If you or your child are in immediate danger, or your child has hurt themselves or talked about it, get help now. Visit a nearby emergency service, hospital, or mental health clinic. Child helplines and crisis lines:
Crisis numbers
- the United States of America:
- Boys Town National Hotline: Tel: 800-448-3000 | Text: VOICE to 20121
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988: Tel: 988 | Text: 988 | Tel, for a Spanish-speaking counsellor: 988, then press 2 | Text, for a Spanish-speaking counsellor: AYUDA to 988
- Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741: Text: HOME to 741741 | Text, in Spanish: HOLA to 741741
- the United Kingdom:
- Childline: Tel: 0800 1111. 24 hours. For under-19s.
- Samaritans: Tel: 116 123 (Free from any phone) | Tel: 0808 164 0123 (Welsh Language Line) | Tel: 18001 44 116 123 (Relay UK). 24 hours. The Welsh Language Line is open every day, 7pm to 11pm.
- NSPCC helpline for adults worried about a child: Tel: 0808 800 5000. Weekdays, 10am to 4pm.
- YoungMinds Parents Helpline: Tel: 0808 802 5544. For parents and main carers of young people aged 25 or under. Monday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am to 4pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 9.30am to 6pm. Not a crisis service.
- India:
- Child Helpline 1098: Tel: 1098. 24 hours.
- Tele-MANAS: Tel: 14416 | Tel: 1-800 891 4416. 24 hours.
- Canada:
- Kids Help Phone: Tel: 1-800-668-6868 | Text: 686868 (Text CONNECT). 24 hours.
- 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline: Tel: 9-8-8 | Text: 9-8-8. 24 hours.
- South Africa:
- Childline South Africa: Tel: 116. 24 hours. For children up to 18, and adults worried about a child.
- SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline: Tel: 0800 567 567. 24 hours.
- the Philippines:
- MAKABATA Helpline 1383, for children needing protection: Tel: 1383. 24 hours. The national line to report a child who needs protection.
- NCMH Crisis Hotline: Tel: 1553 (Nationwide) | Tel: 1800-1888-1553 (Nationwide) | Tel: 0919-057-1553 (SMART/TNT). 24 hours.
- Australia:
- Kids Helpline: Tel: 1800 55 1800. 24 hours. For ages five to 25.
- headspace (eheadspace), mental health support: Tel: 1800 650 890. For young people aged 12 to 25, and family or friends worried about them. Every day, 3pm to 10pm.
- Carer Gateway: Tel: 1800 422 737 (then option 1 for your local service provider). Weekdays, 8am to 5pm.
- Germany:
- krisenchat, crisis support by chat: Chat: chat.krisenchat.de. 24 hours. For under-25s.
- Kinder- und Jugendtelefon, for children, young people and young adults: Tel: 116 111. Monday to Saturday, 2pm to 8pm.
- Elterntelefon, for parents: Tel: 0800 111 0550. Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 5pm; Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 7pm.
- the United Arab Emirates: The lines listed below are children's and young people's lines.
- Saudi Arabia:
- Psychological Consultation Centre: Tel: 920033360
- Ireland:
- Childline: Tel: 1800 66 66 66. 24 hours.
- Samaritans, for whatever you're going through: Tel: 116 123. 24 hours.
- Iran:
- France: The first line listed below is a children's and young people's line.
- 119, Allô Enfance en Danger, for children: Tel: 119
- 3114, the national suicide prevention number: Tel: 3114
- S.O.S. Amitié, day and night: Tel: 09 72 39 40 50
- Suicide Écoute: Tel: 01 45 39 40 00
- Spain:
- Teléfono/Chat ANAR de Ayuda a Niños/as y Adolescentes, for children and teenagers: Tel: 900 20 20 10 | Chat: chatanar.es. 24 hours.
- Línea 024 de atención a la conducta suicida, for people with suicidal thoughts and their families: Tel: 024 | Chat: www2.cruzroja.es. 24 hours.
- New Zealand: The lines listed below are children's and young people's lines.
- Youthline: Tel: 0800 376 633 | Text: 234. 24 hours. For young people aged 12 to 24, and anyone supporting a young person.
- What's Up, counselling helpline for children and teenagers: Tel: 0800 942 8787. Ages 5 to 19; every day, 11am to 11pm.
- Sweden:
- Switzerland:
- 147, Beratung + Hilfe, for young people: Tel: 147 | WhatsApp: +41800147000. 24 hours. WhatsApp: daily, 7.30am to 10pm.
- Elternnotruf, parenting and family advice: Tel: 0848 35 45 55. 24 hours. For parents and caregivers; relatives, neighbours and professionals can call too. From 11pm to 8am, Die Dargebotene Hand Zurich answers.
- Croatia:
- Hrabri telefon za djecu, for children and teenagers: Tel: 116 111 | WhatsApp: +385992121714 (WhatsApp chat). For ages 6 to 18. Weekdays, 9am to 8pm; WhatsApp chat the same hours.
