I won't ‘fix’ your child. I'll give you the tools and strategies to help them.
You know your child. And you know that what you're seeing isn't just a phase, a bad week, or something they'll grow out of. You just don't know what to do with that feeling yet.
Welcome to Paula Noble Psychology — a child psychologist on the Mornington Peninsula.
For parents —
Something's not right.
You can feel it.
Maybe your child is struggling at school and nobody can quite put their finger on why. Maybe the anxiety is bigger than it should be for their age. Maybe they're shutting down, or lashing out, or just different to how they used to be.
You've probably already tried a few things. You're here because they haven't worked.
You don't have to do it alone anymore.
Parents come to me saying things like...
"My child is struggling at school and I don't know why."
"The school suggested we get an assessment."
"She's so anxious — it's getting worse, not better."
"He just won't listen. Nothing we try is working."
"I don't know if this is normal for their age."
"I don't know where to start."
How I can help
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My child is struggling — I want to understand why.
If your GP or school has suggested an assessment, or if you've noticed something and want answers — a psychometric assessment can give you a clear picture of how your child thinks, learns, and processes the world. You'll leave with a detailed report and practical recommendations for home and school.
ASSESSEMENT PATHWAYS →
02
My child needs support — and so do I.
Sometimes what a child needs most is a safe space and an adult who really listens. I work with children and adolescents through play therapy, talk therapy, and evidence-based approaches tailored to where they are — not where the textbook says they should be. I also work directly with parents, because the strategies you use at home matter just as much as what happens in the room.
THERAPY & SUPPORT →
Not sure which one is right for you?
Get in touch and we’ll figure it out together.
How I work —
Every child is different. I don't have a single approach I apply to everyone.
I work with whatever combination of methods is most useful for the child in front of me. Here's what I draw on:
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Children don't always have the words for what they're feeling — but they can show you through play. Play therapy gives children a safe, structured way to work through anxiety, trauma, grief, or emotional difficulties, using games, art, and storytelling as the language. I'm a certified play therapist, and it's often the approach I use first with younger children.
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CBT helps children and adolescents recognise how their thoughts affect their feelings and behaviour — and how to change patterns that aren't helping them. It's particularly effective for anxiety, low mood, and social difficulties. I adapt it to suit the age and stage of the child.
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Rather than trying to eliminate difficult feelings, ACT helps young people develop a different relationship with them — learning to act in line with their values even when things feel hard. It's particularly useful for adolescents dealing with anxiety, perfectionism, or identity challenges.
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Mindfulness gives children practical tools to manage overwhelm, improve focus, and regulate their emotions. I use mindfulness-based techniques as part of broader therapy — it's not a standalone treatment, but it's a useful skill that children carry with them.Item description
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Sandtray is a creative, non-verbal approach where children use miniature figures in a tray of sand to express and explore their inner world. Like play therapy, it's particularly effective for children who find it hard to talk directly about their experiences.
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One of the most evidence-based approaches to parenting, emotion coaching teaches parents how to respond to their child's emotions in a way that builds connection and emotional intelligence over time. I'm trained by the Gottman Institute and work with parents directly — either alongside their child's therapy or as a standalone engagement.
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For parents dealing with challenging behaviour at home or school, I work collaboratively to develop practical strategies that are consistent, age-appropriate, and actually manageable to implement. This often runs alongside individual therapy with the child.
ABOUT ME —
“I've worked on both sides of the classroom door.”
Before I was a child psychologist I was a primary school teacher, in classrooms in Australia and Singapore. I loved that work. But I kept noticing the children who were struggling in ways that went beyond what a teacher could reach — anxious, disconnected, or whose mind worked differently from what the classroom was built for.
So while raising my own children, I re-trained as a psychologist, and spent years working in some of Sydney's leading independent schools and running a private practice on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
I opened my practice on the Mornington Peninsula when my husband and I moved back down here recently to be closer to my grandchildren.
I'm a certified play therapist, a Gottman-trained parenting coach, and a member of the Australian Psychological Society.
But most importantly I'm a parent and a grandparent — so I understand, from the inside, the weight parents carry when they want to help their children.
I bring that understanding and empathy to every session.
Hello!
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Assessments
Assessments are helpful to learn more about your child’s cognitive strenths and weaknesses, current academic attainment, and to support behavioural challenges or provide a specific diagnosis.
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Child & Adolescent
Supporting children and adolescents through counselling, assessment, diagnosis, and evidence based treatment.
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Supervision
Supervision for provisional and registered psychologists.
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Parenting
Supporting parents through emotion coaching, parenting skills, and counselling through the complexities that family dynamics can create.
