Family Changes & Adjustment Support for Children & Teens

Q: Should children choose which parent they live with?

Children's views can be important, but they should not be placed in the position of having to prove loyalty to one parent or take responsibility for resolving adult parenting decisions. Family-law questions should be addressed through appropriate professional and legal channels.

Family Changes & Adjustment in Children & Teenagers

Helping Children & Teenagers Navigate Separation, Divorce, Moving, Blended Families & Other Life Changes

Change is part of family life.

Some changes are planned and positive. Others are unexpected, difficult or involve loss. Even changes that adults believe will ultimately be beneficial can feel confusing or unsettling for a child or teenager.

Children and young people may need to adjust to:

Parents separating or divorcing
Moving between two homes
A parent beginning a new relationship
Blended families and stepfamilies
A new sibling
Moving house
Changing schools
Changes in caregiving arrangements
A parent working away or being away from home
Family illness or injury
Changes associated with disability or chronic illness
A family member moving into residential or supported care
Financial or employment changes within the family
Changes to routines or responsibilities
Multiple significant changes happening at the same time

Children don't always communicate the impact of these experiences directly.
Instead of saying:
“I'm finding all these changes difficult.”
a child may become more irritable, withdrawn, worried, emotional, clingy or resistant to everyday routines.

Understanding what has changed in the child's world can be an important first step.

Belong Health provides person-centred, trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming counselling for children aged 7+ and teenagers experiencing family changes, adjustment difficulties and related emotional wellbeing concerns.

In-clinic counselling is available from our Falcon clinic near Mandurah, with telehealth counselling across Perth and Western Australia where clinically appropriate.

Explore Child & Teen Counselling
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Start by Asking: “What Has Changed in Their World?”

When a child's behaviour, emotions or participation change, it can be tempting to focus on the behaviour itself.
But sometimes the more useful question is:
“What has changed in their world?”
Children and teenagers may be adapting to changes in:

Where they live
Who they live with
Who cares for them
Their school
Family relationships
Household routines
Expectations
Financial circumstances
A parent's availability
Their responsibilities
Their sense of predictability and security

Children don't always have the language to explain uncertainty, loss, divided loyalties, disappointment, confusion or worries about what will happen next.

Understanding the adjustment the child is being asked to make can help adults respond to the need underneath the behaviour, rather than viewing the behaviour in isolation.

Adjustment Doesn't Automatically Mean Something Is Wrong

Children can experience strong emotions following significant changes without necessarily having a mental health disorder.
They may feel:

Sad
Angry
Confused
Worried
Excited
Relieved
Disappointed
Frustrated
Uncertain
Lonely

Sometimes apparently contradictory feelings occur together.

A child might be excited about moving house while missing their old neighbourhood.

A teenager might understand why their parents separated while still wishing the family lived together.

A child might like a parent's new partner while worrying that accepting them is somehow disloyal to their other parent.

These reactions can be part of adjusting to change.

The important questions are how the young person is coping, how long difficulties persist, how much distress they are experiencing and whether everyday functioning is being significantly affected.

Why Can Change Be Difficult for Children?

Adults often have access to information children don't.
An adult may know:

Why something is happening
When it will happen
What arrangements have been made
What will remain the same
What the longer-term plan is

A child may simply experience:
“Everything is changing.”

Uncertainty can sometimes be as difficult as the change itself.

Children may wonder:
Where will I live?
Will I still see Mum or Dad?
Will I have to change schools?
What happens to my room?
Will my friends know?
Is this my fault?
Will something else change next?

Providing developmentally appropriate information can reduce some of that uncertainty.

Signs a Child May Be Finding Change Difficult

Children respond to change differently.
Possible signs include:

Increased worry
Irritability
Emotional outbursts
Tearfulness
Withdrawal
Increased reassurance seeking
Difficulty concentrating
Sleep changes
Changes in appetite
Increased clinginess
Difficulty separating from caregivers
Reduced confidence
Avoiding previously enjoyed activities
Changes in school participation
Difficulty attending school
Increased conflict at home
Regression in previously established skills or routines
Physical complaints such as headaches or stomach discomfort

None of these signs tells us exactly why the child is struggling.