- Telefon za psihološku pomoć (TESA), psychological counselling by phone: Tel: 01 48 28 888. Weekdays, 10am to 10pm; closed for a summer break.
- Hrabri telefon za mame i tate, for parents and adults worried about a child: Tel: 0800 0800. Weekdays, 9am to 8pm.
- Japan:
- Childline Japan (チャイルドライン): Tel: 0120-99-7777. For children under 18. Every day, 4pm to 9pm; closed 29 December to 3 January.
- Anata no Ibasho chat (あなたのいばしょチャット相談), free anonymous counselling for anyone: Chat: talkme.jp. 24 hours.
- Iraq: The line listed below is a children's and young people's line.
- Youth Health Helpdesk 80000111, for adolescents and young people: Tel: 80000111
- Poland: The lines listed below are children's and young people's lines.
- 116 111, telefon zaufania dla dzieci i młodzieży, for children and teenagers: Tel: 116 111. 24 hours. For under-18s.
- Dziecięcy Telefon Zaufania Rzecznika Praw Dziecka 800 12 12 12, for any child or teenager: Tel: 800 12 12 12. 24 hours.
- Telefon Zaufania Młodych, for children and young adults: Tel: 22 484 88 04. Mainly for young people up to age 25. Every day, 1pm to 8pm.
- Pakistan:
- Sehat Tahaffuz 1166, the national health helpline (with the Humraaz mental health service): Tel: 1166
- Taskeen Helpline: Tel: +92 316 827 5336. Appointment-based: a coordinator takes the call and books a session with a psychologist. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm.
- Nigeria:
- She Writes Woman, toll-free and answered at any hour: Tel: 0800 800 2000
- SURPIN, Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative: Toll-free: +234-8000787746 | Tel: +234-908-021-7555 | Tel: +234-903-440-0009 | Tel: +234-814-224-1007
- Kenya: The line listed below is a children's and young people's line.
- National Child Helpline 116: Tel: 116 | Tel: 0724 555 251 (Call or text) | WhatsApp: +254 722 116 116. 24 hours.
- Sri Lanka:
- Malaysia:
- Talian Kasih 15999, help with abuse and child neglect: Tel: 15999 | WhatsApp: 019 26 15999. 24 hours.
- Buddy Bear Children Helpline: Tel: 1800 18 2327. For ages 6 to 18. Every day, 6pm to midnight.
- Zimbabwe: The lines listed below are children's and young people's lines.
- Bangladesh:
- Child Helpline 1098, for children and about children: Tel: 1098
- Kaan Pete Roi, 3 PM to 3 AM every day: Tel: +880 9612-119911
- Lebanon:
- himaya hotline, child protection: Tel: 03 414 964. To report a case of child abuse.
- National Lifeline 1564: Tel: 1564. 24 hours.
- Vietnam:
- Tổng đài 111, national child protection hotline: Tel: 111. 24 hours. For children, parents and carers; anyone can report harm to a child.
- Đường dây nóng Ngày mai, free psychological support by phone: Tel: 096.306.1414. Wednesday to Sunday, 1pm to 8:30pm.
- Botswana:
- BOFWA 24 Hour Youth Helpline: Tel: 16658. 24 hours.
- Cyprus: The lines listed below are children's and young people's lines.
- Portugal:
- Linha SOS Criança e Jovem 116 111, for children and young people: Tel: 116 111 | WhatsApp: 913069404. For children up to age 18. Weekdays only; hours not published.
- Linha Nacional de Prevenção do Suicídio 1411, for suicidal thoughts and self-harm: Tel: 1411. 24 hours. Under-18s need a parent's or guardian's consent.
- Egypt:
- The national psychological support hotline: Tel: 16328
- Oman:
- Uganda:
- Sauti 116, for children and survivors of violence: Tel: 116
- Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, 0800 211 306: Tel: 0800 211 306, toll free.
- Namibia:
- LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia 116 Child Helpline: Tel: 116 | Text: 081 398 5510. 8am to 8pm.
- LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia 106 Gender-Based Violence HelpLine: Tel: 106 | Text: 081 398 5510. 8am to 8pm.
- Tanzania:
- Singapore:
- Tinkle Friend helpline: Tel: 1800 2744 788. For primary school children, 13 and under. Weekdays 2.30pm to 5pm; closed on public holidays. Online chat Monday to Thursday until 7pm.
- national mindline 1771, mental health helpline: Tel: 1771 | WhatsApp: +6566691771 (WhatsApp chat). 24 hours.
- Not a local line: helplines and suicide hotlines worldwide
How to find the right child psychologist
This page lists practitioners near you who name children among who they work with and have appointments open. Filter the list, then read the profiles.
Look for the ages the person works with, and experience with what you are worried about. Ask how they work with children of that age. Check the languages they work in, and whether they see children in a room, online, or both.
