For Parents
You know something is not right. Maybe she has stopped doing things she used to love. Maybe the mornings have become a battle. Maybe she is holding it together at school and falling apart at home, or the school has been calling because she is struggling to get there at all.
Anxiety in teenage girls does not always look like worry. It can show up as irritability, avoidance, physical symptoms, perfectionism, exhaustion or an inability to make even small decisions.
In neurodivergent girls, those with ADHD or autism, anxiety is particularly common and often goes unrecognised because it is masked by other presentations. You do not need to wait until things reach a crisis point. If something does not feel right, support is available now with no waitlist.
For Young Women Aged 12 to 25
Maybe you have always been anxious but only recently started to realise it is not just who you are. Maybe university, work or relationships have brought it to the surface in a way that feels impossible to manage. Maybe you are exhausted from overthinking everything and wondering if this is just your life now.
It does not have to be. You do not need a referral, a diagnosis or a reason that feels serious enough.
Private fee sessions are available directly with no referral and no GP visit required. Send an email to info@nvpsychology.com.au to get started.
Anxiety and Neurodiversity: ADHD and Autism in Girls and Young Women
Anxiety is one of the most common experiences for neurodivergent girls and young women, and one of the most frequently missed. In girls with ADHD or autism, anxiety often presents differently to the textbook description, making it harder to identify and harder to treat without the right understanding.
Common experiences for neurodivergent girls include:
- Anxiety driven by sensory overwhelm or unpredictable environments
- Intense anxiety around social situations and reading social cues
- Masking and people-pleasing as anxiety management strategies
- Demand avoidance and difficulty with transitions
- Burnout presenting as anxiety or low mood
- Anxiety about being perceived as different or not fitting in
Support at this practice is informed by an understanding of how neurodiversity intersects with anxiety, so that the approach is genuinely adapted to the individual rather than applied from a general framework.
NDIS funding is accepted for self-managed and plan-managed participants under Improved Daily Living.
For more information, visit our Neurodiversity Support page.
How Anxiety Shows Up in Girls and Young Women
Anxiety presents differently in girls and young women than it does in the broader population, and is frequently underestimated as a result. Common presentations include:
- Persistent worry, overthinking and difficulty switching off
- Social anxiety and intense fear of judgement from others
- Panic attacks or physical symptoms including racing heart, nausea and dizziness
- School refusal or significant distress around attending school or university
- Perfectionism, fear of failure and high self-criticism
- Avoidance of situations, people or responsibilities
- Irritability, emotional outbursts or withdrawal
- People-pleasing and difficulty asserting needs
- Sleep difficulties, fatigue and physical complaints
- Anxiety alongside ADHD, autism or other neurodivergent presentations
What to Expect
The first session is focused on connection and understanding. There is no pressure to have everything figured out or to share more than feels comfortable. The pace is always guided by the young person.
From there, sessions draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), both of which have a strong evidence base for anxiety in adolescents and young adults. CBT helps identify and work with the unhelpful thought patterns and behavioural responses that keep anxiety going. ACT builds psychological flexibility, the ability to move toward what matters even when anxiety is present, rather than organising life around avoiding it.
Where trauma or distressing past experiences are contributing to anxiety, EMDR may be integrated into the work. Where emotional dysregulation is a significant feature, particularly common in neurodivergent young people, DBT-informed skills may be incorporated.
For neurodivergent clients, the approach is adapted to account for how ADHD or autism intersects with anxiety, including sensory considerations, demand avoidance and the impact of masking on mental health.
Every approach is individually tailored. Sessions are available weekly, fortnightly or monthly, with after-school and evening times offered to fit around school, university and work commitments. All sessions are delivered via secure telehealth video call across all of Australia.
Accessing Support
Private Fee Sessions
Private fee sessions are available at $260 per session with no referral required, no annual session limits and appointments available now. The most direct way to get started.
Medicare Rebates
Available with a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, providing up to 10 rebated sessions per calendar year.
Bulk Billing
Available for eligible clients. Please reach out to discuss eligibility.
NDIS Funding
Accepted for self-managed and plan-managed participants under Improved Daily Living. Direct liaison with plan managers and support coordinators is available to make the process as seamless as possible.
For a full breakdown of all funding options, visit our Fees and Funding page.
Ready to get started?
Support for anxiety is available now, with no waitlist. Whether you are ready to book or simply have a question, send an email to info@nvpsychology.com.au — we are always more than happy to help.