top of page

Counselling Isn’t a Sign of Struggle — It’s a Step Toward Strength

At Better You HQ, we believe support shouldn't come only when things feel overwhelming.
Counselling is about building emotional skills, resilience, and stronger relationships — not because something is wrong, but because you're ready to grow, understand yourself better, and take meaningful steps forward

Children's & Family Therapy

Grow Stronger From The Inside Out

Counselling and coaching that builds emotional intelligence for kids, teens and adults

At Better You HQ, counselling isn’t just about solving problems — it’s about developing the emotional skills that help you thrive. Whether you're a parent, teen, or adult, we support you to build emotional intelligence — the ability to understand yourself, manage emotions, and strengthen relationships. Think of it as coaching for your inner world, giving you or your child a head start in resilience, confidence, and connection — available in-person in Mansfield, VIC or online.

VR Social Skills
social skills vr therapy_edited.jpg

Parents Are Raving About Our VR Therapy

Is Your Child Anxious, Struggling to Read Social Cues or Emotionally Regulate?

Whether a child is neurodivergent or simply finding social situations challenging, navigating friendships and group settings can be confusing—and real-world practice can feel overwhelming.

 

Our VR therapy helps kids build social, communication, and behavioural skills—step by step, in a safe and supportive virtual space. They get to practise real-world connection, conversations, and friendship-building with zero pressure.

"Prue has shown true professionalism, and her experience working with children and adolescents really shines through, as her approach is at their level and relevant to the issues of today."

 - Lauren H - 

Counselling Isn’t the Last Step — It’s the First Move Towards a Better You

Helping you build calm, confidence, and connection

Counselling isn’t just for when everything feels too hard — it’s a space to pause, reflect, and build the skills to move through life with more confidence and calm. Whether you, or your child is feeling anxious, overwhelmed by big emotions, struggling with relationships, or finding it hard to focus or manage change, support early on can make a meaningful difference. Together, we focus on what’s going well and grow the tools they need to face challenges with resilience. It’s not about fixing what’s “wrong” — it’s about strengthening what’s already there and making it even better.

Whispering

We Train and Work with Some of the Best

kisspng-logo-black-dog-institute-organization-mental-healt-training-programs-5ba50f7f21001
CHADDLogoBlueTrans_100.png
ACF-logo-RGB-01.png
ca4f3d_72d1a4e782f24f02b366c246ae723849~mv2.webp
Life.png
tuning-in-to-teens-MAIN-1024x375.png
healthdirect-australia-information-partner-logo-dd927e.png
ACA member transparent.png
14606339_10154008848901464_471957514254488578_n (1)_edited_edited.jpg

Prue Longstaff
Better You HQ Founder and
ACA Registered Counsellor

About Prue

Prue is a qualified and ACA registered counsellor based in Mansfield, Victoria. She brings extensive experience across mental health and education. Prue works in private practice through her clinic, Better You HQ, and is a counsellor for Geelong Grammar School — one of Australia’s most prestigious independent schools.

Prue brings a compassionate, person-centred approach, supporting individuals and families through life’s challenges. With extensive experience in trauma-informed care and as a certified facilitator through Melbourne University, she is equipped to provide sensitive and effective support. In addition to her counselling work, Prue is also an experienced trainer and educator, and has valuable experience providing crisis and suicidality support with Lifeline.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • How often are sessions?
    Sessions often begin weekly or fortnightly, and we can space them out more over time as confidence and skills grow.
  • 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
  • Will counselling and coaching 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).
  • 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.
  • 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

MHCP

Latest News
Everybody's talking about...

Join Our Newsletter

News and insights delivered to your inbox.

Thanks for submitting!

Better You Therapy & Counselling.png

Clinic Hours:
Monday:
Geelong Grammar School

Tuesday: Geelong Grammar School

Wednesday: 9am - 5pm
Thursday: 9am - 5pm

Friday: 9am - 5pm

 

Phone: 0413 921 212

Address: Links Road, Mansfield, VIC 3722

  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Contact Us:

Thanks for submitting, we'll be in contact soon.

bottom of page