualified psychiatrists use validated assessment tools and collaborate closely with families, GPs, paediatricians, and schools to create coordinated treatment plans. Parents typically participate in sessions, especially with younger children, while teenagers may have private time with the psychiatrist. Our clinicians are experienced in engaging young people via video and adapt sessions to suit each child's individual needs and comfort level.

• Working with families

  Lionheart Clinic takes a family-centred approach with collaborative involvement of parents and carers throughout the clinical journey. Clear communication and support are provided at every step, and comprehensive reports are shared with families, GPs, schools, and allied health professionals to aid educational and treatment planning. Parents typically participate in sessions, especially for younger children, and the clinic works collaboratively with your family, GP, paediatrician, psychologist, and school to provide coordinated care. Our clinicians are skilled at adapting sessions to ensure both parents and children feel supported and included in the assessment and treatment process.

• Meet the team

  The team consists of two RANZCP-qualified child and adolescent psychiatrists. Dr Mimi Xu holds an MD, MMed(Psych), FRANZCP, and Advanced Certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, with expertise in ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Dr Joanna Blades holds a B Sci (Hons), MD, FRANZCP, and Advanced Certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, with subspecialty interest in perinatal psychiatry and expertise in perinatal mental health, ADHD, and autism. Both clinicians are AHPRA-registered, Fellows of RANZCP with specialist training in child and adolescent mental health, and experienced in comprehensive psychiatric assessments, diagnosis, and treatment.

• Your first visit

  The initial appointment may include conversations between the child and parent/guardian together, a separate conversation with the parent or guardian alone, and a conversation with the child alone, depending on what the clinician assesses as most helpful. Before your appointment, you should test your device and internet connection, find a quiet private space, have any previous reports or assessments ready, and talk to your child about the appointment in age-appropriate terms. Our intake team completes initial assessments within 5 business days of receiving your GP referral, with psychiatric appointments typically scheduled within 3–6 weeks depending on clinician availability. You'll need to provide any referrals, pathology results, questionnaires, and clinical information at least 3 weeks before the initial session.