Psychology for children and teens with depression

If your child is in immediate danger or talking about suicide or self-harm, act now. Call 000, Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (24/7, ages 5–25), or Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7), or see your GP urgently. Online therapy is not the right setting for an acute crisis.

Therapy is the first-line treatment

For depression in young people, psychological therapy comes first, and the evidence strongly supports two approaches: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy for adolescents (IPT-A). CBT helps a young person recognise and shift the thinking and behaviour patterns that keep low mood going, and rebuild activity and connection; IPT-A works on relationships and the roles and changes around them. Both are typically delivered over a course of weekly sessions.

What therapy involves:

• Understanding the depression — for the young person and the family
• Behavioural activation — rebuilding activity, routine, and connection
• Cognitive work — noticing and shifting hopeless, self-critical thinking
• Coping and relapse prevention — skills and a plan for staying well

Safety comes first

Depression carries real risk, so we assess safety carefully at the start and throughout, and we work openly with families about it. Online therapy suits many young people with mild-to-moderate depression — but it is not the right setting for acute crisis or high suicide risk, and we will always help connect a young person to immediate, local, in-person care when that's what's needed.

Medication and coordination

Some young people benefit from medication alongside therapy. That decision sits with a GP or psychiatrist, weighing benefits and risks — Hey Sprout psychologists don't prescribe, but we coordinate with prescribers and your GP so care is joined up.

When depression travels with something else

Depression often co-occurs, and the plan adapts:

• Depression + anxiety — very common together; both are addressed.
• Depression + ADHD or other conditions — care is coordinated across needs.

Hey Sprout's single intake catches these connections so support is coordinated.

NDIS funding

Depression on its own usually isn't an NDIS access condition. Young people's mental-health support is often accessed through a GP mental health treatment plan or services like headspace. We can help you understand the options; families without NDIS funding access sessions privately at the NDIS rate.