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Thursday 9am - 5:30pm Friday 1pm - 5pm

The Greenhouse Therapies

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Ipswich, QLD
The Greenhouse Therapies

Art Therapy and Mental Health service providing support to children, adults, families and groups

27/05/2026

FILIAL PLAY THERAPY TRAINING

1️⃣ What a glorious group of practitioners I got to learn skills with under the lead of from this month.

2️⃣ For 3 days we got to refresh and go deeper in our play skills supporting family systems and filial play therapy.

3️⃣ My own artwork and reflections of the Filial phases symbolically inspired/represented by some bird’s nests I observed during our lunch break.

4️⃣ Nest 1: Phase One- Current resources. The Family Play Observation looks to understand family dynamics, needs and goals as well as the foundation or platform where this phase can build on from. Sometimes it can feel like “a bit of everything - everywhere” but the intention is there.

5️⃣ Nest 2: Phase Two - Structure. Parent Training and Skill Development are introduced and psychoeducation around these techniques act like the outer wall of the nest. Offering interlocking structure and building confidence of the parent through mock sessions with the therapist.

6️⃣ Nest 3: Phase 3 - Inner World. Supervised Parent/Child Sessions. This is like the inner cup and lining of the nest. The parent supports and holds space for play with their child, offering opportunities for connection. Purposed to “be with” their child, support regulation and relational safety. The therapist “holds the parent” in this process.

7️⃣ Nest 4: Phase Four - Camouflage. Not to hide the work but protecting the parent/child play development and ongoing growth. As the “egg hatches to fledgling”, parents are more empowered in the process with support and coaching of the special-playtime routines becoming less intensive.

8️⃣ Nest 5: Phase Five- Nest completion and Filial therapy closure. As growth and newfound family play skills are established and confidently utilised, the therapist role is no longer required. Plans for integrating skills into the everyday environment are discussed and the family are empowered to continue connecting in this new way.

9️⃣ Reflecting on parent/child play with a little “special playtime” in my own world.

🔟⏩️As always, we return to our own nurturing nest with , and QIPT alumni!

24/04/2026

LEST WE FORGET 🎖️🪻❤️‍🩹

Pausing to reflect and remember what sacrifices it takes to advocate for freedom. What courage is needed to step into unknown territories. The trust to believe in the skills and abilities of self or others when working for a common purpose. May these universal acts of humanity allow us to see each other with more empathy and compassion. May we never forget our connections - past, present and future.

📷 Anzac installation and rosemary display

15/04/2026

World Art Day is a supported day that recognises the contribution of art in the diffusion of knowledge and its importance for nurturing creativity, innovation and cultural diversity. It is a way of highlighting artists, stories and engaging with art in a way that develops us, frees us and connects us. Art has the power to deepen our understanding of each other, inspiring hope, encouraging curiosity, promoting peace and shared communication.

Some art, process and practice shared through the following images:

1. Alyce’s engagement with the “Al-foil drawing” activity by . Exhibiting until 4 May 2026.
2. Alyce’s own playful and reflective reconstruction of left over felt scraps post AT session “The roots that hold ground”.
3. Alyce’s morning walk during April school holidays seeing local neighbourhood footpath chalk art.
4. Alyce using photoshop tools on her own personal lunar photos to discover what colours can be revealed (after recent fascination of the II mission and the “coloured moon”).
5. Alyce’s own composite photography of the phases of a blood moon using Canon 5D Mark III.
6. Mail Art examples inspired by Fluxus artists that use collage and found materials to connect a sender to their recipient. Example from “Art is Art” book gifted to Alyce by
7. Alyce’s personal capture of a banksia flower in transition to maturation noticed on her nature walk.
8. Alyce’s research and celebration of diversity from the “Blackiful” exhibition. “It is how we care for each other… what it means to share space while we embody serious play… is above all, an attitude and state of mind”.

Let’s continue to make art, encourage creative expression and stay curious about what is being shared!

