Inside CK Health’s approach to child psychology and assessment

For families trying to understand a child’s learning, behaviour or development, knowing where to start can be one of the hardest parts.

At CK Health Wellness Clinic in Merewether, child psychology and assessment services are helping families make sense of questions around autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, intellectual disability, and behavioural challenges, with a team taking a broader view of each child’s individual needs.

Founded by naturopath and nutritionist Cody Kennedy in 2013, the family-run clinic has grown into a multidisciplinary wellness practice, with psychology sitting alongside naturopathy and integrative medicine.

Now, with psychologist Lisa Bailey leading child assessments, psychologist Sally Christopherson supporting children and adolescents, and new integrative GP Dr Jessica Elmasry joining the team, CK Health is bringing together a broader network of practitioners to support Newcastle families through assessment, treatment, and ongoing care.

Starting with the questions

For parents considering an assessment, knowing where to start can be just as challenging as understanding what their child is experiencing.

On our visit to CK Health Wellness Clinic in Merewether, we quickly discovered a space that feels a little different from a traditional clinical setting.

Natural light spills through floor-to-ceiling glass, while timber, greenery, colourful toys, children’s books and artwork create a space that feels warm and welcoming from the moment you walk in.

It’s an environment designed to help children feel comfortable, particularly when they’re meeting a psychologist or beginning an assessment for the first time.

We spoke with CK Health founder Cody Kennedy to learn more about the clinic’s child assessment services and why taking a broader approach is important.

According to Cody, “CK Health provides evidence-based assessments for autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, specific learning disorders such as dyslexia, and behavioural concerns.”

She highlights that the aim is to help families gain a clearer understanding of how their child learns, communicates, and experiences the world. 

The clinic primarily supports children aged five and above, with Cody explaining that this can be an important age for identifying where additional support may be beneficial.

By understanding a child’s needs early, families, educators and healthcare professionals can work together to put appropriate strategies in place to support their development, learning and wellbeing.

So, what actually happens in a session?

For families who haven’t been through the process before, a psychological assessment can feel daunting. CK Health psychologist Lisa Bailey is helping families navigate that process, drawing on experience across school settings and child and adolescent services.

The process begins with an initial 90-minute appointment with a parent or caregiver. It’s an opportunity to talk through developmental history, behaviour, learning, communication, and whatever has prompted the family to seek an assessment. From there, the child becomes part of the process.

Depending on their age and individual needs, appointments may involve parents and children together, before Lisa spends time working directly with the child. 

For younger children, this can include games and activities designed to help them feel comfortable and allow the psychologist to observe how they communicate, respond and engage. 

The assessment process can take multiple appointments, with the approach tailored to the child and the type of assessment being undertaken. 

This can be particularly useful when exploring neurodevelopmental differences such as autism or ADHD, where understanding how a child functions across different situations is an important part of the bigger picture.

Lisa is trained in the ADOS and ADI-R assessment tools, these are considered gold standard assessment tools giving a reliable, thorough picture of autism spectrum disorder from two different angles. 

And while assessment is one part of her work, psychology doesn’t stop once the assessment is complete. Lisa also provides psychological therapy for children, adolescents, and adults, drawing on approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness-based strategies, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and behaviour support planning.

A multimodal approach to healthcare

For many families, receiving an assessment result isn’t the end of the journey. In some ways, it’s where the next set of questions begins. What support does my child need? What can we do at home? What might help at school?

This is where CK Health’s multidisciplinary model comes into play. Rather than operating as a standalone psychology practice, the clinic brings different practitioners together under one roof, allowing psychology to sit alongside naturopathy and integrative medicine.

The intention is to look beyond a single concern and consider the broader factors that may influence a person’s wellbeing.

Where appropriate, the psychology team can also work alongside families, schools and other allied health professionals, helping recommendations move from a report into everyday life.

For Cody, that broader perspective is an important part of the clinic’s philosophy – supporting people not only to understand what is happening, but to work out how they can move forward.

Support beyond the assessment

Lisa isn’t the only psychologist working with younger clients at CK Health. Psychologist Sally Christopherson works with children aged 12 and over and brings more than 12 years of experience as a registered psychologist.

Her work spans anxiety and depression, stress, grief and loss, OCD, neurodivergent challenges, trauma, communication and relationship difficulties – offering support for young people navigating challenges beyond the assessment process.

The clinic is also continuing to expand its medical offering, with integrative GP Dr Jessica Elmasry now welcoming new patients. A Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr Jess has trained across Sydney as well as regional and rural NSW and holds a Master of Public Health.

Her areas of interest include POTS and MCAS, mental health, eating disorders, women’s health, autoimmune and endocrine conditions, nutrition and environmental factors.

Dr Jess’s arrival adds another layer to CK Health’s growing multidisciplinary model, bringing medical care into the same space as psychology and complementary health services.

A broader way of looking at children’s health

For parents wondering whether their child’s behaviour, learning or development warrants a closer look, seeking an assessment can feel like a big first step.

However, it can also be the beginning of understanding.

At CK Health, the focus is on creating a clearer picture of the individual child – how they learn, communicate, behave and experience the world – and using that understanding to work out what support might look like from there.

Because sometimes, the most useful answer isn’t simply a diagnosis. It’s knowing what to do next.

CK Health Wellness Clinic is located in Merewether, Newcastle. Lisa Bailey is currently accepting new assessment clients aged five and above, with appointments available from September.