Skill Tree Psychology, Local Therapy with a Modern Focus
At Skill Tree Psychology in Richmond, we provide local, reliable support for teens and families navigating gaming challenges. Our practical approach helps young people find balance, build skills, and stay on track with school and life goals.
When I started Skill Tree Psychology in Richmond, I had one clear goal: to make therapy reliable, local, and relevant for families in the Hawkesbury. Too often, people tell me they’ve had to travel all the way to Penrith or Blacktown for regular therapy. My question was simple… why should you have to go so far when support could be right here in our community?
A Growing Need: Support for Problem Gaming
For many kids and teens, gaming is fun, social, and even a way to wind down after school. But for some, it becomes harder to step away from the screen. Families find themselves stuck in battles over screen time, schoolwork, and even basic routines like sleep or eating dinner.
That’s where this valuable niche of therapy comes in, targeted support for gaming and technology use. More parents are realising that this isn’t just “kids being kids.” When gaming starts to dominate, it can affect learning, development, friendships, and future pathways in very real ways.
The Opportunity Cost of Gaming in High School
Parents often notice the everyday impacts first, fatigue, slipping grades, or tension at home. But what really worries me are the missed opportunities that come with problem gaming during the teenage years.
High school is a window of time that doesn’t come back again. If it’s spent mostly online:
Teenagers can miss out on building confidence and independence in the real world.
Academic performance may slip, making it harder to get into TAFE, university, or apprenticeships later on.
Kids can feel “stuck” when they finish school, because they haven’t developed the skills or qualifications to step into the next stage of life. This can delay an otherwise healthy start in adulthood.
This isn’t about demonising gaming, gaming done right is a healthy and restorative hobby. However, making it the single focus point of life is where we see hobby turn into harm.
Why Skill Tree Psychology?
I started this practice because I wanted to fill a gap. Families here in the Hawkesbury deserve:
Local support without long drives to Penrith or Blacktown.
Tailored services that actually understand the pull of gaming and how to help kids find balance.
Practical strategies that work for the whole family, not just lectures about “turning the iPad off.”
At Skill Tree Psychology, I work with kids and teens to help them figure out what role gaming plays in their life, and how to build healthy routines around it. Just as importantly, I support parents to set boundaries and find solutions that don’t lead to daily arguments.
Looking Ahead
The world our kids are growing up in is very different from even when Gen X and Y were at school. Gaming isn’t going anywhere, if anything, it’s only becoming more popular and more immersive. Families everywhere are starting to realise that kids don’t just “grow out of it”, they often need guidance and support to find balance.
Skill Tree Psychology is here to help young people move forward in school, in friendships, and in life.