Child-Centred Psychological Assessment, Counselling, Training, and Consultancy.
Psychology Assessment Services
At Attachment Matters, we provide comprehensive psychological assessments to help parents better understand their children’s strengths, challenges and developmental needs. With over 25 years of experience, registered psychologist Marni Freeman delivers evidence-based assessments designed to provide clarity, direction and practical next steps.
Rather than simply completing the requested test, we take a whole-child approach, considering cognitive, emotional, behavioural and developmental factors, including attachment and trauma where relevant. We begin by carefully exploring your concerns to ensure the right assessment strategy is used, so you receive meaningful answers tailored to your child.
We do not stop at a diagnosis or single outcome. If further clarity is needed, we continue working alongside families until genuine understanding is achieved. Our goal is to provide confidence, practical recommendations, and a clear pathway forward.
Assessments are conducted in a supportive, child-friendly environment in Cairns, with comprehensive reports suitable for schools, paediatricians and NDIS where appropriate.
We specialise in Psychology Assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Cognitive Capacity (IQ- WISC, WPPSI etc.), Trauma, Specific Learning Difficulties, and all other mainstream Psychological Assessments.
What to expect from our assessment service
All assessments are conducted in our welcoming and well-equipped assessment rooms, designed to provide a comfortable and secure environment for all participants. We place special emphasis on ensuring children feel at ease throughout the process, with their caregivers readily available at all times during testing.
Counselling Services
Counselling for Children
NDIS support available
Children’s counselling is for younger children (birth to around 12 years old) where any type of social, emotional, cognitive, developmental, behavioural, or parenting concerns exist. We specialise in supporting the parents and children with Neurodiversity, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Social Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, Depression, Divorce and Separation, Blended Families, Attachment Difficulties/Difficulty Bonding, or Trauma.
What to expect from our children’s counselling service
This service begins with an initial session with the child’s parent, guardian, or carer (please choose initial when booking your first appointment). This is followed by play-based individual counselling sessions with the child, and individual sessions as needed with the child’s most important grown up. Finally, play-based dyadic sessions with the child and their most important grown up are facilitated by the counsellor, to help achieve family goals. Appropriate evidence-based interventions are used throughout this process. *Please note that all noted session times include 10 minutes of clinical recording time.
Specialist Parent Support Session
NDIS support available
The specialist parent support session is a capacity-building intervention for parents and other caregivers, where child related concerns or behaviours are impacting heavily upon families or diminishing a child’s quality of life. We specialise in supporting the parents and children with Neurodiversity, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Social Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, Depression, Divorce and Separation, Blended Families, Attachment Difficulties/Difficulty Bonding, or Trauma.
What to expect from the brief-intervention individual parenting session
This once-off, brief intervention session consists of a single extended consult between the primary caregiver and the counsellor which typically runs for 90 minutes. During the session, the child’s developmental history and relevant scientific literature will be explored to create a shared theoretical understanding of the concern. At least one evidence-based intervention, along with guidance around its implementation, will be provided. *Please note that all noted session times include 10 minutes of clinical recording time.
Counselling for Young People
NDIS support available
For older children and adolescents enriching social experiences are central to achieving goals for a meaningful life. Sometimes this requires direct family involvement in the therapeutic process, and sometimes a less direct role by families is required. Our flexible approach enables young people to draw on their family, and broader social relationships, to set and achieve their meaningful life goals. We specialise in supporting the parents and children with Neurodiversity, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Social Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, Depression, Divorce and Separation, Blended Families, Attachment Difficulties/Difficulty Bonding, or Trauma.
What to expect from our Counselling for Young People service
This service begins with a standard-length initial session with the young person. During this session needs, values, and goals, and a counselling plan created. Individual sessions may involve expressive therapies such as working with art or sand, as well as mindfulness exercises, and/or thought based interventions. The young person will be encouraged to draw from their relational support network, and the skills and capacities developed in session, to achieve their goals. Progress towards goal-achievement will be regularly reviewed by the young person and their counsellor. Evidence-based interventions are used throughout this process. *Please note that all noted session times include 10 minutes of clinical recording time.