Before you contact a child psychologist
A child psychologist works with how a child is developing, feeling and behaving, and with the people around that child. Some of the work is assessment, which uses standard tests to describe how a child is learning, attending or coping. Some of it is therapy, and with younger children that therapy is often play rather than conversation. Children do not usually announce a problem in words; they show it, and a trained adult reads it in the play 1.
Parents come with worries about anxiety, low mood, anger, sleep, school refusal, attention, learning, friendships, or a child's response to something hard that has happened at home.
Parents are part of the work, not outside it. Expect a first appointment about your child's history, often without the child present, and expect the psychologist to explain what play therapy is, because most parents have not met it before 2. After that the child is seen regularly, with sessions for the parents alone at agreed points. You will be told what you need to know without the child's every word being reported back.
Read the credentials on a profile and check them with the register that holds them.
Child Helpline International is a network of the helplines that children and young people can contact in their own country, free and in confidence. Its directory lists the member helpline for each country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a child psychologist do?
A child psychologist works with a child's feelings, behaviour and development. Some also carry out formal assessment, which uses standard tests and ends in a written report.
Children rarely arrive able to say what is wrong. A four-year-old does not say "I need to stop hitting my brother". In Landreth's account of play therapy, the difficulty shows in how they play and behave 1. Reading that is what the training is for.
Read the exact title on the profile, then check it on the register the practitioner is listed with.
The kinds of psychologist you will see on the list
Profiles name different kinds of psychologist, and the emphasis in each one's training differs.
- Clinical psychology trains toward the assessment and treatment of mental health difficulties, in children and adults.
- Counselling psychology trains toward life difficulties, relationships and how people develop over a lifetime.
- Educational psychology trains toward learning, development, and how a child is doing at school.
- Neuropsychology trains toward how brain function shows itself in thinking, memory and behaviour, often after an injury or illness.
- Forensic psychology trains toward work in legal and court settings.
These are emphases in training, not limits on what a psychologist may work with. Many psychologists work well beyond the one their title names. The exact set of titles is set by the register, and the register is where a title on a profile can be checked.
How do I know whether my child needs to see someone?
Look at what has changed and how long it has lasted. Sadness or worry that will not lift. Outbursts worse than they used to be.
Going backwards in things your child had managed. Trouble with friends, or refusing school. Sleeping or eating differently.
A few hard weeks after a loss, a separation or a move are ordinary. When it has gone on for weeks, is getting worse, or is affecting school and home, make an appointment. An assessment can give you an answer on its own, without committing you to months of sessions.
If your child has hurt themselves or talked about it, seek help now rather than waiting. The crisis lines are in the box above. Some are open day and night and some keep set hours, so if one does not answer, try another or your local emergency number.
What happens in the sessions?
The first appointment is usually with you, without the child, so you can give the history. The psychologist then spends time with your child, and afterwards tells you what they make of it.
How the sessions look depends on the child's age. Younger children work through play, drawing and games; by the teenage years it looks much like adult therapy.
Where do I fit in?
You are part of the work, not outside it. You make the arrangements, and you usually see the psychologist regularly on your own. Landreth treats the parent as a partner in the work. Much of what changes at home is worked out in those meetings 2.
Your child also needs to know what stays between them and the psychologist. Ask at the start what will be shared with you and what will not. The usual boundary is this: the psychologist tells you about safety and about progress in general terms, and keeps the detail of what your child says.
Can it be done online?
Older children and teenagers often manage online well. Younger children usually do better in a room, because play is hard to do through a screen.
Formal assessment is almost always done in person. A common arrangement is assessment in the room, then sessions online after that. Ask what the person suggests for your child's age.
What does it cost?
The fee is on the practitioner's own profile. An assessment costs more than a session, and the report is part of what you are paying for.
Before you agree to anything, ask the practitioner these questions.
- What is the fee?
- Is a reduced fee available?
Ask your child's school too. Some schools arrange educational assessments at no cost to you.
If money is the obstacle, read how to find affordable therapy.
Related pages
References
[1] Landreth, G. (2012). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship, ch. 5, Child-Centered Play Therapy.
[2] Landreth, G. (2012). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship, ch. 9, Parents as Partners in Play Therapy, pp. 168-175.
Real choice. Authentic, independent, clinician-led care.
TherapyRoute is a clinician-led directory that champions independent practitioners who answer to you and their professional ethics. We don't take commissions, sell your data, or assign therapists by algorithm. You browse, compare, and choose.
Vincenzo (Enzo) Sinisi, Clinical Psychologist (HPCSA), Psychoanalyst (IPA/SAPA), Group Analyst (IGA)
TherapyRoute is not for emergencies and does not provide medical advice. All of our content is informational and cannot replace professional healthcare. In an emergency, contact a local emergency service. For immediate support, consider a local helpline.
