Healing Hearts Child and Family Therapy

03/03/2026

We need more nuance in how we talk about therapeutic approaches for children, and young people

Highly verbal, cognitive strategies have their place. But they’re not universally developmentally appropriate. A teenager-appropriate approach isn’t automatically right for a preschooler or a child just starting school. And equally, not every teenager is ready for a purely cognitive or verbal process — regardless of their age

That’s where play comes in!

I’ve worked with many teenagers who have found their voice through play-based communication — a board game, a metaphor, a moment of shared play — when words alone couldn’t get there

Developmental readiness matters more than chronological age. Play meets children and young people where they are

02/02/2026

I love being a Registered Play Therapist because I love what I do. If you’re interested in learning more about Play Therapy, check out these short Youtube clips which help to explain or you can visit my website: www.healingheartsplaytherapy.com.au

https://youtu.be/reJpo-GaopM?si=aAxARlnCMRwMOgmM
https://youtu.be/_4ovwAdxCs0?si=i1ExEQzn-lXep8zm

02/02/2026

It’s International Play Therapy week (2nd to 6th February).

An important time to celebrate the amazing therapeutic powers of play and the healing that can occur for children (and also adults) through a supportive therapeutic relationship, created through the optimal humanistic conditions of empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence which allow the child to feel understood and accepted and to develop and grow using their natural form of communication, play.
For more info check out www.healingheartsplaytherapy.com.au

05/07/2025

31/03/2025

This is a great document that helps to explain how play therapy can help a range of children and presentations

30/03/2025

Inside Parenting 💗

13/02/2025

Sometimes we expect more from our children than we can even manage ourselves!

ParentsTogether 💕

26/12/2024

It’s vital that you care for and nurture YOU so you can show up and be the best version of yourself for your kids. Put your own oxygen mask on, so that you can help save your children. Parenting is hard, so be kind and compassionate to yourself!

10/12/2024

I think this is a really important message, especially at this time of the year. All of the excitement and anticipation can push our children and ourselves outside of our windows of tolerance. In order to have compassion for others, it is so important to have self-compassion

10/12/2024

Understanding the states of the nervous system is essential to understand what is driving behaviour. It can be useful to use animal metaphors to help children to understand the different states and feelings/sensations. And this great resource has some useful strategies to try as well

06/12/2024

Parenting For Brain 💕

01/12/2024

Self-regulation is not the job of the child. Self-regulation is the by product of many, many experiences of co-regulation. And self-regulation is not a skill that once learnt means that we won’t rely on others for co-regulation because as human beings connection is essential to survival.