They are signals to become curious about what may be happening.

Children May Show Distress Through Behaviour

Children don't always say:
“I'm worried about what is happening in our family.”

Instead, adults may see:
“I don't want to go!”
“Leave me alone!”
“I hate it here!”

or behaviour such as:

Refusing routines
Arguing
Becoming unusually quiet
Becoming highly emotional
Seeking constant reassurance
Avoiding transitions
Becoming more dependent on caregivers

Behaviour provides information, but it doesn't provide the entire explanation.
Instead of asking only:
“How do we stop this behaviour?”

consider asking:
“What might this behaviour be telling us about what the child is experiencing?”
Explore Emotional Regulation & Dysregulation

Parents Separating or Divorcing

Parental separation can represent a significant change in a child's family life.
Children may need to adjust to:

Parents living separately
Moving between homes
Different routines in each household
Spending less time with one parent
Changes in finances
Changes in family traditions
New partners
Different household expectations
Changes to holidays and celebrations

How children respond varies considerably.

Some children experience substantial distress.

Others experience relief, particularly where separation reduces exposure to ongoing conflict.
Many experience a mixture of emotions.

Help Children Understand the Separation Isn't Their Responsibility

Children sometimes develop explanations for events when adults haven't provided enough information.
A child may wonder:
“Was it because I was naughty?”
“If I'm really good, will Mum and Dad get back together?”
“Did I cause the argument?”

Where appropriate, children may need to hear clearly:
“This is an adult decision.”
“You didn't cause this.”
“You don't need to fix it.”
These messages may need to be repeated over time rather than said once.

Don't Ask Children to Choose Sides

Children should not have to prove loyalty to one parent by rejecting the other.
Avoid asking questions such as:
“Who would you rather live with?”
“Who do you love more?”
“Don't you think your dad/mum is being unreasonable?”

Children can love and care about both parents even when the adults have significant disagreements.

Where decisions about parenting arrangements need to be made, children can be listened to appropriately without being made responsible for resolving adult disputes.

Avoid Using Children as Messengers

Where possible, communication between adults should remain between adults.
Avoid:
“Tell your dad...”
“Ask your mum why...”
“Tell them they need to...”
This can place a child in the middle of adult communication and create unnecessary pressure.

Children shouldn't become responsible for coordinating arrangements between households.

Be Careful About Adult Conversations

Children can hear more than adults sometimes realise.
Conversations about:

Legal disputes
Finances
Parenting disagreements
Relationship breakdown
Allegations
Adult grievances

may create additional worry or place children in a difficult emotional position.

Children deserve truthful, age-appropriate information without being given responsibility for adult problems.

Moving Between Two Homes

Living across two households can involve repeated transitions.
A child may need to remember:

School equipment
Clothing
Medication
Devices
Comfort items
Homework
Sports equipment
Different routines

For some children, the transition itself may be harder than either home.
Where possible, families can consider:

Predictable transition routines
Visual calendars
Keeping essential items at both homes
Giving advance notice of changes
Allowing time to settle after transitions
Reducing unnecessary pressure immediately after changing households

Consistency doesn't necessarily mean both homes must operate identically.

Predictability and clear expectations can often be more important.

Blended Families & Stepfamilies

A new family structure can bring opportunities for connection while also requiring considerable adjustment.
A child may be adapting to:

A parent's new partner
Stepsiblings
Sharing bedrooms or spaces
Different household expectations
New family traditions
Changes in time with their parent
Different parenting approaches

Adults may be excited about the new family structure while the child is still processing what has changed.
Relationships generally need time to develop.

Children shouldn't necessarily be expected to immediately view a parent's partner as another parent or stepsiblings as close siblings.
Connection can be encouraged without forcing emotional closeness.

