Psychologist for Teenage Boys in Sydney
Support for young men aged 16 and over
We see teenage boys from 16, in person at the Surry Hills rooms or by telehealth. Anyone can make the booking, a parent, a GP, a school counsellor, or the young person themselves.
What brings someone this age in
Anxiety associated with school, performance or exams.
Anxiety that may be showing up as avoidance or even physical symptoms.
Low mood, which at this age can look like irritability and withdrawal rather than sadness.
Anger that has started affecting things at home or at school.
Self esteem, confidence and belonging.
Gaming, phone use and sleep, where one is driving the other.
Social media and the comparisons that come with it.
Family change, separation, loss.
Questions about identity and sexuality.
How the first session works
The first session is mostly about getting a picture of what’s going on and what the young person would want to be different. There’s no requirement to have it worked out beforehand. Plenty of young men arrive unsure, or because someone else thought they should. That’s a workable starting point, and it gets named rather than ignored.
Confidentiality
In NSW, a young person aged 16 can generally consent to their own treatment. What’s discussed in sessions stays between the young person and their psychologist, with the usual limits where there’s a risk of serious harm. In some instances a young person may request their parent/s to be present at one of the sessions, which can be supported as part of treatment planning.
Being clear about this at the start matters. A young person who isn’t sure what gets passed on tends not to say much.
For parents
If your son doesn’t want to go, that’s common and it isn’t the end of it. A few things that tend to help:
Give him some say in it. Choosing the time, or whether it’s in person or online, shifts it from something being done to him.
Keep the first commitment small. One session to see what it’s like is easier to agree to than open-ended therapy.
Avoid framing it as something being fixed. “Somewhere to talk things through” lands better than “you need help.”
You can call or enquire first without booking anything. If it would help to talk through whether this is the right fit, that’s a reasonable place to start.
Fees and Medicare
A Mental Health Treatment Plan from a GP works the same way for a young person as for an adult, with the same rebate. A parent can pay for the sessions regardless of who the client is.
In person or telehealth
The Surry Hills rooms are a short walk from Central Station. Telehealth is available across NSW and the rest of Australia, which some young people prefer, particularly early on.