Play Therapy

Suited to children aged 3 to 10

Is your child struggling with change, loss or difficulty with relationships?

Does your child have trouble expressing their emotions?

Do behavioural issues impact your child’s quality of life?

Has your child experienced trauma?

Play Therapy is effective because:

• Meets children where they are.

• Uses a medium that is natural for them.

• Allows them to process complex emotions in a way that feels manageable.

• Helps children feel understood and supported.

• Fosters emotional growth and healing.

“Toys are children’s words and play is their language”: Gary Landreth

Play Therapy uses children’s natural form of communication to help them express themselves and process their feelings.

Unlike adults, children don’t have the words they need to talk about their emotions or difficulties.

Play Therapy strategically uses a selected range of toys to help children express their thoughts and feelings in an age-appropriate manner.

Play Therapy involves a safe and secure relationship between the Therapist and the child, which allows children to make their internal world, external. 

Play therapy is creative, child-focused, and non-directive, meaning that your child has choice and control throughout their sessions.

Children Play. A Play Therapist Listens.

What challenges can Play Therapy help with?

• Emotional expression.

• Trauma and loss.

• Behavioural issues.

• Developmental delays or disabilities.

• Anxiety or stress.

• Difficulty with relationships.

• Low Self-Esteem or confidence.

• Help with communication.

• Enhancing coping skills.

• Mental Health diagnoses.

What are some of the outcomes of Play Therapy?

• Feel and experience a range of emotions.

• Learn to appropriately express and regulate emotions.

• Heal from trauma and grief.

• Reduce behavioural issues.

• Increase social and communication skills.

• Increase self-esteem and self-confidence.

• Build stronger family relationships.

• Build empathy for self and others.

• Resolve of attachment issues.

• Develop new and creative solutions to problems.

How is Play Therapy different to traditional Counselling and Psychology?

Just like talk-based therapies such as CBT, Play Therapy is evidence-based. However in Child-Centred Play Therapy, instead of using words, your specially trained Therapist will use a carefully selected range of toys.

Can we use NDIS funding?

Absolutely, you can! If you are self or plan managed, you are able to use your child’s NDIS funding for Play Therapy with us.

Are parents present during the sessions?

In Child-Centred Play Therapy, sessions are typically held with just the child and the therapist. This helps create a safe, supportive space where your child can express themselves freely. However, we deeply value your role in the therapeutic process. To keep you informed and involved, your Play Therapist will schedule a parent consultation approximately every 4–5 sessions.

How many sessions will my child need?

Every child is unique, and their needs in therapy can vary. As a general guideline, we recommend planning for around 10 to 20 sessions of Child-Centred Play Therapy. Your therapist will regularly review your child’s progress and discuss any adjustments to the number of sessions as needed.

Can my child access Play Therapy Online?

We offer Play Therapy in Port Macquarie, as well as offering online Play Therapy!