“But They Like My New Partner”

A child can like a parent's new partner and still find the change difficult.

They may simultaneously think:
“They're nice.”
and:
“I wish things were how they used to be.”

These aren't contradictions that need to be corrected.

Children can hold multiple feelings about the same situation.

A New Baby or Sibling

A new sibling can be exciting while also changing:

Parental attention
Household routines
Sleep
Noise levels
Responsibilities
Family activities

Older children may sometimes feel:

Excited
Protective
Jealous
Left out
Proud
Frustrated
Worried

Avoid framing jealousy or frustration as evidence that the child doesn't love their sibling.
Instead, help them understand that mixed feelings are possible.

Moving House

Adults may view moving as:
“We're getting a better house.”

A child may experience:
“I'm losing my bedroom, neighbours, familiar route, local park and everything I know.”

Moving may involve changes to:

Familiar environments
Friends
School
Transport
Bedroom
Community
Routines

Where possible, involve children in age-appropriate aspects of the move and help them understand what will change and what will stay the same.

Changing Schools

Changing schools can involve much more than entering a different classroom.
Children may need to learn:

New routines
New rules
New buildings
New teachers
New friendship groups
Different expectations
New transport arrangements

Some young people may be excited.

Others may feel anxious or overwhelmed.

Preparing for the transition, providing information and identifying supportive people at the new school may help.

Explore School Anxiety, School Avoidance & Difficulty Attending School

When Family Changes Affect Friendships

Family changes can also affect a child's social world.
Moving house, changing schools, alternating between homes or changes in family routines may affect:

Seeing friends
Attending social activities
Sleepovers
Transport
Sports
Birthday parties
Online connection

For teenagers especially, disruption to friendships can feel like another significant loss occurring alongside family change.
Explore Friendship, Bullying & Social Difficulties in Children & Teenagers

Family Illness, Injury or Disability

When someone in the family becomes unwell, injured or experiences a significant change in health, the entire household may need to adapt.
Children may notice:

Parents are more worried
Routines change
Appointments increase
Adults have less time available
Financial circumstances change
Household responsibilities shift

Even when adults try to protect children from worry, children often recognise that something is different.
Providing appropriate information may help prevent children filling gaps with explanations that are more frightening than reality.

When a Family Member Moves Into Residential or Supported Care

A grandparent, parent or other important family member moving into residential or supported care can be a significant adjustment.
Children may have questions about:

Why the person moved
Whether they will come home
Whether they can visit
What will happen next
Changes in the person's health

Clear, age-appropriate explanations can help children understand the change while maintaining connection where appropriate.

Grief, Loss & Family Change Can Overlap

Not all grief involves death.
Children can experience a sense of loss when:

Parents separate
They move home
They change schools
A friendship ends
A family member becomes unwell
A family structure changes
Familiar routines disappear

This doesn't mean every change should be described as grief.

But recognising what the child feels they have lost can help adults understand why an apparently positive change may still be difficult.
Explore Grief, Loss & Bereavement Support

Autism & Family Changes

For some autistic children and teenagers, changes in routines, environments, expectations or familiar people can require significant adjustment.
This might include:

Moving between homes
Changing bedrooms
Different meal routines
Different sensory environments
Changes to transport
New household members
Unpredictable schedules

Support may involve increasing predictability rather than simply expecting the child to “get used to it.”
Helpful strategies might include:

Visual schedules
Calendars
Advance notice
Photos of new environments
Clear explanations
Maintaining familiar routines where possible
Allowing additional processing time
Maintaining access to familiar interests and regulation strategies

Explore Autism Support & Resources

ADHD & Family Changes

Family changes can also increase executive functioning demands.
A young person with ADHD may need to manage:

Different schedules
Belongings across households
Changed routines
New expectations
More transitions
Increased emotional demands

Difficulties remembering belongings or adapting to new routines shouldn't automatically be interpreted as carelessness or lack of effort.

