Frequently asked
questions.

Play therapy is a theoretically-based, age-appropriate approach to child therapy that builds on the normal communication style of children. Therapists strategically use play therapy to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings.

In play therapy, toys are like the child’s words and play is the child’s language.

Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioural and learning problems including:

• Anxiety
• Family separation
• Trauma
• ADHD
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Death, grief and loss
• Chronic illness
• Physical and/or sexual abuse
• Domestic violence
• Natural disasters
• Social or relationship issues

Play therapy provides the opportunity for children to develop insight and resolution about inner conflicts or dysfunctional thinking. It can also help children learn more adaptive behaviours when there are emotional or skills deficits.

• Become more responsible for behaviours and develop successful strategies
• Develop new and creative solutions to problems
• Develop respect and acceptance of self and others
• Learn to experience and express emotions
• Learn new social and relational skills with family
• Develop empathy and respect for self and others

Play therapy is a form of child counselling which offers medium to long term support through weekly sessions. Psychologists generally offer cognitive behavioural therapy services under the Medicare rebate scheme, which offers 6–10 sessions in a calendar year with short term intervention, often through talk-based therapies such as CBT.

We most commonly provide play therapy services to children aged 2–12 years, however referrals for teenagers and adults are welcome.

Yes, we are a registered NDIS provider.

Our organisation is fee for service, so we are able to accept private paying clients or NDIS funded clients only. At this stage, play therapy services are unable to be rebated through Medicare or private health insurance.

Our session fee is comparable to the typical out-of-pocket gap families pay when seeing a psychologist under a Mental Health Care Plan - so while we're not a Medicare-rebatable service, the cost to you is generally similar either way.

Our process is to arrange an initial consultation with you to discuss your referral, what supports or goals you are seeking from therapy, and more detailed information about play therapy and how we can help.

Please contact our team via phone on 1300 424 752 or submit an enquiry or booking request via our online contact or booking forms to arrange an initial consultation. We are also happy to answer any queries you may have.

Initial consultations are with you only, without your child. This allows us to discuss your referral in more detail and determine how we can help with play therapy.

From there, we will arrange ongoing sessions with your child. Sessions take approximately one hour on a weekly basis, with regular parent consultations also conducted to work in collaboration with all family involved.