Playful Therapy and Counselling - Shannon Hourigan

17/09/2025

🌿🔥 Discover the Great Outdoors & Community Supports with The Bush Connection Co. 🔥🌿

Our mission is to share the place we love, connect with the community, and provide tailored supports, skills, and unforgettable experiences — both in the bush and within the community.

Whether you’re looking to build new skills, explore the outdoors, or get extra support in your community, we’ve got something for everyone. 🌲🚵‍♂️🛹🛴🤝

📍 Locations: Benalla, Wangaratta, Shepparton, Wodonga, Yarrawonga & surrounds

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06/09/2025

Father’s Day is not a day of joy for everyone. People who have had their dad die or haven’t got a relationship with their father may experience feelings of sadness, anger or guilt. It is important to remember that grief is unique and individual to you. On Father’s Day you need to do what feels right to you. Here are some things that may make Father’s Day a little easier:

💙 Talk to a trusted adult about what you need
💙 Visit the cemetery or spend time in nature
💙 Read or get some grief education as it can help to normalise what you are experiencing
💙 Do an activity that your important person enjoyed
💙 Quiet reflection such as looking at photos, watching videos or journaling can be helpful

Overall, be kind to yourself and make sure you take care of yourself. Reach out for professional support if you need to. At Wombat’s Wish, we offer a variety of free grief support services for families that have experienced a death of a parent: https://wombatswish.org.au/

18/08/2025

Straight into things at the ACF International Childhood Trauma Conference

15/08/2025

Looking forward to attending this conference! Learning, networking and listening to some amazing speakers

This year at our International Childhood Trauma Conference, we're excited to sit at the cutting edge of exploring the intersection between neurodivergence and trauma.

Join us and hear from leading researchers and practitioners. This year’s program brings fresh insights and inclusive conversations to the forefront. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect, reflect, and grow alongside peers and experts.

11/08/2025

Love this! And it's completely true

Here’s something you might not know about play therapists…
Our work doesn’t stop when the session ends. We carry your child in mind throughout the week, reflecting, researching, planning and sometimes smiling when something reminds us of them.
Because for us, it’s always more than one hour.

®

04/08/2025

Sadly I hear so many stories of adults who escalate situations as they don't recognise or misunderstood the signs of dysregulation

Understanding how the nervous system works, the importance of regulating your own and supporting children develop self regulation through co-regulating are essential skills for educators

Two educators. Same child. Two completely different stories.

A 5-year-old pushes another child during group time, then throws himself on the floor screaming when approached by staff.

Educator A says: "He's being violent and aggressive again. This is the third time this week. He's disrupting the whole class and hurting other children."

Educator B says: "His nervous system just went into fight-or-flight. Look at his shallow breathing, his clenched fists, his wide eyes. Something has overwhelmed his capacity to cope, and his sympathetic nervous system has taken over to protect him."

Same child. Same moment. Two completely different responses about to unfold.

Educator A sees a behaviour 'problem' that needs managing. Educator B sees a little human whose vagus nerve couldn't regulate the overwhelming input around him.

Here's what Educator B does next:

She gets down to his eye level but doesn't make direct eye contact (which can feel threatening to a dysregulated nervous system). She speaks in a calm, low voice: "I can see your body is having big feelings right now. You're safe. I'm going to stay here with you."

She doesn't try to reason with him or ask questions - his prefrontal cortex is 'offline' right now. Instead, she breathes visibly, slowly, traces a repetitive rainbow shape on the ground in front of her feet, allowing her regulated nervous system to offer co-regulation to his.

When his breathing starts to slow, she offers a choice: "Would you like to push against the wall with me, or carry these books to help your body feel better?"

She's not ignoring the push that started this. But she knows that addressing behaviour can only happen after his nervous system returns to a state where learning is possible.

Next time you see challenging behaviour, let's pause and ask: "What is this child's nervous system trying to tell me?"

The answer will change everything.

01/08/2025

It's official!
It has now been 2 years being in private practice!

Taking this time to reflect on the all growth and evolution that has taken place and still to come

Thank you to each and every family who gives their trust and to the children who do all the hard work

31/07/2025

This explains the therapeutic process of Play Therapy beautifully

In play therapy, we don’t push or probe. We don’t force children to open doors they’re not ready to unlock. Instead, we become something softer, a gentle presence that illuminates without overwhelming

Through dollhouses and sandtrays, stories and games, we hold space for what emerges. We follow their lead, at their pace

Sometimes the most profound work happens in whispers, in metaphors, in the language children speak most fluently, play!

27/07/2025

Have you made sure your school is signed up yet? There's only one month to go til we bring Kids Helpline's largest anti-bullying lesson to schools Australia-wide!

Don't miss your chance to get straight-up help with handling bullying: https://kidshelpline.info/4ng7Lkn

26/07/2025

Teaching children to listen to their gut and giving them the power to protect themselves when something feels wrong will serve them for life

22/07/2025

Behaviour is communication, trying to meet a need using the skills they have

Robyn Gobbel - Trauma, Toxic Stress, & Baffling Behaviors 💗

17/07/2025

School holidays can sometimes be tricky with being out of routine. Who is looking forward to school going back on Monday??