Practical environmental supports can help reduce the cognitive load.
Explore ADHD Support & Resources

Multiple Changes at Once

Sometimes children aren't adapting to one change.
They may be dealing with:
Parents separating → moving house → changing school → losing regular contact with friends → new routines → financial changes

Each individual change might appear manageable when considered separately.

Together, they can represent a substantial adjustment.

When a child appears overwhelmed, consider the cumulative load rather than looking only at the most recent event.
Explore Stress, Feeling Overwhelmed & Burnout

Maintaining Predictability During Change

Families cannot always prevent change.

But they may be able to increase predictability around it.

Children may benefit from knowing:
What is changing?
What isn't changing?
When will it happen?
Where will I be?
Who will be there?
What happens afterwards?
A simple calendar or visual schedule may sometimes answer these questions more effectively than repeated verbal explanations.

Give Children Information They Can Understand

Children need information appropriate to their age and development.
Too little information can create uncertainty.
Too much adult information can create unnecessary burden.

Aim for explanations that are:

Truthful
Simple
Age appropriate
Relevant to the child
Focused on what affects them
Open to further questions

It's okay to say:
“I don't know yet, but I'll tell you when I do.”
Predictability doesn't require pretending that every answer is already known.

Let Children Ask the Same Question More Than Once

Adults sometimes become frustrated when a child repeatedly asks:
“Where am I staying Friday?”
even though it has already been explained.

Repeating questions may help some children:

Process information
Seek reassurance
Confirm that plans haven't changed
Manage uncertainty

A visual calendar can sometimes reduce the amount of information they need to hold in memory.

Maintain Familiar Routines Where Possible

During periods of major change, familiar routines can provide continuity.
Consider maintaining predictable aspects of:

Morning routines
Bedtime
Meals
School
Activities
Family traditions
Time with important people

Not everything needs to remain identical.
The aim is to preserve enough familiarity that the child's entire world doesn't feel unpredictable.

Give Children Some Appropriate Choice

Children often have limited control over major family decisions.

Providing smaller choices can restore some sense of agency.
For example:
“Which things would you like to take to your other room?”
“Would you like to visit the new school before your first day?”
“Which activity would you like to keep doing?”

This doesn't mean giving children responsibility for adult decisions.
It means giving them meaningful influence over aspects of the change that genuinely can be flexible.

Make Space for Feelings Without Requiring Them

Some children want to talk extensively.
Others don't.

Avoid repeatedly asking:
“How do you feel about the separation?”
if the child clearly doesn't want to discuss it.

Instead, create opportunities:
“If you ever want to talk about what's changing, you can.”

Children may communicate through:

Conversation
Drawing
Play
Writing
Music
Activity
Humour
Spending time together

There isn't one correct way to process change.

Avoid Promising What You Can't Guarantee

During uncertain periods, adults may understandably want to reassure children.

But avoid promises such as:
“Everything will go back to normal.”
“Nothing else will change.”
“You'll definitely love the new school.”

Instead:
“There are some things we don't know yet, but we'll keep you informed.”
“We'll work through this together.”

This provides reassurance without creating promises that may later be broken.

What About Teenagers?

Teenagers may understand much more about family circumstances than younger children, but that doesn't mean the changes affect them less.
They may be concerned about:

Losing independence
Being expected to care for younger siblings
Changing schools
Transport
Friendships
Privacy
Financial changes
Parents' wellbeing
Different household rules
Having less control over their schedule

Teenagers should have opportunities to express their views where appropriate without becoming responsible for adult decisions.

When a Teenager Says “I Don't Care”

“I don't care” can mean many things.
It might mean:
“I genuinely don't care.”

But it might also mean:
“I don't want to talk about this.”
“I'm angry.”
“I don't know how I feel.”
“I can't change it anyway.”
“I'm trying not to show that I'm upset.”

Rather than forcing a conversation, remain available.

Confidence, Identity & Family Change

Significant family changes can sometimes influence how children and teenagers think about themselves.

They may wonder:
“Where do I belong now?”
“What does our family look like?”
“Am I different from my friends?”
“Do I have to act differently in each home?”