Adult Individual Counselling Service
NDIS support available
For adults, healthy psychological functioning and rich social experiences are central to a meaningful life. Therefore, our adult individual counselling service is intended as a partnership for setting and achieving meaningful life goals. We specialise in supporting those with Neurodiversity, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Social Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, Depression, Divorce and Separation, Blended Families, Attachment Difficulties/Difficulty Bonding, or Trauma.
What to expect from the Adult Individual Counselling Service
The adult individual counselling service begins with a session discussing needs, values, and goals, and a counselling plan established. Individual sessions may involve expressive therapies such as working with artistic media like paint or clay, as well as mindfulness exercises, and/or cognitive-behavioural interventions. Progress toward goal achievement will be regularly reviewed by the client and their counsellor. Evidence-based interventions are used throughout this process. *Please note that all noted session times include 10 minutes of clinical recording time.
Adult and Child Counselling Pricing Schedule
Private
General rates - $149 per hour
Our private paying fee rates for standard counselling services are based on the median counselling rates indicated by Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) of between $100-160 per hour. See link for further details:
https://www.pacfa.org.au/community-resources/therapy-costs#:~:text=In%20a%20PACFA%20survey%20conducted,had%20fees%20higher%20than%20%24160
Private Paying- Concession
We recognise that without funding supports or health rebates, it can be difficult for families paying privately to access the counselling services they need sometimes. As such, we may be able to offer a discounted rate for those holding a government concession card and offer a limited number of spaces for clients who cannot access supports because of financial hardship.
NDIS
Our fees for complex counselling supports appropriate for NDIS participants are in line with current NDIS pricing arrangements.
*NDIS Self-managed and Plan-managed applicants only at this time.
Training & Consultancy for Professionals
Training for Professionals Working with Children and Families
Attachment Matters has a long history of providing training across the out-of-home care, family law, and education sectors. We have partnered with organisations and agencies to tailor specialised training for; separating parents, family dispute resolution practitioners and family mediators, foster, kin, and residential care teams, intensive family support (IFS) workers (including social workers, psychologists, counsellors, team leaders, and practice leads), and children’s counselling, therapeutic, and education, service providers. Our training content is platformed upon salient and contemporary field research which supports the development of evidence-based practice for new and seasoned staff.
Staff and caregivers new to working with children and families, along with seasoned staff seeking to further hone their practice, have appreciated the rich learning experiences and practice development gained through Attachment Matters training. Please contact us for testimonials, or to speak with our trainer about your training needs.
Group Parenting and Behaviour Support Training
Attachment Matters’ group parenting and behaviour support training is for parents and care-teams providing care for children in the out of home care sector, who have complex needs and behaviour, including those with Behaviour Support Plans (BSP’s). We specialise in supporting parents and children with Neurodiversity, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Social Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, Depression, Divorce and Separation, Blended Families, Attachment Difficulties/Difficulty Bonding, or Trauma.
What to expect from our Group Parenting and Behaviour Support training
The group parenting and behaviour support training is delivered over 12 hours, which is split into 2 consecutive days of training. To make the most of these sessions, we encourage as many people in the child’s care-team as possible to attend together, and complete both sessions.
Complex Case Consultation for Service Providers
Attachment Matters provides complex case consultation to service providers across out of home care, family law, education, intensive family support, and child counselling spaces.
If you are working with complex family systems across the out of home care, family law, children’s therapeutic or education service fields, and feel your case conceptualisations, associated clinical formulations, and work based on these premises, might benefit from our expertise, please contact us to enquire about this service.
Training & Consultancy for Professionals
Pricing Schedule
General rates - $229 per hour
We base our private paying fee rates on the median psychology rates indicated by the Australian Psychological Society, ensuring fair and consistent pricing in line with professional standards.
