Counselling and anxiety

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:

1.  Clinical interview with parent assessing all areas of possible pathology

-  Intake questionnaire: anxiety-beh-soc-em

2.  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

3.  Child interview (depending on age) or work with child – look for irrational thinking patterns and underlying anxiety symptomology

4.  Obtain information from other informants, e.g. teaching staff

5.  Measurement: SDQ, SCAS, DASS, IQ, WIAT, CONNERS (depending on clinical interview)

6.  Follow up appointment – discuss diagnosis, underlying issues, intervention options (i.e., psychoeducation, CBT, play therapy, school staff liaison)