Welcome
Welcome to The Family Den - a warm, inclusive and friendly space supporting children, adolescents, young adults and families to create meaningful change in their mental health journey.
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At The Family Den, we fully understand the challenges of raising children and teenagers in the 21st century. Unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed a lot of pressure on families, resulting in a surge of mental health problems for parents and young people alike.
At The Family Den, we focus on evidence-based psychological interventions to treat a multitude of mental health difficulties in children and adolescents. We also advocate for early psychological intervention in an effort to improve physical and mental health outcomes later in life. We provide parenting support where needed in order to help parents respond to their children in line with their values, rather than react to their children when emotions are running high.
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Please contact The Family Den either via email (admin@thefamilyden.com.au), or by submitting an enquiry below, if you would like help restoring your family's functioning and navigating your child or adolescent's way back to well-being.
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Dr Miri Den is a Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years of experience supporting children and adolescents with their mental health, providing a high level of clinical care that helps families to thrive. Miri is warm, energetic, empathic and approachable, and fully understands the complexities of raising children, having two of her own. As part of her practice, Miri ensures that therapy is fun and engaging for younger children, whilst also working hard to establish strong therapeutic rapport with teenagers and young adults, particularly those who are reluctant to engage in treatment.
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Miri has completed a Masters of Clinical Psychology, and a PhD in adolescent anxiety (from the University of New South Wales), and has spent many years working in a senior position for NSW Health at a child and youth mental health service. Miri has also lectured at UNSW for Clinical Psychology students, and has a number of articles published in peer-reviewed journals on adolescent mental health.
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Miri has expertise in applying a wide range of evidence-based treatments for psychological disorders.
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Ursula Perry (returning from extended leave in February 2024) is a Clinical Psychologist who has specialised in working with children, adolescents and their families for the last 14 years.
Ursula is warm, empathic and respectful. She is passionate about helping people make meaningful changes in their lives and fostering a sense of freedom in how they may respond to the world around them. Ursula integrates a range of evidence based therapies when tailoring treatment for individuals and their families. Her clinical expertise was developed over many years in working in specialist child and adolescent public mental health settings.
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Ursula has a masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of New South Wales. She has a Bachelor of Psychology (First Class Honours) from the University of Sydney.
Our clinicians work with children, adolescents, parents and young adults, using a family-focused approach to creating meaningful change. Our clinicians can support children and adolescents experiencing:
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Anxiety, fears and worries e.g., social anxiety, generalised anxiety, OCD, PTSD, somatic symptoms
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Challenging, aggressive and oppositional behaviour
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Difficulties regulating strong emotions
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Problems with attention and concentration
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Social difficulties, shyness
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Sleep difficulties
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Sadness, low mood and depression
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Problems at day care, preschool or school
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Developmental delays and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ASD, ADHD)
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Adjustment difficulties (e.g., changing schools, adapting to having a new sibling in the family)
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Bullying and peer issues​
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Our clinicians also offer the following for parents and/or carers:​
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Parenting support and psychoeducation around the impacts of parenting challenges on one's own mental health
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Responding to family conflict including between siblings
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Strengthening family relationships and increasing enjoyment in parenting
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Developing strategies to support the emotional, social and behavioural needs of the child/adolescent
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Supporting your child/adolescent to thrive in the context of diagnoses such as ASD, ADHD etc.
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Practical strategies for responding to challenging behaviours/emotions
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Advocacy and support for your child to optimise learning and well-being at school
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Our clinicians work using a combination of both individual and family therapy. We will conduct a thorough initial assessment aimed at understanding the child, adolescent or young adult's presenting problems in the context of:
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Developmental history
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Attachment relationships/dynamics
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Past stressors/traumas
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Psychosocial and family stressors
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Academic/cognitive and school/university functioning
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Family of origin for parents/carers and how this impacts their parenting
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Protective factors at the individual, family and community level
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At the end of the initial assessment, we will make some recommendations about the following:
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The structure of treatment e.g., who needs to be attending sessions - this can range from the child/adolescent only, parents only, a combination where the sessions are split, or the entire family
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The duration of treatment - this can depend on the severity and complexity of the presenting issues, but typically ranges from 6-12 months
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The frequency of sessions required - typically weekly or fortnightly, with a view to reducing to monthly in order to maintain treatment gains (this is flexible and also depends on the family's request)
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What other specialist services might benefit the family/young person, for example, a cognitive assessment, other medical professionals, group programs etc.
