The Playful Minds Approach

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At Playful Minds Therapy, the therapeutic approach is informed by extensive professional training in child mental health, child psychotherapy and integrative play therapy, and draws on contemporary knowledge of attachment, child development, interpersonal neurobiology and trauma-informed practice. 

The therapeutic process involves developing a deep understanding of your child's inner world- what it is like to be them. Rather than focusing solely on behaviours, emotions, or challenges, we seek to understand together what may be driving these. This involves exploring the needs, relationships, developmental factors, strengths, and experiences that shape how a child feels, functions, and engages with the world around them.

Meaningful and lasting change is strengthened when the important adults in a child's life are supported alongside the child themselves. While some children benefit from individual therapy sessions, support is often most effective when it includes a combination of:

• Child-focused parent support
• Child play therapy
• Parent-child play therapy
• Collaborative consultation with other key supports

Play therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic approach for children, facilitated by a mental health professional with specialised training and qualifications. It uses play as a developmentally appropriate medium through which children can express, explore, and process their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and relationships. Just as adults often use words in counselling, children often communicate most naturally through play.

At Playful Minds Therapy, play is a central part of how we understand and support children and families. Through play, children communicate, learn, relate, and make sense of their experiences and the world around them. By entering a child's world through play, we gain a deeper understanding of their unique strengths, needs, relationships, and challenges. This understanding creates opportunities for connection, growth, and healing in ways that feel safe, meaningful, and developmentally responsive.

Change for children is never linear, it can at times feel hard.  Just like learning to walk, growth can involve vulnerability, regressions and lots and lots of repetition and patience. 

For this reason, our approach focuses on creating meaningful, sustainable change, through repeated experiences, rather than 'quick fixes.' 

Finding a therapeutic service that aligns with your values, goals, and expectations is one of the most important factors in a positive therapy experience.

Our approach may be a good fit if you are seeking:

• A relationship-based approach 
• Support that considers the whole child within the context of their family and environment 
• Active involvement and support for parents and caregivers 
• A focus on understanding underlying needs rather than managing behaviour alone 
• Meaningful, sustainable growth over time 

Our approach requires active engagement from caregivers. As a private fee-for-service practice, families also need to consider the financial commitment involved. We encourage prospective families to carefully consider whether our philosophy and approach feel aligned with their needs before commencing services.