Ringwood Child and Adolescent Psychology

Get to know Ringwood Child and Adolescent Psychology

From Ringwood Child and Adolescent Psychology's website.

• Our approach

  Children and adolescents are seen individually, or alongside their parents/carers, depending on what works best for each child's needs. Sessions focus on understanding not just the symptoms but the underlying factors contributing to difficulties. A range of evidence-based approaches are used flexibly, including play therapy, attachment-based interventions, psychoanalytic therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The work is guided by compassion, curiosity, and empathy, with the aim of building a strong therapeutic relationship and working towards shared goals with families.

• Working with families

  Parent involvement is considered central to effective treatment. Parents may be included in sessions with their child, seen separately to discuss what is happening and explore different ways of supporting and responding to their child, or supported on their own depending on what is most helpful. Parent sessions provide space to make sense of your child's behaviour, reflect on your own experiences and how they shape your responses, consider alternate approaches to parenting, and work on reconnecting with and improving your relationship with your child.

• Meet the team

  Dr Rebecca Hamilton is a clinical psychologist with over 10 years' experience working in public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science with Honours in Psychology (Deakin University, 2009), a Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) (Deakin University, 2014), and is currently completing a Master of Mental Health Science (Child Psychotherapy) at Monash University. She is registered with AHPRA and holds clinical endorsement with the Psychology Board of Australia, and has provided training, consultation, and supervision to other psychologists and mental health professionals.

• Your first visit

  The initial assessment typically involves 2–3 sessions to build a clear picture of what is happening for your child. These generally include a session with your child and both parents, a separate parent-only session, and an individual session with your child or adolescent. After gathering this information, the psychologist meets with parents again to share what has been heard, ensure there is a shared understanding of the difficulties, and discuss the most appropriate type of treatment to work towards your shared goals.