Worry and fears
Separation worries, fears that keep growing, panic, and the worry that stops a child from joining in.
Gentle help for children who are struggling, with parents close by
Assessments and therapy for children from four and teenagers up to seventeen. Parents meet the psychologist first, stay involved throughout and always know how things are going. Kite is not a crisis service. In an emergency, call your local emergency services.
4 to 17the ages we work with
60 minfirst meeting, parents only
6 sessionsbetween reviews with you
- Parents in from day one
- Ages 4 to 17
- Video for teenagers
- Emergency? Call your local emergency services
Parents are part of the work, not the waiting room
The first meeting is with parents or carers alone, so you can say what has been happening at home and at school without little ears listening. After that, how you join in depends on your child's age: younger children often have a parent in part of each session, while teenagers usually see the psychologist alone and parents come to the reviews.
Every six sessions there is a review with parents to look at what is changing, what is not and whether to carry on, change the plan or stop. You also leave with ideas to try at home between sessions, written down so nobody has to remember them.
- A first meeting for parents only
- Parent time inside younger children's sessions
- A review with you every six sessions
- Ideas for home, written down
What brings families to Kite
Kite works with children aged four to twelve and teenagers aged thirteen to seventeen. Families usually call about one of the six things below.
Big feelings and anger
Meltdowns, outbursts and the feelings underneath them, for the child and for the family living around them.
School troubles
Not wanting to go, trouble settling, friendship problems and the strain around tests or a change of school.
Changes at home
Separation, a new baby, a move, illness in the family or the loss of someone close.
Low mood in teenagers
Withdrawing, losing interest, sleeping badly or seeming flat for weeks rather than days.
Assessments
A careful look at development, learning or attention, written up in a report for parents. Which conditions a psychologist may diagnose depends on the country.
Kite does not offer crisis support, court reports or medication. If we are not the right service for your child, we say so on the first call and suggest where to turn.
How the first weeks go
Nobody is rushed, and a child can meet the psychologist more than once before any therapy begins.
A short call
A psychologist rings you for about twenty minutes to hear what is going on and check that Kite is the right place.
The parent meeting
An hour with parents only, where the assessment begins: early years, development, school and what you have already tried.
Meeting your child
One or two sessions of play, drawing or talking, so your child gets to know the psychologist at their own pace.
A plan you agree
The psychologist shares what they have understood, and together you decide whether and how to go on.
Fees for each kind of appointment
Each appointment is paid for on its own, and there are no bundles to buy. Assessments are priced in writing before they start.
| Appointment | Who comes | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory call | Parents | About 20 minutes | No charge |
| Parent meeting | Parents or carers | 60 minutes | $150 |
| Session with your child | Child, a parent for part | 50 minutes | $130 |
| Review meeting | Parents, sometimes the child | 50 minutes | $130 |
| Assessment and report | Child and parents, several visits | Agreed first | from $950 |
Fees are paid to the practice after each appointment. If you cancel within 48 hours of the appointment it is charged, unless your child is ill. Whether insurance or a public scheme helps depends on your country and your plan.
Rooms for small hands and tall teenagers
The playroom has low tables and a sand tray. Teenagers have a quieter room of their own, with a sofa and no toys in sight.
What a child says, and what parents hear
Children open up more when they know their words will not be repeated, so the psychologist agrees with each family, in front of the child, what will be shared. Parents hear the themes, the progress and ways to help at home, but not every sentence their child says.
There is one clear exception. If the psychologist is worried about a child's safety or someone else's, they share that with the people who need to know, and they tell the child first wherever they can. Rules on consent and confidentiality for young people differ between countries, so the parent meeting covers how they work at Kite.
- Agreed at the start, with your child there
- Themes shared, not every word
- Safety always comes first
- Teenagers' wishes taken seriously
From parents who have sat in the waiting room (example reviews)
The kind of thing parents tend to say once the first weeks are behind them.
The first meeting was just us, which meant we could say things we would never say in front of our daughter. That hour shaped everything that followed.
Our son would not talk for two sessions and spent them building in the sand tray. Nobody pushed. By the fourth he was explaining the castle and who lived in it.
Our fifteen year old liked having her own room and her own time. The reviews told us enough to help at home without breaking her trust.
Before you bring your child
Will my child know why they are coming?
We help you decide what to say beforehand, in words that suit their age. Most children cope better with a simple explanation, such as a person who helps children with worries, than with a surprise.
Do we need a diagnosis or a referral first?
No. Many families come with neither. Some insurers and schools ask for a doctor's referral, so check before booking if you hope to claim. If an assessment is what you are after, say so on the call.
Who comes to the first meeting?
Parents or carers only. Parents who live apart can come together or separately, and we ask that both are kept informed wherever that is safe and allowed.
What does a child actually do in a session?
Younger children usually play, draw or build, because that is how they show what is on their minds. Teenagers mostly talk, and some prefer a walk round the garden to sitting face to face.
Can school be involved, or kept out of it?
Either. With your consent, and your teenager's when they are old enough, the psychologist can speak to a teacher or write a short letter. Nothing goes to school without that consent.
What if we are worried about safety between sessions?
Kite is not a crisis service, and messages are not read out of hours. In an emergency, call your local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department. For worries that are urgent but not an emergency, your family doctor is the first call.
Ask for a first parent meeting
Say a few words about your child and what is worrying you. Within two working days a psychologist writes back to set up the short call.
This form is read in working hours only. In an emergency, call your local emergency services.
- Introductory call at no charge
- Parent meeting 60 minutes, $150
- A reply within two working days
Where Kite is, and when
A ground floor practice with a small garden, space for a buggy and a quiet way out after sessions. Saturday mornings are kept for parent meetings.
Reach the practice
A converted cottage behind the library, a short walk from the tram stop
Practice hours
| Monday to Thursday | 09:00 to 19:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 to 15:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 to 12:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
In an emergency
Kite is not a crisis service. In an emergency, call your local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department.