KYDS help young people understand, and manage, difficult issues in their lives. We do this by providing easily accessed, personalised counselling and mental health support services, family counselling, and early intervention well being workshops and information events.

We ensure issues such as grief, loss, family break ups, friendship problems, school and study stress, addictions, risky behaviour, anger, bullying, anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug use, body image concerns, mental health concerns, self harm and suicidal thoughts do not overwhelm young people.

Counselling Services for Young People

We provide easily-accessed counselling, provided by approachable, non-judgemental professionals, at centres in Lindfield and Hornsby. We work with young people for the long haul, to help them understand the difficulties they face, and guide them to a position where they can effectively cope with those issues on a daily basis. No formal referrals from doctors or school staff are needed to see a KYDS counsellor: simply ring the main office in Lindfield (02 9416 0900), provide some background information and an overview of the situation, and one of the team will get back to you to arrange an initial appointment.

Family Counselling Support

Sometimes, the issues young people face impact their wider family, or our counsellors will identify that extra information and guidance for parents will help create a more supportive structure for a young person at risk. At other times, a family may be trying to obtain support for a youngster who is reluctant to engage in therapy, and ask for our help and for ideas they can use at home, that may help alleviate pressure or open up alternative approaches to a situation. In these circumstances, we provide counselling support for parents and carers.

Workshops and Information Sessions for Young People

As specialists working on the front line of adolescent mental health and wellness, KYDS offers a range of early intervention workshops and information sessions that take a preventative approach to the issues we see presenting in our counselling centres. Some of these workshops are run as “open access” sessions at our centres (see events listing for details), and other programs are delivered in school and community settings across Northern Sydney. The content for these workshops is regularly updated to meet the changing circumstance of our youth, but topics regularly covered include: cyber safety and digital citizenship, respectful relationships, addictive behaviours, sexual health, body image and self esteem, positive mental health, school and exam stress, alcohol and other drugs, risk-taking and decision making, and bullying. To enquire about a workshop for students at your school or in your community group, please contact info@kyds.org.au or phone (02) 9416 – 0900.

Information Events for Parents, Professionals, and Community

At KYDS we take a holistic view of adolescent mental health and well being, and believe that broad community understanding and support is a critical component of an environment in which young people can build bright futures. To this end, we provide regular community information forums, at a range of locations, to ensure parents and carers have knowledge, resources and information to help them in the sometimes difficult task or raising children. Details of upcoming information forums are included on our “events” listing. In addition, the KYDS team also speaks regularly at community events, provides key note speakers, and runs professional development sessions for other organisations such as schools and youth services agencies. If you are interested in a presentation for your school or community group, or having a professional development program run for you by one of our psychologists, please email info@kyds.org.au or phone (02) 9416 – 0900.