Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor (AMHSW), Child and Family Counsellor, and Registered Play Therapist (APTA-RPT)
Hi, Welcome to my website.
I hope that the information here helps you with the answers you are searching for.
I am an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, specialising in Child and Family Practice and Play Therapy. Over the past 15 years I have worked across complex settings, including foster care, child protection, family support services, sexual abuse, and specialist trauma counselling services.
With a strong interest in neurobiology and the impact of trauma on child development and emotional well-being, I support children with processing trauma and grief, developing self esteem and resilience, enhancing family relationships and adjusting to new social circumstances in positive ways.
I believes strongly in partnering with parents and families to support their child’s development at home and to develop further knowledge and tools to better understand their children’s emotional needs and how to respond effectively.
Please feel free to contact me for a confidential discussion as to how I can support your family.
Clinical Supervision - Social Work and Play Therapy Supervision
As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist (APTA-RPT), with over 15 years experience in the field, I offer clinical supervision at affordable rates.
Sessions can be in person or via telehealth.
Please feel free to contact me for a confidential discussion.
Experience
Specialising in Child and Family Practice, Trauma and Play Therapy, I have worked in the following areas:
Intensive Family Support Services (Preservation and Reunification)
Child Protection and Out of Home Care
SECASA - Sexual Abuse Counselling
OnPsych - School Social Work and Counselling
Take Two - State-wide Therapeutic Trauma Service for Children in Out of Home Care
Private Practice - Business Owner and Contractor Models
Practice Areas
AMHSW accreditation and Clinical Social Work Practice
Child Centered Play Therapy and Filial Therapy
Trauma, Grief and Loss
Attachment Theory and Neuroscience
Child and Family Practice
Mental Health
Parent Support
Focused Psychological Strategies
Qualifications / Registrations
Qualifications
Bachelor of Behavioural Neuroscience (Psychology) - Monash University.
Master of Social Work - University of Melbourne.
Clinical Certificate of Play Therapy - Play Therapy Australia.
Professional Registrations
Member of Australian Association of Social Workers, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Australian Play Therapists Association - Registered Play Therapist (APTA-RPT)
Therapy Services
Play Therapy and Counselling
It's tough being a child in today's world. Often unable to express what they are feeling, I hear often from parents, family and teachers of how a child is struggling at home and at school, and their distress is showing in their behaviour. They may be having trouble following rules, may be withdrawn and quiet, or aggressive and fighting with friends and adults. I offer individual counselling and play therapy for children to help with addressing these issues, in a sensitive and developmentally appropriate way.
Parent:Child Relationship Therapy
Parent:Child Relationship Therapy, otherwise known as Filial Therapy, is a form of play therapy where parents are trained in therapeutic skills to provide special play time sessions with their children. In this way the parent becomes the "therapist", and becomes skilled at working with their children to understand their feelings and emotions, to respond and communicate effectively, to set appropriate limits, and to strengthen their parent:child bond.
Parent Support Sessions
Parenting is one of life's greatest challenges, and can be the most rewarding, especially with the right skills and support.
I work with biological parents, step-parents and partners, carers, grandparents:
- to better understand their child's experience
- to respond 'therapeutically' - with understanding and acceptance
- to understand how their child interprets the world, trauma and how this impacts their behaviour
- to set effective limits and boundaries for behaviour
Sessions can be face to face or via telehealth.