Supporting a young person's sense of identity can involve helping them recognise that family structures can change without reducing their value, belonging or connection.

Explore Confidence, Self-Esteem & Identity Support

When Anxiety Develops Around Change

Uncertainty can contribute to worry.

Children may repeatedly ask:
“What if...?”
They may seek reassurance, struggle with transitions or worry about further changes.

Helping the young person distinguish between:
What we know
and
What we don't know yet
can sometimes make uncertainty more manageable.

Explore Anxiety, Worry & Feeling Overwhelmed

How Parents & Caregivers Can Support Adjustment

Listen Before Trying to Fix It
Try:
“What has been the hardest part?”

rather than:
“There's nothing to worry about.”

Validate Mixed Feelings

A child can love their new home and miss their old one.
They can like a stepparent and miss their previous family structure.
Both can be true.

Keep Children Out of Adult Conflict

Children shouldn't become:

Messengers
Mediators
Sources of information about another parent
Emotional support for adults
Decision-makers in adult disputes

Keep Explanations Age Appropriate

Tell children what they need to understand their world without burdening them with adult information they cannot reasonably manage.

Look for Patterns

Ask:
When does distress occur?
Before changing homes?
On Sunday evenings?
Before school?
After speaking about a particular change?

Patterns can help identify what aspect of the situation is difficult.

Allow Adjustment to Take Time

Adults may adapt to a change before children do.
There doesn't need to be a deadline by which a child should “be over it.”
At the same time, persistent or increasing difficulties deserve attention.

What Not to Say

Try to avoid:
“You'll get used to it.”
“It's not a big deal.”
“You should be happy.”
“Other children have it much worse.”
“Stop worrying about it.”
“You need to be strong for Mum/Dad.”
“You're the oldest, so you need to look after everyone.”

These statements may unintentionally minimise the child's experience or place adult responsibilities onto them.

Instead:
“A lot has changed.”
“It makes sense that you might have different feelings about it.”
“You don't have to solve the adult problems.”
“You can talk to me when you want to.”

When Might Counselling Help?

Not every child experiencing family change needs counselling.

Family support, predictable routines, communication and time may be enough.
Counselling may be worth considering when difficulties are:

Persistent
Increasing
Causing significant distress
Affecting school
Affecting sleep
Affecting friendships
Reducing participation in everyday activities
Contributing to significant anxiety
Affecting confidence or identity
Leading to withdrawal
Creating ongoing family difficulties

Counselling may also provide a neutral space where the young person can discuss experiences they find difficult to talk about with family members.

How Can Counselling Support Children & Teenagers Through Change?

Counselling may help young people:

Explore their thoughts and feelings
Understand their responses to change
Develop ways to communicate their needs
Explore worries and uncertainty
Process experiences of loss
Develop coping strategies
Build emotional awareness
Explore identity and belonging
Develop boundaries
Identify what helps them feel more secure
Adjust to changes in relationships or routines

Counselling shouldn't be used to persuade a child to take one adult's side in a family disagreement.

The focus should remain on the young person's wellbeing and needs.

Counselling & Parental Separation

Where counselling relates to parental separation, the Counsellor's role is therapeutic.

Counselling is not the same as family law assessment, custody evaluation or providing an opinion about parenting arrangements.

Where families are involved in legal proceedings or disputes about parenting arrangements, this should be discussed with Belong Health before commencing services so that the appropriateness and scope of counselling can be considered.

I strongly recommend retaining this section. It creates an important boundary between therapeutic counselling and family-law work.
Explore Counselling

Life Transitions Beyond Family Change

Family changes are only one type of transition. Teenagers and adults may also need to adjust to finishing school or university, entering the workforce, moving away from home, changing careers, relationships, parenthood, health changes and retirement.

Explore our Life Transitions & Coping With Change guide

When Might Occupational Therapy Help?

