Child and Youth Psychologist

Meet Your Team

Want to know a secret? Working with young people is so much fun! They are funny, dynamic and oh so observant. Most therapists have no idea how fun and rewarding it is to work with children and teens, but - shhhh - don't tell them. I want to work with them all mwha-ha-ha-ha.

I know how to listen when kids talk - not just through their words but through their actions, play, dreams and interactions. I find patterns in what they say and do, and help them make connections to themes running through their lives.

It's not usually the new teacher, the school formal, or the driving test that is the problem - these issues most often stem from a deeper message our young people have learnt about themselves in relationship with others.

My therapy dog, Hugo, joins me in Red Hill on Mondays and is usually at my feet during telehealth sessions.

Linda Anderson

Clinical Psychology Registrar

How I work...

I most enjoy working through a relational psychodynamic approach. Say what? In brief, this means I explore the unconscious patterns that play out through the young person's relationships to transform attachment patterns. More often than not, this work involves building an understanding of the function of less helpful behaviours, which are often rooted in attachment. Once we name them, we can start to tame them.

I observe relationships through phone calls with parents, waiting room interactions and therapeutic interactions. I also look for patterns and themes present in play, dreams, and interactions with the therapy dog. In my ideal therapy, I also involve parents so the whole system can observe their patterns and work towards change.

I'm also really good at acronyms! I draw on elements of CBT, DBT and ACT to help kids and teens learn skills alongside figuring out what is happening for them. I sneak the learning in like a good veggie! I can guide kids through a series of skills sessions, but it's just not that fun for them or for me!

Services & Fees

Therapy

Assessment

Therapy is currently charged at $230 for a 50-minute session. This applies to sessions in the clinic and online.

A 10% surcharge applies to sessions beginning before 9am and after 5pm, and for home visits (plus travel costs).

Assessments are also charged at $230 for a 50-minute session. This applies to sessions in the clinic and online.

ADHD

A straightforward ADHD assessment with a detailed report is charged at $1250 because it takes around 5 hours ($1150) plus materials. I use the Young DIVA as the basis for my clinical interviews, and a range of other self-reports and parent/teacher reports.

Autism

An Autism assessment is charged at $1990 because it takes around 8 hours ($1840) plus materials. I use the MIGDAS-2 as the basis for my clinical interviews, along with a range of other self-reports and parent/teacher reports. I screen for ADHD as part of this assessment.

Expat Kids

My journey to becoming a mother started in the Persian Gulf. Expat kids have a tender place in my heart because I understand the joys and the challenges of this way of life.

If your expat teen is struggling to adjust to a new country, or if they are struggling to return "home", then this is the right place for them.

I see young people via telehealth. I live in AEST timezone, so please reach out if you can't see a suitable time on the booking platform. We can make a time that works for your kiddo.

Individual Kids

All kids are individuals! A part of growing through adolescence and into adulthood is the emergence of individual features and preferences.

One feature that often emerges early is neurodivergence. As a mum of a ND kiddo and as a human who identifies with many ND traits (oh, yeah, better get onto that diagnosis... thanks for the distractions ADHD), I have a keen interest in working with neurodivergent kids. I have spent professional and personal time immersing myself in neurodiversity-affirming practices.

I am ND affirming because I:

• see difference, not defect — neurodivergence is variation, not pathology (stupid DSM-5)

• prioritise fit over fixing — adjust environments before changing people

• support regulation — respect stimming, movement, and communication differences

• reduce shame — allow for acceptance and social nonconformity

• provide accommodations without judgment — access is not reward or manipulation.

I am also an ally. I respect all forms of gender and sexuality, and I encourage young people to explore where they fit along these continua. Gender and sexuality are not binary, and I do not force young people to conform to these constructs.

Locations

Red Hill (Mondays)

Located at POP! Psychology

62 Waterworks Road, Red Hill

Clayfield

(Wednesdays & Fridays)

Located at Creative Cognitions

531 Sandgate Road, Clayfield

About Me

Hi! I'm Linda! My favourite animal is my therapy dog, Hugo, and my favourite food is cheesecake. I don't like cold weather or tight shoes. A fun fact about me is that I have travelled to over 70 countries!

I am a registered psychologist working toward clinical registration. In a former life, I was a high school teacher, and I most recently worked with adolescents experiencing chronic and severe mental health conditions through Child and Youth Mental Health Services.

I also enjoy working with parents and families. Parenting is the toughest job, but I have found it to be the most rewarding (when I have had sleep and my kids have gone a few hours without bickering). I have lived experience of parenting a neurodivergent child, and I identify with a range of neurodivergent traits.

Looking forward to meeting you and your kiddos!