Teenage and Childrens Counsellor Sydney
Building confidence, one conversation at a time.
Your child deserves to feel confident. We believe in building that confidence and resilience, one conversation at a time.
At We Talk Therapy, we know how challenging these years can be. That’s why every young person who walks through our door is met with genuine care, deep understanding, true curiosity for their struggles, and gentle guidance.
Supporting Your Child Through Tough Moments
Your child deserves to feel safe, confident and understood, but changes like quiet withdrawal, school anxiety or emotional stress can be worrying. A trusted Teenage and Childrens Counsellor Sydney provides supportive child counselling, teen counselling and youth counselling, helping children and teenagers navigate emotional challenges while building confidence, resilience and emotional awareness in a caring counselling service in Sydney guided by experienced child counsellors and teenage counsellors.
I understand the worry you carry as a parent.
A caring Teenage and Childrens Counsellor Sydney listens not just to what your child says but to what they feel, guiding them toward emotional balance and confidence. Using evidence-based approaches such as therapeutic play and cognitive strategies, child counselling, teen counselling and youth counselling are tailored to your child’s unique needs, helping them develop practical coping skills. Every session is an opportunity to talk, learn and grow in a safe counselling service in Sydney, where experienced child counsellors and teenage counsellors support your child in building resilience, understanding emotions and feeling truly heard.
About Me!
I’m Christine El Hajj, the clinical counsellor/ Social Worker and founder of We Talk Counselling. I’m here to help children and teenagers manage the weight of anxiety, overcome school pressures, explore the needs behind challenging behaviours and make sense of their big feelings. This is more than just a session; it’s a calm, kind, and real space where they can finally feel safe to talk. To find out more about my approach, experience, and qualifications, please visit my About page.
We Can Help You
We Talk Counselling is a trusted centre for youth mental health in Sydney, offering therapy for teenagers, children, and young adults. Our mission is to create a safe and caring space where each person feels heard and supported. Through experienced child counsellors and adolescent therapists, we aim to help every young person build resilience, confidence, and lasting wellbeing.
Individual Counselling
Personalised sessions to help children and teenagers explore emotions, build confidence, and learn healthy coping strategies.
Family Therapy
Supportive therapy that strengthens communication and trust between parents and adolescents, improving relationships at home.
School Wellbeing
School-based counselling in Sydney that supports students’ emotional regulation, self-esteem, and social connection.
Victim Services
We are an approved provider for Victims Services counselling, helping young people rebuild confidence, safety, and emotional balance with professional care.
Lates Post
Blog & Article
Is It Just Nerves? 7 Signs Your Child Is Struggling With School Anxiety
The beginning of a school term can be challenging for many children. Feeling nervous before school is common, but when worry becomes intense or ongoing, it may indicate school anxiety rather than everyday nerves. School anxiety in children can affect emotional wellbeing, learning and family relationships if left unsupported.
Understanding the signs early helps parents respond with care and confidence.
What Is School Anxiety in Children
School anxiety occurs when a child experiences ongoing fear or distress related to attending school or coping with school expectations. This anxiety often continues beyond the first few weeks of term and can gradually increase.
Seven Signs Your Child May Be Experiencing School Anxiety
Children with school anxiety may complain of frequent headaches or stomach aches, particularly on school mornings. These physical symptoms are often linked to emotional stress.
Emotional distress before school such as crying, panic or anger may suggest your child feels overwhelmed rather than unwilling.
Sleep difficulties are common, with anxious thoughts making it hard for children to fall asleep or rest well.
Avoidance behaviours such as asking to stay home or refusing school can indicate that anxiety feels unmanageable.
Changes in mood or behaviour including irritability, withdrawal or clinginess may signal emotional strain.
Excessive worry about schoolwork, social situations or making mistakes is another common sign.
Some children seek constant reassurance about routines, safety or being picked up, reflecting a need for emotional security.
How Counselling Can Help
Child counselling supports children to understand their emotions, develop coping strategies and build confidence. A safe therapeutic space allows children to feel heard and supported without judgement.
When to Seek Support
If school anxiety is ongoing or interfering with daily life, counselling support can help children feel more settled and confident at school.
The Sunday Scaries How to Help Your Child Manage Anxiety Before the School Week Starts
Many children feel unsettled as the weekend comes to an end. Tearfulness, irritability or worry on Sunday afternoons is often linked to school anxiety. This experience is commonly known as the Sunday scaries.
Understanding Sunday anxiety helps parents respond with empathy rather than frustration.
Why Sunday Anxiety Happens
Sunday anxiety is driven by anticipation. Children may worry about schoolwork, friendships, expectations or being away from parents. Having time to think ahead can allow anxious thoughts to grow stronger.
Signs Your Child Is Experiencing Sunday Anxiety
Children may struggle to sleep, complain of feeling unwell, become clingy or withdraw emotionally. These behaviours are signs of anxiety rather than behavioural problems.
How Parents Can Support Their Child
Creating a calm and predictable Sunday routine helps children feel emotionally safe and prepared.
Opening gentle conversations allows children to share worries without pressure.
Validating emotions reassures children that their feelings are understood and manageable.
Preparing for the school week together can reduce uncertainty and increase confidence.
Teaching simple calming strategies such as breathing exercises or quiet activities helps children regulate emotions.
When Counselling Support Is Helpful
If Sunday anxiety becomes intense or affects school attendance, counselling can help children develop emotional regulation skills and confidence.
Separation Anxiety in Older Kids When Clinginess Is a Sign of Something More
Separation anxiety is often linked to early childhood, but it can also affect older children and teenagers. When an older child becomes increasingly clingy or distressed during separation, it may indicate emotional anxiety rather than a developmental phase. Separation anxiety in older children can impact school attendance, independence and emotional wellbeing if left unsupported.
Recognising these signs allows parents to respond with reassurance and understanding instead of concern or frustration.
What Separation Anxiety Looks Like in Older Children
Older children and teens may struggle with school drop-offs, avoid activities that require independence or seek constant reassurance. Emotional distress when separating from parents, difficulty sleeping alone or reluctance to attend social activities are common signs of separation anxiety in older children.
Why Separation Anxiety Occurs
Separation anxiety may develop due to school stress, emotional sensitivity, major life transitions or previous distressing experiences. It reflects a strong need for emotional safety and reassurance rather than a desire to avoid independence.
How Parents Can Support Their Child
Staying calm and reassuring helps reduce fear. Encouraging independence gradually allows confidence to grow without overwhelm. Consistent goodbyes and listening without judgement strengthen emotional trust and security.
How Counselling Can Help
Counselling supports children in understanding anxiety, building coping strategies and developing confidence in separation situations. Therapy provides a safe space where children feel heard and supported.
When to Seek Professional Support
If separation anxiety in older children persists or interferes with school, sleep or daily routines, early counselling support can help prevent long-term emotional distress.