Occupational Therapy may be relevant where changes are affecting:

Daily routines
Sleep routines
Sensory regulation
Emotional regulation
Executive functioning
School participation
Community participation
Independence with everyday activities

For example, a child moving between households may find managing belongings, routines and transitions particularly difficult.
Explore Occupational Therapy

When Might Speech Pathology Help?

Speech Pathology may be relevant where communication or language differences make it difficult for a child to:

Understand explanations
Ask questions
Express needs
Communicate emotions
Understand changes in routines
Participate in conversations about what is happening

Communication supports may help make changes more understandable and predictable.
Explore Speech Pathology

When Might Psychology Assessment Be Relevant?

Family change itself isn't a reason for psychological assessment.
However, assessment may be worth considering when there are broader and persistent questions about:

Autism
ADHD
Learning difficulties
Intellectual functioning
Cognitive functioning

Assessment and counselling serve different purposes.
Explore Psychology Assessments

Family Changes & Adjustment Counselling in Falcon & Mandurah

Belong Health provides counselling for children aged 7+ and teenagers from our Falcon clinic:
Belong Health
13 Littleton Street
Falcon WA 6211

Our clinic provides a local counselling option for families from Falcon, Mandurah and surrounding Peel areas seeking support for children and teenagers adjusting to family changes, separation, moving, changing schools and other significant life changes.

Enquire About Counselling

Telehealth Counselling Across Perth & Western Australia

Where clinically appropriate, counselling may also be available via telehealth across Perth and Western Australia.
Telehealth may provide an option for some families who:

Live elsewhere in Perth
Live regionally or remotely
Find travel difficult
Need greater flexibility
Prefer engaging from a familiar environment

Suitability is considered individually.
Explore Telehealth Counselling

Free 20-Minute Meet & Greet

Where available, Belong Health offers a free 20-minute Meet & Greet with a Counsellor before deciding whether to proceed.
Families can use the Meet & Greet to:

Meet the Counsellor
Briefly explain what has been happening
Ask questions
Learn about the Counsellor's approach
Discuss whether counselling may be appropriate
Decide whether the Counsellor feels like a suitable fit

There is no obligation to continue after the Meet & Greet.
Book a Free Meet & Greet

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Changes & Adjustment

Is it normal for children to struggle with family changes?
Yes. Children and teenagers may need time to adjust to changes in relationships, routines, living arrangements, schools and family circumstances. Experiencing sadness, worry, anger or uncertainty doesn't automatically mean a child has a mental health disorder.

How do I know if my child is struggling with change?
Possible signs include increased worry, irritability, emotional outbursts, withdrawal, reassurance seeking, sleep changes, difficulty concentrating, reduced confidence, physical complaints or changes in school and everyday participation.

Why has my child's behaviour changed after our family circumstances changed?
Behaviour can sometimes reflect uncertainty, distress, frustration or difficulty adapting. Rather than focusing only on stopping the behaviour, it may help to consider what has changed in the child's world and what they may be finding difficult.

Can parental separation affect children?
Yes. Children may need to adjust to changes in living arrangements, routines, time with parents, finances, family traditions and relationships. Responses vary considerably between children.

Should we tell our child why we're separating?
Children generally benefit from truthful, age-appropriate information relevant to their circumstances. They don't need to be burdened with adult details, disputes or grievances.

Should we tell our child the separation isn't their fault?
Yes. Some children may wonder whether they caused the separation or could somehow repair the relationship. Clear reassurance that adult relationship decisions aren't the child's responsibility can be important.

Should children choose which parent they live with?
Children's views can be important, but they shouldn't be placed in the position of having to prove loyalty to one parent or take responsibility for resolving adult parenting decisions. Family-law questions should be addressed through appropriate professional and legal channels.

Should I use my child to pass messages to their other parent?
Where possible, communication about adult arrangements should remain between adults. Using children as messengers can place unnecessary pressure on them.

Is it okay for children to like a parent's new partner?
Yes. Children can develop positive relationships with a parent's new partner without that diminishing their relationship with their other parent.

