Children & family therapy
When a child is struggling, the whole family feels it. Anxiety, big emotions, behavioural challenges, trauma or simply feeling disconnected — these things don't just affect your child, they ripple through your entire home. Children and family therapy helps everyone understand what's happening and find a way forward together.
I work with children, teenagers and their families across Wollongong and the Illawarra, in person and via telehealth throughout NSW. My approach is warm, trauma-informed and strengths-based — and I bring over 20 years of experience working with young people, including a background in special education that most therapists simply don't have. No referral and no long waitlist — just accessible, compassionate support when your family needs it most.
How Family Therapy Can Help Your Child & Family
Family therapy can help with a wide range of challenges that affect children, teens and the whole family unit. These include communication breakdowns between parents and children, anxiety, low mood or emotional dysregulation, behaviour that's hard to understand or manage, family stress following separation, trauma or significant life change, supporting a neurodivergent child with ADHD or autism, and rebuilding connection and trust within the family.
Every family I work with is different — and the challenges that bring families to therapy are just as varied. Whether you're dealing with a child who's shutting down, a teenager who's pulling away, or a household where conflict has become the norm, family therapy creates a space where everyone feels heard and where real, lasting change becomes possible.
Sessions are tailored entirely to your family's needs. Sometimes I work with the whole family together in the same room. Sometimes it makes more sense to see a child individually while also supporting parents separately — or to alternate between the two. We work out the right fit together from the very first session, because what works for one family won't necessarily work for another, and I never apply a one-size-fits-all approach.
What to Expect from Family Therapy Sessions
Your first session is about getting to know your family — understanding what's happening, what you've already tried, and what you're hoping for. There's no pressure and no judgement. I want every member of your family to feel comfortable and safe from the very beginning.
From there, we build a plan together. Sessions typically run for 50 minutes and are available weekly or fortnightly depending on your family's needs and schedule. Progress is reviewed regularly so we can adjust the approach as things change. Many families notice a difference within just a few sessions — not because therapy is a quick fix, but because having the right support in place changes how everyone responds to each other.
Why Families in Wollongong & the Illawarra Choose Sharon Alexandra
With over 20 years of experience and a background as a special education teacher, I bring a depth of understanding that goes beyond the therapy room. I know how children think, how schools work, and how families under pressure really feel — because I've worked alongside all of them. My practice is trauma-informed, strengths-based and evidence-based, and every family I work with receives support that's genuinely tailored to them.
I also offer school advocacy support — so if your child's challenges are spilling into school, I can help you navigate that system too. It's a level of joined-up support that's genuinely hard to find elsewhere.
No referral and no long waitlist. I work with families in person across Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Nowra and the wider Illawarra region, and via telehealth throughout NSW.