Play Therapy for Children at Big Bear’s Treehouse
Sessions are child-led, playful and developmentally attuned, creating a safe and consistent space for expression, healing and growth.
SAFETY, TRUST & CONNECTION
What Is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a gentle, evidence-based way of supporting children and young people when words are hard to find.
Children naturally express themselves through play. In play therapy, toys, creative materials, movement, and symbolic play become the child’s language, allowing them to communicate feelings, experiences, and needs in a way that feels safe and natural.
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.
Sessions are guided by relationship and safety first. There is no pressure for children to talk about anything before they are ready. Change happens gradually through trust, consistency, and connection.
EVERY CHILD’S THERAPY JOURNEY IS DIFFERENT
What a Play Therapy Session Might Look Like…
Some children move quickly into play. Others spend time watching, exploring, or staying close. Some sessions are quiet and contained, others are energetic and expressive. All of it belongs.
Sessions are paced to the child in front of me. I pay close attention to how a child enters the space, what they are drawn to, what they avoid, and how they communicate, verbally or non-verbally.
Parents and carers are an important part of the process. While sessions are child-led, caregivers are supported with insight, guidance, and understanding so that change can be reinforced beyond the therapy room.
There is no “right way” for play therapy to look, only what feels safe and supportive for each child.
EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES
Therapeutic Approaches I May Draw From
You don’t need to know which therapy approach is right. That is my role, and we work it out together.
Play therapy is not a single technique. Each child brings their own story, nervous system, and way of relating to the world. Because of this, I draw from a range of evidence-based, relational approaches to meet each child and family where they are.
These approaches support emotional regulation, trust, connection, and self-understanding through safe, relational experiences.
Approaches are always chosen based on the person in front of me, not a predetermined model.
Play therapy services may be accessed privately or through eligible NDIS plans where therapeutic goals align.
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CCPT allows children to lead the therapeutic process through play, supporting emotional expression, confidence, and self-understanding within a safe and consistent relationship.
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Theraplay supports connection and regulation through structured, playful interactions that strengthen attachment and shared positive experiences between children and caregivers.
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Filial Therapy supports parents and carers to use therapeutic play skills with their child, strengthening relationships and confidence beyond the therapy room.
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DDP is a relationship-focused approach that supports children and caregivers to build safety, trust, and connection following early relational disruptions or complex experiences.
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Synergetic Play Therapy integrates nervous system awareness and relational attunement to support regulation, resilience, and emotional integration.
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AutPlay is a structured, play-based approach supporting neurodivergent children to build regulation, communication, and social confidence.
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Sandtray allows children and adults to express experiences symbolically through miniature figures and scenes, supporting emotional processing and integration.
MEANINGFUL CHANGE
How Long Does Play Therapy Take?
Play therapy is not a quick fix, and that is intentional.
Meaningful change happens through consistency, safety, and relationship. Many children benefit from regular sessions over time, allowing trust to develop and patterns to gently shift.
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 thoughtfully and collaboratively. The goal is never to rush a child, but to support them at a pace that feels safe and sustainable.
For Parents & Carers
If you are unsure whether play therapy is right for your child, that is okay. Many families arrive simply because something does not feel settled yet. You do not need to have all the answers before reaching out.
My role is to support both children and the adults who care for them, with curiosity, compassion, and respect.
REACH OUT
Get in touch to find out more information and to arrange an appointment.