Our services
We take a warm, friendly and collaborative approach to therapy and provide a safe and relaxed environment for our patients to reach their therapeutic goals.
Second Nature abides by the ethics of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and leverages a wide variety of evidence-based and contemporary treatment modalities and therapies. We offer face-to-face appointments at our practice on the Mornington Peninsula, online Telehealth sessions, or a combination of both.
Psychological Assessments
Assessments help guide personalised recommendations and practical strategies for home, school, and everyday life. They are delivered in a supportive, non-judgmental environment, with clear feedback to help clients and families understand results and next steps. We provide comprehensive psychological assessments for children, teens, and adults to identify your strengths, challenges, and areas of need. Our assessments focus on Cognitive/Intellectual disabilities, ADHD, Autism, and Specific Learning Disorders, and are tailored to each individual.
Cognitive
assessments
Cognitive assessments are valuable tools that help build a clear understanding of a child’s thinking and learning profile. They explore key areas such as reasoning, memory, attention, problem-solving, processing speed, and language skills, providing meaningful insights into how a child learns best.
At Second Nature, we offer comprehensive cognitive assessments designed to support children and families in understanding strengths, identifying areas of need, and guiding next steps. Whether you are seeking clarification around learning differences, developmental concerns, school readiness, or giftedness, our assessments provide practical and supportive recommendations.
Wechsler Cognitive Assessments (WPPSI & WISC)
Our cognitive evaluations use gold-standard Wechsler measures to provide a thorough picture of intellectual functioning across childhood.
WPPSI (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence)
Designed for young children, this assessment helps understand early learning strengths and developmental needs, and can inform support around school readiness, developmental delays, or early identification of learning differences.
WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children)
Suitable for school-aged children, this assessment examines a range of cognitive abilities and is often used to explore learning profiles, attention differences, academic challenges, and intellectual strengths.
These assessments allow us to identify patterns of strengths and vulnerabilities, helping families, educators, and clinicians develop tailored supports that promote confidence, engagement, and positive learning outcomes.
ADHD
assessments
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental difference that can affect attention, impulse control, activity levels, organisation, and emotional regulation. It can present differently across childhood and adulthood, often impacting learning, relationships, and daily functioning.
At Second Nature, we provide comprehensive ADHD assessments to help individuals and families better understand their experiences and access appropriate supports. Early identification can make a meaningful difference in building confidence, reducing stress, and improving outcomes at school, work, and home.
Our Assessment Approach
Our ADHD assessments follow a thorough, evidence-based process designed to build a clear understanding of strengths and challenges. This typically includes:
Clinical interviews (Review of developmental, educational, and medical history)
Cognitive testing
Standardised questionnaires and rating scales
Behavioural observations
Input from teachers or other supports when appropriate
This comprehensive approach helps ensure an accurate understanding and differentiates ADHD from other factors such as learning differences, anxiety, or mood concerns.
ADHD Across the Lifespan
For children and adolescents, assessments can clarify attention, behaviour, and learning needs, guiding supports at home and school and informing strategies to support confidence and engagement.
For adults, assessments explore patterns such as difficulties with focus, organisation, time management, or feeling overwhelmed, helping individuals make sense of long-standing challenges and identify helpful strategies.
What Happens Next?
Following assessment, we provide a detailed report and personalised recommendations. Where appropriate, we can collaborate with schools, families, and other professionals to support next steps. While psychologists do not prescribe medication, assessment outcomes can be shared with medical practitioners if further review is considered.
Combined ADHD & Autism assessments are available.
Autism
Assessments
Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference that shapes how a person communicates, connects with others, processes information, and experiences the world. Some people show signs early in life, while others seek assessment later as challenges become more noticeable or understanding grows.
At Second Nature, we provide thoughtful, evidence-based autism assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. Our goal is to offer clarity, recognise strengths, and guide meaningful supports so individuals and families can move forward with confidence.
For children and adolescents, assessments help clarify social communication, behaviour, and learning profiles, supporting families and schools to better meet developmental needs.
For adults, Assessments can provide insight into lifelong differences, support self-understanding, and inform strategies for relationships, work, and daily life.
Our Assessment Approach
We use a comprehensive, respectful process aligned with best-practice guidelines. Assessments typically include:
Clinical and developmental interviews
Observations and standardised assessment tools (MIGDAS-2, questionnaires)
Review of developmental, educational, and medical history
Input from parents, teachers, or partners where relevant
Following assessment, we provide a detailed report, feedback session, and personalised recommendations, including guidance around school supports, workplace adjustments, or pathways such as NDIS where appropriate.
Combined Autism and ADHD assessments are available.
Educational
Assessments
Educational assessments provide a detailed understanding of how a child or person learns by exploring both cognitive abilities and academic skills. These assessments help identify Specific Learning Disorders such as dyslexia (reading), dysgraphia (written expression), and dyscalculia (mathematics), as well as broader learning profiles that may be impacting progress at school.
At Second Nature, we use a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to understand each student’s strengths, challenges, and learning needs. This process helps families, educators, and students make informed decisions about supports, accommodations, and learning strategies.
Our Assessment Approach:
Educational assessments typically include:
Clinical and developmental interviews with parents/caregivers
Review of school reports and learning history
Cognitive assessment where appropriate
Standardised academic testing, including the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement
Questionnaires and observations to understand learning behaviours
This allows us to examine key academic areas such as reading, written language, mathematics, and underlying learning processes, providing a detailed picture of academic strengths and areas of difficulty.
What You Can Expect
Following the assessment, we provide a comprehensive report outlining findings and practical recommendations. This may include strategies for classroom support, guidance for individual learning plans, recommendations for school adjustments, and suggestions for targeted interventions to support skill development and confidence.
Our goal is to help students better understand how they learn and to support families and schools in creating environments where learning can feel achievable and empowering.
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Get in contact
For new clients we offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to allow you to determine whether Second Nature Psychology is right for you. Please get in touch via the form.
We look forward to chatting with you.