A PLACE TO SLOW DOWN, FEEL SAFE & FIND YOUR WAY FORWARD
Child & Family Counselling and Play Therapy
Trauma-informed, attachment-focused support for children, young people, adults and families.
Based in Tweed Heads South, supporting the Tweed, Northern Rivers and Gold Coast regions, with school and community outreach in Toogoolawah and surrounding areas.
Enquiries welcome
HEALING & GROWTH
A Gentle Place to Land
At Big Bear's Treehouse, we recognise that every child, adult and family brings their own experiences, relationships and stories.
Some arrive carrying big experiences, others with quiet worries, and some simply because something doesn't feel quite settled.
There is no rush here. We start where you are.
You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Together, we can begin to understand what's happening and explore what might help.
Children
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Teens
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Adults
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Families
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Parents
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Children • Teens • Adults • Families • Parents •
THE BIG BEAR APPROACH
How the Treehouse Works
At Big Bear's Treehouse, the relationship comes first.
Therapy is guided by the needs, experiences and developmental stage of each person, with an emphasis on emotional safety, trust and connection.
For children, play provides a natural way to communicate, explore feelings and make sense of their experiences. Sessions may involve imaginative play, creative expression, movement or other experiences that support connection and emotional development.
For parents, carers and families, our work may focus on understanding children's needs, strengthening relationships and developing more responsive ways of connecting.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. We work collaboratively, at a pace that respects each person's readiness, choices and sense of safety.
A treehouse is a sanctuary for healing & growth — a place to feel safe, explore with curiosity and discover the comfort of connection.
How Big Bear’s Treehouse Can Help
Children, young people and families may seek support for many different reasons. Sometimes the challenges are easy to recognise; other times, something simply doesn't feel quite right.
Big Bear's Treehouse offers child and family counselling, play therapy and relationship-focused support for experiences including:
Anxiety, worries and difficulties at school
Big emotions, difficulty managing big feelings and behavioural challenges
Developmental trauma and difficult life experiences
Attachment difficulties and disrupted relationships
Foster care, kinship care and out-of-home care experiences
Family separation, grief, loss and significant life changes
Supporting parents and carers to understand and respond to children's emotional needs
Strengthening parent–child relationships and supporting connection
Support is available through the Tweed Heads South clinic and selected school and community outreach services, including Toogoolawah.
NDIS self-managed and plan-managed participants are welcome where counselling is appropriate to their plan and funding arrangements.
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Play Therapy for Children
Play therapy can support children who are experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, behavioural changes, difficulties with relationships, or who have lived through experiences that feel confusing or overwhelming.
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Counselling for Adults
My work with adults is grounded in safety, respect, and collaboration. Sessions are shaped around the person in front of me, there is no pressure to fit into a particular model or move faster than feels manageable.
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Parent, Carer & Family Support
Many families reach out for support with navigating big emotions, behavioural changes, anxiety, or withdrawal. Some seek support after trauma or family disruption, while others want help with emotional regulation, sibling conflict, or developmental changes.
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School & Community Outreach
Big Bear's Treehouse provides counselling and play therapy in selected school and community settings, including Toogoolawah and surrounding areas.
Working collaboratively with families, carers and schools, we support children's emotional wellbeing, relationships and sense of safety within familiar environments.
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Foster & Kinship Carer Support
Supporting children in foster, kinship and out-of-home care, alongside the parents and carers who care for them.
Our attachment-focused approach recognises the impact of trauma, disrupted relationships and the importance of helping children experience safety, trust and connection.
PLAY THERAPIST & COUNSELLOR
Hi there, I’m Julie Anderson.
I'm a counsellor and play therapist with a Master of Counselling and Level 4 membership of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
My work is grounded in child-centred play therapy, attachment-focused practice and an understanding of how trauma and relationships shape children's emotional wellbeing and development.
I work with children, young people, adults and families, including those navigating developmental trauma, disrupted relationships, foster and kinship care, and significant life changes.
While children and families are at the heart of Big Bear's Treehouse, adults are equally welcome to seek counselling for their own experiences, relationships and emotional wellbeing.
My practice is based in Tweed Heads South, with school and community outreach in Toogoolawah and surrounding areas.
I believe meaningful therapeutic work begins with a safe, trusting relationship. Whether you're seeking support for yourself, your child or a family you're caring for, I'd love to help.
Meet Big Bear’s Therapy Dog
Izzy is Big Bear's Treehouse's much-loved Giant Schnauzer and is nearing completion of her therapy dog training, with her final assessments still to come.
Together, we're preparing for the thoughtful integration of animal-assisted play therapy into Big Bear's Treehouse, with an emphasis on safety, choice and the wellbeing of both children and dogs.
Once the appropriate training and assessments are completed, Izzy may join selected therapeutic sessions where suitable and with client consent.
Find Out More About Izzy
From the Treehouse
Thoughts, reflections and practical insights on children, relationships and emotional wellbeing.
Your Questions Answered
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQs page or reach out anytime.
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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.
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Therapy is not a quick fix, and that is intentional.
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.
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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.
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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.
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You are welcome to make an enquiry via the contact page or email directly.
If therapy feels appropriate, an initial appointment will be arranged to discuss your child’s needs and next steps.
Slow down & heal with Big Bear
Get in touch for more information or to arrange an appointment