Support That Makes Sense — Skills and Guidance for Kids and Families
At Better You HQ, we truly care about what’s going on in your world. Whether it’s your child’s big emotions, tricky behaviour, or the daily overwhelm of parenting, we take the time to listen, understand, and work alongside you.
Our approach is warm, practical, and grounded in real life — not just theory. We look beneath the surface to understand what’s driving the challenges, and then offer support that actually fits your family’s needs. No one-size-fits-all solutions here — just thoughtful, personalised care that helps kids and teens build the skills they need, and helps parents feel confident again
What Can Counselling Help With? More Than You Might Think.
At Better You HQ, we support children, teens, parents and NDIS particpants who are finding it hard to manage big feelings, tricky behaviours or social struggles. Whether it’s anxiety, emotional outbursts, friendship challenges or navigating neurodivergence like autism or ADHD — we’re here to help with warmth, expertise and practical strategies.
Counselling works because it goes beyond just managing behaviour. It helps uncover why your child is struggling — the emotions, thoughts and experiences that are often hard for them to explain. Through evidence-based support, we help children build self-awareness, emotional regulation and real-world coping skills.
We guide families through the messy, meaningful parts of growing up — offering structured support, personalised strategies and a safe space for change. The goal? To help kids feel more in control, more connected, and more confident in themselves and their world.
What We Do
Clear guidance. Real support. Therapy, asssessments, and NDIS services that make a difference.
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Prue Longstaff,
Better You HQ Founder and
ACA Registered Counsellor
About Prue
Prue is a qualified counsellor, educator, and child and family wellbeing specialist based in Mansfield, Victoria. With over a decade of professional experience across mental health, education, disability support, and suicide prevention, she brings a well-rounded and compassionate perspective to supporting families.
Prue is the founder of Better You HQ, a practice built on the belief that emotional wellbeing grows through common-sense skills, tools, and support. Her approach combines counselling, education, and emotional coaching to guide families through structured programs, assessments, and targeted support for anxiety, neurodiversity, emotional regulation, social and behavioural challenges.
As a trained educator and experienced practitioner, Prue knows that not every family needs traditional counselling. Sometimes, what’s needed is a clear, supportive roadmap — one that builds skills along the way and meets families where they are in their journey.
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Are you a NDIS registered provider?We’re not currently a registered NDIS provider, we’re still able to support families with self-managed or plan-managed NDIS funding. If that’s you, you’re able to access our services at Better You HQ.
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Will I be involved in the process as a parent?Absolutely. Parent and carer involvement is key. We work with you to understand your child’s needs, offer practical tools you can use at home, and keep you updated on progress. You’re never left in the dark as you’re part of the team.
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What happens after I reach out to Better You HQ?After you've submitted an enquiry via the contact form, email or phone, I will promptly call or text you to make contact. From there, we’ll have a brief chat to understand what you’re looking for and determine if our services are the right fit for your child and family. If you decide to proceed, we’ll book an initial consultation at a time that works for you. You’ll also receive some intake forms via email to complete before your first session so we can make the most of our time together.
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Do you offer assessments or a clear plan?Yes! We provide a structured approach that includes an initial consultation, optional psychometric assessments, and a tailored plan to guide next steps. Plus, after every session you’ll receive a summary and practical recommendations so you’re not left guessing. If you're looking for insight into ADHD, autism, stress, attention, behaviour, or social skills, we’re trained in psychometric testing to help clarify what’s going on. This process provides valuable feedback, direction, and a clear roadmap for moving forward.
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Is this therapist qualified and experienced to work with children?Yes! I’m a qualified child and family counsellor, registered with the Australian Counselling Association and with a Working with Children Check (WWC). I have professional training in child development, trauma, neurodiversity, and mental health, with hands-on experience supporting children and families in both counselling and school settings. I specialise in working with children experiencing anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, autism, ADHD, and social or behavioural challenges. My approach is evidence-based and developmentally appropriate, using strategies like emotion coaching, play-based therapy, and CBT-informed programs tailored to each child’s needs. Beyond qualifications, I know that connection is key. Clients are more likely to thrive in therapy when they feel safe and understood — and creating that space is always my first priority.
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How do I know if we need counselling?It’s normal to wonder if you or your child’s struggles are “just a phase.” If someone is often overwhelmed by big emotions, anxious, withdrawn, or having trouble with relationships, it is time to seek support. Counselling provides tools to help individuals cope and thrive — you don’t need to wait for things to get worse before getting help.
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Do I need a GP's referral for therapy?No, you do not need a referral to attend Better You HQ for therapy or counselling.
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What can you help with?Counselling and coaching can support children, teens, and families with a wide range of challenges, including: Anxiety Depression ADHD Autism Emotional regulation Behaviour issues Life transitions Building social skills Improving communication Strengthening relationships Boosting confidence and resilience Mental health Reduce stress Improve overall wellbeing With therapy and counselling, you can feel more confident, connected, and understood.
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How often are sessions?Sessions often begin weekly or fortnightly, and we can space them out more over time as confidence and skills grow.
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Will getting a Mental Health Care Plan (MFCP) from a GP to see a psychologist affect my future?Yes! It can, in some cases. When you use a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP to see a psychologist, the plan becomes part of your permanent medical record. This record may be reviewed during recruitment for certain careers—such as police, defence, aviation, or emergency services—where psychological screening is required. While it doesn’t automatically prevent someone from being accepted, it can lead to additional questions, assessments, or paperwork. IMPORTANT: Choosing private counselling without a referral or Medicare involvement means your sessions remain confidential and are not recorded on your official medical history. Sources: Australian Defence Force (ADF) Recruitment Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Aviation Careers Queensland Police Service (QPS) Recruitment
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Will support actually help?Yes! Especially when therapy is tailored to you and your child's needs. We use evidence-based approaches like play therapy, emotion coaching, and CBT-based programs to teach skills and improve wellbeing. Clients see meaningful changes in how they understand and handle emotions, relationships, and challenges. For example, CBT is widely supported as the leading treatment for anxiety in children and adolescents, with studies like Compton et al. (2004) reporting large reductions in symptoms. Recent research also supports adapted CBT approaches for specific issues like separation anxiety (Kianoosh et al., 2023).
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What's the difference between psychotherapy and counselling?The terms psychotherapy and counselling can often be used interchangeably, but they do have distinct differences: Counselling typically focuses on addressing specific issues and is usually short-term, providing you with strategies to handle current life challenges. Psychotherapy (also known as cognitive treatment or psychological therapy), on the other hand, dives deeper into understanding underlying patterns and chronic issues, often requiring long-term treatment. Both approaches are integral parts of our services at Better You HQ to provide comprehensive support for children and families.
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My child doesn't want to go to, what can I do?It’s not uncommon for children and teens to feel unsure or resistant about therapy and counselling. A great first step is booking a parent-only session. These sessions can be just as effective as direct therapy with your child. You’ll receive practical strategies to support your teen at home, respond to tricky behaviours, and build more connection — even if they’re not ready to engage in therapy just yet. If your child chooses to attend therapy later, they’ll be informed that a parent session took place and given a simple, respectful summary of what was discussed.
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How many sessions will I need?Everyone’s journey is different, and the number of counselling sessions you’ll need really depends on your personal goals, your experiences, what you’re hoping to work through, and how ready you feel for change. We’ll begin with an initial session to get to know you, set some goals together, and create a plan that feels right for you or your child. For some people, just a handful of sessions (around 6) is enough to make meaningful, lasting progress. Others might benefit from longer-term support, especially if things have felt overwhelming for a while.
Frequently Asked Questions
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