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Throughout the assessment process, we will work collaboratively with clients to develop an individually-tailored treatment plan using the following evidence-based modalities: ​
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
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Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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Circle of Security
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Attachment Based Family Therapy
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Mindfulness-Based Interventions
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Schema Therapy in Children and Adolescents
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Aware Parenting-informed therapy
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Supportive Parenting of Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)
Emotion Coaching
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We will provide ongoing liaison with referring GPs, Paediatricians, Psychiatrists, as well as
schools involved in supporting the young person.
Our clinicians strongly believe in the importance of completing school observations for
children/adolescents where learning or peer issues are identified, and we have extensive
experience developing individually tailored support plans with school staff to ensure that
environmental and teaching modifications are made to compliment any work done with the
child/adolescent in sessions such that school engagement and enjoyment is maximised.
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Both Miri and Ursula are available to provide face-to-face or telehealth appointments.
What are the fees and rebates for the sessions?
Fees are based on the Australian Psychological Society's national schedule of recommended fees. For more details, please contact The Family Den.
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Both Miri and Ursula are registered Medicare providers. If the child or young person has a Mental Health Care Treatment Plan (MHCP), they will be eligible for a Medicare rebate. This plan can be obtained from your GP. We are not a bulk billing practice. ​
Will my private healthcare cover provide a rebate?
Some private health care providers cover the costs of psychology sessions. Please check with your individual provider.
Please note you can usually only claim rebates through either Medicare or your private health insurer for any one session (not both).
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What is the cancellation policy?
As it is difficult to fill appointment slots at short notice, cancellations or rescheduled appointments made with less than 48 hours’ notice will incur a late cancellation fee (for which you cannot claim a rebate).
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24 – 48 hours’ notice will incur 50% of the full session fee.
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Less than 24 hours’ notice will incur 100% of the full session fee.
Please note that Medicare rebates will not be available for cancelled sessions.
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Will my confidentiality be maintained?
All information provided in sessions is kept confidential, and therefore not shared with anybody else unless informed consent is given (e.g., in the case of liaising with GPs, school staff, psychiatrists, paediatricians etc.). However, there are certain situations where we will be legally and ethically required to disclose some information, specifically:
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If there are concerns for a child/adolescent's well-being or safety
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If anybody poses a risk to themselves and/or others
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If clinical notes are subpoenaed as part of legal proceedings
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Do I need a referral?
No. You can book your child/adolescent/young person/family in as a standard fee-paying client with no referral necessary.
To access Medicare rebates, (e.g., under the Better Access Scheme), your young person will require a Mental Health Care Plan (written referral) from your GP.
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What if I am in a crisis and need help right now?
If you or a loved one is in an emergency situation or is at imminent risk of harm to self or others, please contact 000 or attend the nearest hospital.
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If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis (acute symptoms needing timely support), you can contact the NSW Mental Health Access Line: 1800 011 511. They may be able to refer you to your local mental health service if you are eligible. If you are not eligible, they can make other referral suggestions.
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If you need immediate counselling support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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Are there any referrals we do not accept?
We are not currently taking referrals for:
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Couples therapy
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Those seeking a full diagnostic assessment of ADHD or Autism (we do offer screening assessments which can assist in determining if a formal assessment is worth pursuing. We also offer psychological therapy to individuals with Autism and ADHD)
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Individuals experiencing acute symptoms of psychosis
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Family court related matters
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Clients seeking a court report
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Clients seeking treatment primarily for substance use or eating disorder
Dr Miri Den and Ursula Perry are board-approved supervisors, endorsed in the area of Clinical Psychology, and have experience supervising psychology interns, registrars and colleagues who have completed their training.
Please send through an email enquiry if you are interested in receiving supervision.
Contact
02 9100 0661
Suite 304, Level 3
3 Waverley Street
Bondi Junction NSW
2022