Can my child see more than one of these at once?

Yes, and it's common. A child might see an OT for sensory regulation and a psychologist for anxiety at the same time. Good practitioners communicate with each other so the supports line up rather than compete.

Does my child need a diagnosis to see an OT or behaviour therapist?

No. You can book an OT or behaviour support privately without any diagnosis. A diagnosis mainly matters for funding — NDIS access has its own requirements, and Medicare rebates for psychology run through a GP's Mental Health Care Plan rather than a diagnosis as such.

OT vs Psychologist vs Behaviour Therapist: Who Does What?

Someone — a teacher, a GP, another parent — has suggested your child “see someone”. Then you look up who that someone might be and find three different professions with overlapping descriptions and very different price tags.

Here’s the plain-language version of who does what.

The one-line difference

Psychologist — thoughts, feelings and mental health. Anxiety, low mood, big worries, trauma, emotional coping.
Occupational therapist (OT) — the skills of daily life. Sensory needs, emotional regulation strategies, motor skills, routines, handwriting, sleep and mealtime battles.
Behaviour therapist / behaviour support practitioner — specific behaviours and what drives them. Understanding why a behaviour happens and reshaping the situations around it.

When each one fits

Your situation	Usually start with
Worries, fears, sadness, school anxiety	Psychologist
Meltdowns with a strong sensory flavour, daily-life skills, fussy routines	OT
One specific behaviour on repeat (hitting, absconding, refusal)	Behaviour support
Big feelings with no obvious pattern yet	GP first, then follow their read

The lines blur in practice. Meltdowns are the classic example: a psychologist might work on the feelings underneath, an OT on the sensory load that triggers them, and behaviour support on the flashpoints in the daily routine. All three are legitimate doors into the same problem — which one to open first depends on the strongest flavour of what you’re seeing.

What they cost in Australia

Psychologists commonly charge $150–$300+ per session. A GP’s Mental Health Care Plan unlocks Medicare rebates on up to 10 sessions a calendar year — the child psychologist guide walks through that process step by step.
OTs typically charge $150–$250+ per session. Medicare rebates are limited (a GP can advise on Chronic Disease Management referrals); most families fund OT privately, through private health extras, or through the NDIS.
Behaviour support is most often NDIS-funded, as “improved relationships” or positive behaviour support in a child’s plan. Private behaviour therapy exists but is less common. What NDIS behaviour support actually involves is worth reading if that’s the door you’re considering.

If your child has an NDIS plan, OT and behaviour support are two of the most commonly funded supports for regulation and behaviour goals — worth raising with your planner or support coordinator.

How to actually start

Start with your GP either way. They can rule out physical causes, set up the care plan if psychology is the path, and point you to local practitioners who are good with kids. When you ring a practice, say your child’s age and the main concern in one sentence — reception can usually tell you straight away whether they’re the right fit, and who to try if not.

Waitlists apply to all three professions, so get on more than one list and ask about cancellations. And while you wait, the big feelings guides cover the day-to-day strategies that help in the meantime.

This article is general parenting guidance, not clinical advice, and is not a substitute for seeing a qualified professional. If you are worried about your child, our finding support guides explain where to start in Australia.