Playful Minds Therapy Services
Our services are grounded in an integrative play therapy approach, drawing from Child-Centered Play Therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy®, AutPlay® Therapy, and Theraplay® principles. Our approach is informed by attachment and developmental theory, person-centred and systems theory, and contemporary neuroscience, ensuring each child and family receives support that’s both evidence-based and aligned to their unique needs.
Child Play Therapy:
For children aged 2–10 years, Child Play Therapy sessions provide a space to explore emotions, process experiences, build a positive self-concept and develop healthy coping, relational and regulation skills, all through the experiences of play. Sessions may be non-directive or gentle guided, depending on what best supports your child’s needs and therapy goals. This flexible, responsive approach allows therapy to unfold at your child’s own pace in a way that feels safe and developmentally aligned.
Parent-Child Play Therapy:
Parent–Child Play Therapy focuses on nurturing and strengthening the bond between parent/caregiver and their child through playful, attuned interactions. These sessions support connection, communication, and co-regulation and offer hands-on opportunities to practice strategies discussed during parent consultations.
Therapy often consists of a combination of individual child sessions and joint parent–child sessions, creating a holistic approach that supports the child and their caregiver/s. The balance between these session types is thoughtfully tailored to your child’s developmental stage, needs, and therapy goals. This integrated approach helps children express and process their experiences through play, while parents gain deeper understanding, confidence, and connection in their relationship with their child.
Therapy Process
Intake Phase
Play therapy is a medium to long-term approach, and a thorough intake process helps lay the foundation for effective work. Intake is an integral part of learning about your child and family, familiarising your child with the therapy process, and building a trusting therapeutic relationship. While these are 'intake sessions,' it’s important to note that therapy begins from the outset and each interaction with your child and family is an important piece of the therapy process.
The intake phase typically involves four sessions:
- A 90-minute parent/caregiver information-gathering session
- A parent–child play observation session
- An initial child-only play therapy session
- A 60-minute consolidation session with parents/caregivers to establish therapy goals and plan next steps
Ongoing Sessions
Therapy sessions are scheduled at a regular day and time and held weekly to begin with. We ask that the first four sessions remain weekly before considering a shift to fortnightly appointments, if circumstances require. Consistency plays an important role in effective play therapy, helping your child build trust, familiarity, and momentum in the process.
Each therapy session runs for approximately 45–50 minutes. As a medium- to long-term approach, play therapy involves at least 12 to 24 sessions (depending on individual needs). Some children begin to show meaningful progress within the first 12 to 14 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term therapeutic support to consolidate growth. The overall number of therapy sessions varies for every child and family, depending on their individual needs, goals, and circumstances.
Parent/Caregiver Involvement
Children grow and develop in the context of their attachment relationships. Because of this, parents/caregivers play a vital role in the therapy process.
Regular parent consultations are an essential part of the therapeutic process and ensure parents/caregivers feel supported, informed, and actively involved in their child’s therapy. These parent-only sessions are typically scheduled after every 5–6 child play therapy sessions and run for 60 minutes.
The purpose of parent consultations is to:
- Develop a shared understanding of your child’s underlying needs
- Co-create a therapeutic process that adapts over time to support your child’s individual needs
- Explore therapeutic responses to support your child at home and in other environments
- Reflect on progress, growth, and changes
- Provide psycho-education
As therapy progresses, our shared understanding deepens, allowing support to become increasingly targeted and responsive.
In Parent–Child Play Therapy, parents/caregivers are active participants within sessions. In Child Play Therapy, the therapist works one-on-one with the child while parents or caregivers remain nearby in the waiting area.
Care Team Collaboration
Therapy may also involve collaboration with other allied health professionals and/or joint meetings with educators or teachers to help promote a holistic approach to supporting your child, to develop shared understanding of your child's needs and to promote consistency in therapeutic responses across your child’s different environments.
Next Steps
If you’re considering play therapy for your child, we invite you to reach out to Playful Minds via the Contact page or email (admin@playfulmindstherapy.com.au). We are here to answer your questions and guide you through the process. Get in touch with us today or click the button below to find out about our fees.