The Children's Neurodiversity Clinic
Suite 6B/80 Keilor Rd, Essendon North VIC 3041
- Clinic
- Comes to you
- Online sessions
About The Children's Neurodiversity Clinic
The Children's Neurodiversity Clinic is dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of neurodivergent children and their families, including those who are autistic, ADHD, or experience the world in other distinctive ways. Their neuro-affirming, trauma-informed, person-centered approach focuses on creating environments and systems that support each child's mental health, self-acceptance, and individual needs rather than trying to "fix" differences.
What's offered
Telehealth sessions
Home or school visits
Clinic sessions
Services provided
The Children's Neurodiversity Clinic lists
- Mental Health Assessments
- Assessments focused on mental health evaluation for neurodivergent children.
- Autism Assessments
- Formal diagnostic assessments for autism in children.
- ADHD Assessments
- Formal diagnostic assessments for ADHD in children.
- Functional Capacity Assessments
- Assessments of functional capacity for neurodivergent children.
- Cognitive / IQ Assessments
- Cognitive and IQ testing for children.
- Educational / Learning Assessment
- Assessments of educational and learning needs.
- Functional Behaviour Assessments
- Assessments of functional behaviour in children.
- Individual Child Sessions
- One-on-one therapy sessions with children.
- Parent & Child Sessions
- Therapy sessions involving both parent and child.
- Parent Sessions
- Therapy and support sessions for parents.
- Social Groups
- Group-based social support and therapy for children.
Get to know The Children's Neurodiversity Clinic
From The Children's Neurodiversity Clinic's website.
Our approach
Therapy sessions are playful, non-judgmental and safe spaces where children can collaboratively work towards their personal goals. The clinic uses a neuro-affirming and trauma-informed approach that celebrates neurodivergent children's unique strengths rather than trying to "fix" differences. Sessions draw on evidence-based modalities including person and family-centered work, brain-based parenting, a CPS lens for understanding behaviour, and modified CBT, DBT and ACT. The clinic offers individual, family and group sessions, with flexibility to meet in-clinic, via telehealth or through community outreach. A biopsychosocial model of disability and neurodiversity paradigm underpins all work, ensuring support is tailored to each child's distinctive needs and sense of self.
Working with families
Family is central to the clinic's approach, which is explicitly person and family-centered. Parents and carers are involved in developing meaningful goals and understanding their child's unique needs. The clinic supports families in understanding how their child's brain thrives and what may cause it to struggle, fostering self-confidence and self-acceptance. Family sessions are available alongside individual work, and the clinic provides environmental and school support to help neurodivergent children thrive in the systems around them.
Meet the team
The clinic is led by Nellie Abdou, a neuro-affirming psychologist with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Melbourne and a Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology from RMIT. Nellie brings lived experience of neurodivergence and has a special interest in supporting autistic and ADHD communities. She is committed to creating compassionate, accepting and inclusive environments where neurodivergent individuals can understand themselves and thrive. The clinic takes a multidisciplinary and whole-person approach to support.
Locations & areas served
Essendon North
Suite 6B/80 Keilor Rd, Essendon North VIC 3041
Get directions to Essendon North (opens Google Maps in a new tab)- Comes to you
- Online sessions
Opening hours
- Mon–Wed
- 9 AM to 5 PM
- Thu–Sun
- Closed
Not sure where to start?
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