You are welcome to make an enquiry through the contact page or by emailing directly.

If therapy feels appropriate, an initial appointment will be arranged to discuss your child’s needs and next steps.

No. Families are welcome to contact Big Bear’s Treehouse directly - no referral is required.

However, referrals are also welcomed from schools, GPs, allied health professionals, and community agencies where appropriate.

Many families reach out simply because something doesn’t feel quite right at home, at school, or for their child, and that is enough.

Children and young people may benefit from therapy if they are experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, behavioural changes, relationship difficulties, or adjusting to life transitions or difficult experiences.

If you are unsure, we can talk it through together before deciding whether therapy is the right step.

It often helps to keep explanations simple and reassuring.

You might say something like:
“We’re going to visit Julie. She has a special room where children can play, talk, and work through explore feelings and experiences. She helps kids when things feel a bit tricky.”

Children don’t need a detailed explanation. What matters most is helping them understand that this is a safe place where they can play and be themselves.

If you are unsure how to introduce therapy to your child, this can also be discussed during the initial appointment.

The first appointment usually involves meeting with parents or caregivers to understand your child’s history, strengths, and current needs. Where appropriate, children may also attend part of the session.

This appointment helps build a shared understanding of how therapy may support your child and ensures that the process feels safe and comfortable for everyone involved.

No. Children are never pressured to talk about difficult or painful experiences before they are ready.

In child-centred play therapy, children are given the freedom to communicate and explore their experiences in ways that feel natural to them. This may be through play, creativity, storytelling or conversation.

Some children choose to talk about their experiences, while others express themselves primarily through play. Both are equally welcome.

The focus is on building a safe, trusting therapeutic relationship where children feel accepted, understood and supported at their own pace.

Your child does not need to tell their story for therapy to be meaningful.

Yes. For appointments at our Tweed Heads South clinic, parents or carers must remain in the waiting area or no further away than the clinic car park throughout their child's session.

For school-based sessions, arrangements depend on whether the child attends the school where therapy is taking place.

• Children attending that school: Parents or carers do not need to remain on site, as the child is attending within their usual school environment.

• Children visiting the school specifically for therapy: A parent or carer must remain on site and close by throughout the session.

These arrangements ensure that a familiar adult is available if a child needs comfort, assistance with toileting, becomes distressed or requires additional support.

Children's safety, wellbeing and individual needs guide these arrangements.

Yes. Parents and carers are an important part of the therapeutic process.

While sessions are child-led, caregivers are supported with guidance, feedback, and understanding so that change can be supported beyond the therapy room.

Depending on the child's needs, this may include parent consultations, shared sessions or opportunities to strengthen connection and understanding within the family.

A few simple things can help children arrive ready for their session.

If possible, it helps when children have had a chance to use the bathroom, had a drink or small snack, and are not overly tired when they arrive.

When children’s basic needs are met, they are usually able to settle into the play space more easily and make the most of their session.

A small selection of water and simple snacks may occasionally be available if needed, however families are asked to remain mindful of allergies and individual dietary needs.

Children don't need to prepare for their sessions or be encouraged to talk about what happened afterwards.

Standard therapy sessions are 50 minutes in length.

Every child's therapeutic journey is different, and there is no set timeframe for therapy.

Some children attend for a shorter period around a specific concern, while others benefit from longer-term support, particularly when experiences have been complex or ongoing.

Progress is reviewed collaboratively and paced to each child’s readiness and needs.

Yes. Big Bear’s Treehouse supports children and young people who are NDIS participants where therapeutic goals align with play-based counselling support.

Services are available for participants who are:

• Self-managed
• Plan-managed

Services are not currently available for NDIA agency-managed plans.

NDIS funding is one pathway to accessing support, but services are not limited to NDIS participants.

Therapy may support goals related to:

• emotional regulation

• social and relational development

• confidence and self-understanding

• support for neurodivergent children

• adjustment to life experiences and transitions

Support is guided by clinical appropriateness and the individual’s NDIS goals.

Yes. Reports, letters, and professional communication can be provided where clinically appropriate or requested by families, schools, or agencies.

These are charged at the standard non-session rate.

Yes. Outreach sessions are available where therapy is best supported in environments such as schools, homes, or community settings.

Outreach sessions are charged at the standard session rate, with travel time calculated where applicable.

Details are discussed prior to commencement.

Adult experiential and play-based therapeutic work is currently offered as part of structured program-based work rather than as a standalone individual therapy service.

Adult therapy sessions are counselling-based and tailored, not solely play therapy.

Information about adult programs will be shared when available.

Big Bear’s Treehouse is a private practice and does not currently provide Medicare-rebated sessions.

Big Bear's Treehouse is recognised by Medibank, Bupa, HCF, ahm and participating ARHG health funds. Rebates depend on your individual policy and level of cover.

Rebates depend on your individual health fund, level of extras cover and eligibility for counselling benefits.

Please contact your health fund before your appointment to confirm whether counselling services provided by an ACA Level 4 counsellor are covered under your policy.

Receipts can be provided to support eligible claims. Private health insurance rebates are not available for services already funded through another scheme.

People who have experienced violence or crime may be eligible for government-funded counselling or financial assistance with counselling costs.

NSW — Victims Services

The NSW Victims Support Scheme provides access to counselling for eligible people affected by violent crime, modern slavery and certain road crimes.

Big Bear's Treehouse is an approved counselling provider under the NSW Victims Support Scheme. Eligible clients may access funded counselling through this scheme.

Queensland — Victim Assist

Victim Assist Queensland may provide financial assistance towards counselling expenses for eligible people affected by acts of violence in Queensland.

Assistance is subject to eligibility, practitioner requirements and approval of expenses under the scheme.

Big Bear's Treehouse welcomes enquiries from individuals and families exploring these funding pathways. We can discuss the suitability of our services and whether the relevant funding arrangements can be used.

For further information, visit the NSW Victims Support Scheme or Victim Assist Queensland websites.

Big Bear’s Treehouse aims to make support as accessible as possible.

If the cost of therapy feels difficult, please feel welcome to reach out and have a conversation. Sometimes families assume support will be out of reach when there may be options available.

In some circumstances, a small number of concession appointments may be offered. These are discussed individually and depend on availability.

Therapy sessions (50 minutes):

• NDIS (plan-managed / self-managed): $156.12

• Private-pay: $171.73 (includes GST)

Reports, letters, and professional communication:

• $80 per 30 minutes (NDIS and/or private-pay — GST applied where relevant)

Fees may be updated in line with NDIS price guide changes.

NDIS session rates are set in line with the NDIS price guide. Private-pay sessions include GST where applicable.

Big Bear’s Treehouse does not provide court reports, legal assessments, or expert witness services.

Therapy is focused on supporting children and families in a safe and therapeutic environment rather than producing reports for legal proceedings.

If legal documentation or court reports are required, families may need to seek an appropriately qualified independent assessor.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice may incur the full session fee.

Late cancellations or missed appointments often mean another child or family has missed the opportunity to access support, so this policy helps maintain fairness and availability.