Frequently Asked Questions

How frequently do we come to play therapy?

Either weekly or fortnightly is the schedule we stick to.

Research indicates that play therapy is most effective when delivered on a weekly basis. When we think of a child's weekly schedule, one week is a long time! Progress is often seen much more quickly when children come weekly, as the rapport and therapeutic relationship is established much more quickly and is often stronger. Children also find it easier to "pick up where they left off". With that being said, fortnightly sessions are still very effective, if budget or time is an issue.

We only move to monthly appointments when we begin to transition out of therapy.

What should I tell my child about coming to play therapy?

I encourage you to keep it simple and avoid going into too much detail. We don't want children to feel like there is something "wrong" with them or that they are in trouble.

For younger children you may simply say "you are going to go play with Alannah today". For older children you may explain "sometimes life is hard and it can be really helpful to have somewhere to go and get play and just yourself. You are going to see a lady named Alannah and she is there to play with you and listen to anything you may want to say".

We ask that following your child's sessions you do not ask them questions about what they did as this can impact on their openness within therapy. Your child will let you know what they want you to know and I will keep you updated throughout the process.

How is Play Therapy different from Psychology?

Play Therapy targets a lot of the same psychosocial and emotional issues that Psychologists do, however we work from a very different approach. In Play Therapy we are not going into session with a direction or motive to what we are going to achieve in the session - this is ultimately decided by the child. We hold the understanding that the child will show us, through their play sequences and how the relate to the therapist, how they perceive themselves and the world around them. From here, we work at bringing self-awareness to the child and building their sense of self internally. As a child builds inner awareness of their sense, and we see progress towards the child's inner growth, we begin to see improvements in the child's externalised presenting factors (behaviours) and their emotional symptomology.

Differing from psychology, Play Therapy does not perform clinical diagnosis. Whilst we work with individuals who may have a diagnosis, or be part way through obtaining a diagnosis, in Play Therapy, we view diagnosis as one part of what makes up the child and the presenting problems. Diagnosis allows for greater understanding of factors that may contribute to the presenting problems, but beyond that, our focus is understanding the child's unique internal thoughts, beliefs and perceptions of themselves and the world around them.

Do I need to stay while my child is in their session?

I ask that you stay for your child's first couple of sessions, until they are settled and comfortable. It is also require a parent or guardian present at all times if your child requires assistance with toileting or has identified risks. Otherwise, you are welcome to leave and come back at the end of the session. If you do choose to leave the clinic, I do ask for your diligence in returning 5 minutes before the session ends, so you are ready to greet your child when we exit into the waiting room.

I encourage parents to use this time for self-care, since finding 50 minutes of free time is often hard! Utilising the time to grab a cuppa, read a book or engage in some mindfulness could make the most out of your visit!

My child suddenly doesn't want to come, what do I do?

Firstly, I want to acknowledge that this is a really tricky situation that parents do find themselves in. I also want to reassure you that this is often quite a normal response to therapy. It may be that your child has touched on something internally that has triggered their anxiety response or felt uncomfortable and unsettling. In this situation, this suggest your child is making progress in their therapy and it is important for them to work through those emotions. Other times the reluctance may be that they may be testing limits and boundaries within the therapeutic space and find the limit setting by the therapist frustrating. Again, this suggests progress and is exactly what we aim to help children work through, as these situations are what helps build skills for your child to use outside of therapy.

The other situation may be that your child does not feel comfortable or connected with the therapist. Sometimes it can take a little longer for children to connect with the therapist. If it has only been one or two sessions, I would encourage you to give it a bit more time. However, if you really feel that your child is unhappy and I am not a right fit, that is absolutely fine. Not all therapists will be the right fit for your child and that's okay. I am happy to refer you to another play therapist, counsellor or psychologist if you decide to terminate therapy.

What are the details of the session?

Individual Play Therapy Sessions run for 50 minutes but can be reduced if the child is unable to tolerate this amount of time.

Parent Consultation Sessions are scheduled for 1 hour but can be extended to 1.5 hours upon request and given there is time available to do so.

Cost if $156.16 per hour for both NDIS and Private Paying clients. Extended parent sessions are charged accordingly based off this rate.

Unfortunately I cannot accept Medicare/ Mental Health Care Plans or Private Health Insurance at this stage - though this may change in the future.