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Online Counselling with Learning Links

Location shouldn’t be a barrier to children’s mental health and wellbeing. That’s why all our psychologists offer online counselling for kids and teens across Australia, helping them to develop positive coping strategies and self-advocacy skills from the safety and comfort of home.

Our child psychologists use the same evidence-informed psychological therapies in online counselling as they would in any face-to-face session. They use a range of digital tools and resources to facilitate conversation and skills development, enabling children and teens to explore their feelings and concerns in a familiar and supportive environment.

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Over 50 years’ experience supporting children who face difficulties with learning

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Helping 480+ children and young people with their mental health and wellbeing each year 

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Large team of psychologists to provide timely support

What Does a Telehealth Counselling Session Look Like?

In many ways our online counselling sessions work just like our face-to-face sessions. Our psychologists identify goals, select appropriate evidence-based psychological therapies, develop a tailored program and plan engaging counselling sessions around your child’s needs and interests. Here’s what to expect from your online counselling program at Learning Links:

Before Your Session

We’ll send you an email with a Zoom link to join your psychologist’s Zoom room. This link is unique to you, and you’ll use the same link to join your session every week. We recommend setting up a dedicated private space in your home that your child can join their session from. All you need is a good internet connection and a device – if your child will be using lots of digital resources and games as part of their online counselling program, we recommend using a laptop, desktop computer or iPad/tablet rather than a phone. Speak with your child’s psychologist about the devices you have available and determine the most suitable for your child.

Your First Session

A trusting relationship is crucial in online counselling. Our first session is usually conducted between parents / carers and the psychologist to gain an understanding of your family life and challenges. In your child’s first session, the psychologist will arrange a few activities to get to know your child and their interests. Some children need more time to feel comfortable with new people so this may take place over several sessions.

Goal Setting and Therapy Plan Development

After the first session/s, your child’s psychologist will help you identify some priority goal areas so start working on and any specific therapy approaches that may be used. Once these goals are agreed on, they’ll develop a tailored plan for ongoing online counselling.

Ongoing Online Counselling Sessions

Online counselling sessions can look very different for each child depending on their age, goals and interests. Sessions may include a mix of conversation, worksheets, videos, books, games, role play or crafts. Our psychologists are experienced in using native Zoom tools and simple online resources to help your child engage and learn – like screenshare, Google Docs, remote control screen and digital whiteboard.

Online Counselling for Different Age Groups

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Online Counselling for Young Children

We understand that keeping a young child engaged in an online counselling session isn’t always possible. When working with younger children, our psychologists can adapt therapy to your family’s needs which can include parent coaching to equip you with strategies to support your child, directly supporting your child to help them explore social-emotional concepts through play-based activities and scaffolding or a combination of both. 

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Online Counselling for School-Aged Children

Online counselling for primary school children focuses on building confidence and self-esteem, enhancing emotional vocabulary and developing healthy coping strategies. Our psychologists use evidence-based therapies along with interactive games, storytelling, mindfulness and role play strategies to help children explore these skills in the online environment.  

Online Counselling for Teens and Adolescents

The teenage years can come with new challenges as bodies change, social interactions become more complex, and self-identity begins to flourish. Online counselling helps teenagers navigate these challenges and enables them to fit therapy around their study and recreation schedule. Our psychologists use evidence-based talk therapy approaches and practical activities, games and art therapy to build self-help and problem-solving skills.  

Learning Links Online Counselling FAQs

Is online counselling suitable for all children?

Like any therapy, there is no one-size fits all approach. There is emerging evidence that online counselling can be as effective as face-to-face therapy, particularly when using approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy. This is certainly our experience at Learning Links.

However, there are some reasons where online counselling may not be suitable for your child’s needs or your family’s preferences.

If you are unsure whether online counselling is the right fit for your child, contact our Customer Support team to discuss your child’s specific needs.

How much does online counselling cost?

Online counselling with a registered or provisionally registered psychologist is charged at $230.00 per session.

A Medicare rebate of $96.65 is available for children who are eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan – for up to 10 sessions per calendar year. This results in an out-of-pocket cost of $133.35 per session.

Learning Links offers bulk-billed sessions Monday-Friday between 10am-3pm at our learning centres and online, subject to availability.

For families with access to NDIS funding, psychological therapy services are charged in line with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025-26 for registered psychologists and provisional psychologists.

How involved are parents in online counselling?

Working collaboratively with parents and caregivers is a key part of our approach to supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. Parent involvement in online counselling can vary depending on the age and needs of your child. For younger children, we typically work more closely with parents to provide consultation alongside any direct therapy we may provide. For teenagers, there may be greater independence within the sessions and opportunities for parents to be involved in feedback sessions. Children 14 years and over need to provide consent for you to be involved in their therapy. Your child’s psychologist will discuss the best approach with you.

Confidentiality is an important part of building trust between your child and their psychologist so what your child shares with their psychologist during an online counselling session stays private unless there are concerns about their safety.

What do I do if my child won't engage online?

It’s completely normal for children and teens to feel unsure about online counselling and meeting new people in an online environment. The first sessions are all about gently building trust and helping children feel comfortable with their psychologist. If your child finds it difficult to engage online, our psychologists can adjust their approach to involve you more in the early stages while your child gains confidence or provide a combination of parent consultation and direct support in your session.

How can I prepare my child for online counselling?

If your child is participating in online counselling, it’s important to create a dedicated space that’s quiet and private so your child can feel comfortable communicating with their psychologist. Encourage them to bring a favourite toy or book if this will help them feel more at ease.

Before your child’s first session, explain to them that online counselling is a safe space to talk about feelings and challenges. It’s important to be simple and clear when communicating this to young children so they understand why they are there.