Psychology

Psychology within Monash Children’s Hospital consists of many different specialities including clinical psychology, health psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and child and educational psychologists.

The Psychology Service offers psychological services within multidisciplinary settings such as the Children’s Cancer Centre, Rehabilitation, Care in Context and the Developmental Paediatric Unit. In addition, Neuropsychology provides inpatient consultation to children admitted as inpatients to Monash Children’s Hospital.

Psychologists are trained to comprehensively assess and treat children’s psychological, cognitive and behavioural functioning within a developmental framework. All psychologists meet strict ethical and professional standards, which are detailed further by the Australian Psychology Society.

Clinical Psychologists specialise in the assessment and understanding of the interaction between cognitive, developmental, psycho-social and environmental factors on normal and psychopathological functioning in children, parents and families. They are also trained in making diagnoses and in providing a variety of therapeutical interventions. Interventions are selected specific to the individual needs and the best available evidence.

Neuropsychologists are skilled in the assessment and understanding of the effects of brain function on the child’s cognitive, behavioural and emotional states.

Health psychologists focus on psychological formulation and treatment of conditions that can accompany and contribute to illness and injury, such as chronic pain, addiction, poor sleep, eating problems, anxiety, depression, and emotional reactions such as anger and grief.

Educational and developmental psychologists specifically are trained in diagnosing disabilities and disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, and providing developmental, learning and behavioural assessments.

Specific input will be tailored to the individual needs of the child but may include one or many of the following services:

• developmental, behavioural, emotional behavioural and psychosocial assessments, to identify and clarify presenting problems and their origins
• comprehensive cognitive, neuropsychological assessments which provide measures of cognitive and learning ability;
• designing effective treatment programs, including interventions based on a range of evidence based treatment models and techniques including cognitive behaviour therapy, individual psychotherapy, family therapy, pain management, parenting skills, group therapy;
• secondary and tertiary consultation and liaison to professionals within the hospital or with the child or adolescent’s educational setting and other community agencies regarding psychological problems and their management;
• group therapy programmes, particularly focusing on behaviour management for parents, cognitive strategies for children, and specific health related courses (for example, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).
• diagnosing disabilities and disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders

Support services for families 

Psychological support is provided to children via specific services at Monash Children’s including:

• Complex Care Services
• Developmental Paediatric Unit
• Monash Children’s General Paediatrics Inpatient Wards
• Monash Children’s Cancer Service

Paediatric neuropsychology support is provided during admission to Monash Children’s Hospital, as detailed here.

General information about psychologists and the specific specialties, as well as community psychological services can be found on the Australian Psychological Society website.

Psychological referrals are managed via specific services at Monash Children’s Hospital, including:

• Complex Care Services
• Developmental Paediatric Unit
• Monash Children’s Hospital General Paediatrics Inpatient Wards
• Monash Children’s Hospital Cancer Service

For referral information visit the specific service page or contact via the phone number below:

Phone: (03) 8572 3000 (all services)

Acute Paediatric Neuropsychology referrals are made directly to the service:

Phone: (03) 8572 3003
Fax: (03) 8572 3048
Email: paediatricneuropsychology@monashhelath.org