Berwick Psychologist for Social Concerns in Children and Adolescents | Social Skills Psychologist

Support for Social and Friendship Concerns

Psychological support for young people experiencing difficulty with friendships, peer relationships, or social confidence.
Book appointmentFind out how we can help

Children and adolescents can sometimes struggle socially — whether through anxiety, exclusion, conflict, or uncertainty about how to connect with peers.

Friendships play an important role in development. When social experiences become stressful or confusing, it can affect mood, confidence, and school engagement. The Avenue Place are here to support your child through these difficult situations.

What social concerns may look like

Social and friendship challenges can present in different ways, including:

  • Difficulty initiating or maintaining friendships
  • Fear of social situations or group settings
  • Avoidance of school or extracurricular activities
  • Conflict within friendship groups
  • Sensitivity to rejection or criticism
  • Feeling excluded or left out
  • Overdependence on a single friend
  • Heightened distress after peer disagreements

In some cases, social difficulties may be linked with anxiety, low mood, neurodivergence, or developmental factors.

Not all friendship challenges require therapy. Assessment helps determine whether structured support may be beneficial.

When social support may be helpful

Professional support may be helpful if:

Social avoidance is increasing

Your child appears significantly distressed about friendships

School attendance or participation is affected

Peer conflict is frequent and intense

Your child struggles to interpret social cues

Self-confidence appears to be declining

Our Assessment Process

How assessment may help

Understanding social anxiety patterns

Building conversation and assertiveness skills

Strengthening emotional regulation during conflict

Improving perspective-taking and problem-solving

Addressing unhelpful thinking patterns

Developing resilience to peer feedback

What to expect at The Avenue Place

As a deliberately small psychology clinic in Berwick, we prioritise continuity and structured care. Families attending for social support can expect:

An initial assessment involving parent and young person

Clear explanation of findings

Collaborative goal setting

Consistent sessions with the same psychologist wherever possible

Regular review of progress

Where appropriate, we may liaise with schools or GPs.
If you would like to discuss whether treatment may be appropriate for you, please contact our team.
Prefer to speak on the phone?

Call our friendly team directly on (03) 9769 9912.

When additional or urgent support may be required

If your condition is accompanied by thoughts of self-harm, significant risk, or immediate safety concerns, urgent support should be sought.

You can contact:

  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Emergency services: 000

If you are unsure about suitability for private therapy, our team can assist in guiding you toward appropriate services.

Social and friendship support in Berwick and surrounding suburbs

Our psychologists provide support for social and friendship concerns in children and adolescents in Berwick and nearby areas including Officer, Clyde North, Narre Warren, Pakenham, Cranbourne and surrounding suburbs.

Telehealth appointments are available within Victoria where appropriate.