Why is my child struggling even though the family change is positive?
A change can have positive outcomes while still involving loss, uncertainty or disruption. Children can feel excited about what is new while missing what was familiar.

How can I help my child move between two homes?
Predictable routines, visual calendars, keeping essential items at both homes where possible, advance notice of changes and allowing time to settle after transitions may help some children.

How can I help my child adjust to a blended family?
Allow relationships to develop gradually. Avoid forcing emotional closeness or expecting children to immediately view stepparents or stepsiblings in a particular way.

Can moving house affect children?
Yes. Moving may involve changes to familiar environments, neighbourhoods, friendships, routines and sometimes school. Preparing children for what will change and what will remain familiar may help.

How can I help my child change schools?
Providing information about the new school, visiting beforehand where possible, explaining routines and identifying supportive people may make the transition more predictable.

Can family changes affect school attendance?
Yes. Family changes can sometimes contribute to worry, fatigue, disrupted routines or emotional distress that affects school participation. Other school-related barriers should also be considered rather than assuming family change is the only cause.

Can family changes affect friendships?
Yes. Moving, changing schools, alternating between homes or changes in transport and routines can affect opportunities to maintain friendships and participate in social activities.

Are autistic children more affected by changes in routine?
Some autistic children and teenagers may find changes to familiar routines, environments, expectations or people particularly demanding. Increasing predictability and providing clear information may help.

Can ADHD make adjusting to family changes harder?
For some young people with ADHD, changes can increase executive functioning demands involving organisation, remembering belongings, transitions and managing different routines.

What if several major changes happen at once?
Consider the cumulative load. A child may be adapting to several interconnected changes rather than one isolated event, which can substantially increase the demands placed on them.

Should we keep routines the same after a family change?
Maintaining some familiar and predictable routines can provide continuity, although it may not be possible or necessary for everything to remain identical.

Should I let my child make decisions about family changes?
Children can benefit from meaningful choices about aspects that genuinely can be flexible, but they shouldn't be made responsible for major adult decisions.

What if my teenager says they don't care?
“I don't care” can have many meanings. Your teenager may genuinely be unconcerned, or they may be angry, uncertain, reluctant to talk or feel they have little control over what is happening. Remain available without forcing discussion.

How long should it take a child to adjust?
There is no universal timeframe. The significance of the change, the child's individual circumstances, previous experiences, available support and whether additional changes continue to occur can all influence adjustment.

When should I seek additional support?
Consider additional support when difficulties are persistent or increasing, causing significant distress, affecting school, sleep, friendships or everyday participation, or when you're concerned about the young person's emotional wellbeing.

Can counselling help children adjust to family changes?
Counselling may provide a space for children and teenagers to explore thoughts and feelings, understand their responses to change, develop coping strategies, communicate needs and work through uncertainty or experiences of loss.

Can counselling help children whose parents are separating?
Counselling may support a child's emotional wellbeing during parental separation. The Counsellor's role is therapeutic and isn't the same as family-law assessment, custody evaluation or determining parenting arrangements.

Can parents attend counselling sessions?
Parent or caregiver involvement may be appropriate depending on the child's age, needs, goals and the purpose of counselling. This can be discussed with the Counsellor.

What age does Belong Health provide counselling from?
Belong Health currently provides counselling for children aged 7+ and teenagers, depending on individual needs and clinician suitability.

Where does Belong Health provide counselling?
In-clinic counselling is currently available from Belong Health's Falcon clinic near Mandurah. Telehealth may also be available across Perth and Western Australia where clinically appropriate.

Can we meet the Counsellor before starting?
Where available, Belong Health offers a free 20-minute Meet & Greet so families can briefly discuss their needs, ask questions and decide whether the Counsellor may be an appropriate fit.

How do we get started?
Contact Belong Health or complete the online enquiry form. Our admin team can discuss current availability and next steps.

Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is reviewed periodically to reflect current evidence, clinical practice and relevant NDIS guidance.