30/03/2026

🌿 1 YEAR AT NICHOLAS STREET 🌿

Twelve months ago, signing up to fit out The Greenhouse Therapies in this shopfront meant stepping into the unknown and choosing to do something with no guarantee it would “work”. I definitely felt the weight of the risk and the excitement in the opportunity.

Growth rarely comes with certainty attached. It’s been challenging and a juggle (hello endless admin and unseen hours), but this space has held so much:

🌱 A place to breathe. Surrounded by organisations that offer a place to eat, to rest your feet, to fill scripts, borrow books, try free activities and savour sweet moments.

🌱 A place where brave kids show up again and again. Meaningful micro moments of staying in relationship or their feelings a minute longer, giving it another try, believing in themselves again.

🌱 A place where parents and caregivers are reflecting, repairing and trying. Not aiming for perfect but who are willing, supportive and committed to the process.

🌱 A place where adults are making room for the parts of themselves that need compassion, nurture, freedom and playfulness. Parts that were previously avoided or dismissed are being seen and held.

Today we celebrate 12 months at and all the quiet courage in between that can’t be photographed.

To our clients, to our supports, to our community, to Steph and to Jess (for being our play-partner-in-residence this past year), thank you.

Grateful always.

08/03/2026

INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY 2026 (8 March)

Sunday play day. Pen to digital paper. I was thinking about what symbolises the two incredible messages “Balancing the Scales” (UN Women Australia) and “Give to Gain” (IWD Global).

Sketching two hands creating an infinity symbol that show connection and balance. A commitment to generosity and action; opportunity and empowerment; equality and continuous advocacy. Limitlessness. Scales that require balancing because when we give, we gain.

So this is for the women who have gone before, who give now and those rising who are gaining their voice, gaining access and gaining momentum.

Women are role models. Women contribute to knowledge. Women do mentor and nurture. Women can uplift other women.

The Greenhouse Therapies’ commitment and action this year (our give to gain):

💜 Partnering with women-led, women-focused organisations and investing in them. ♾️
💜 Mentoring women in allied health as they offer incredible services and supports to others. ♾️
💜 Amplifying and sharing research of women who are working hard to apply for funding and visibility of their incredibly important work. ♾️

Our global societies are not where they can be and we must continue to amplify and focus on gender equality.

UN Women Australia International Women's Day

07/02/2026

REFLECTIONS OF PLAY THERAPY WEEK 2026

Finishing off this week in the playroom with a content heart and gratitude for the courage, risk, surprise and trust that clients bring each time they enter The Greenhouse and then choose to continue beyond these walls.

If you could be encouraged to be curious in an area of your life and bring play into it, I wonder what area that would be?

# PlayForGrowth

05/02/2026

I AM A REGISTERED PLAY THERAPIST

What does this mean? Registration requires a practitioner to meet certain criteria to ensure that the play therapy practice is delivered safely and ethically to children and those that care for them

• I have a Masters level (AQF 9) Mental Health qualification.
• I have completed more than 150 hours of Play Therapy training which included over 100 hours of live contact hours.
• I have more than 750 hours of post tertiary clinical practice.
• I have more than 300 hours post Play Therapy training specific client hours.
• I have more than 50 hours of post training and specific Play Therapy supervision with a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor (who has done additional years and training to be eligible to supervise).
• I am regulated by ANZACATA, have a cleared background check and professional indemnity insurance.
• I complete more than 10 hours of professional development and training each year.

There is a significant amount of work required to support children in Play Therapy. Children deserve (and have rights) for adults to act ethically with this evidence based approach. Standards, consistency and clarity are required for informed play therapy practice to not do harm to those it is working to support.

04/02/2026

Let’s chat about AGGRESSION PLAY!

Aggression in play therapy, is a neurobiological, communicative tool that can represent a child’s inner world, trauma, and dysregulated state rather than being focused on catharsis or “bad” behaviour. It allows children to express, process and integrate intense, unprocessed emotions within a safe, co-regulated relationship with the play therapist.

A play therapist has also worked on their own nervous system regulation skills to be able to support a child’s aggression play so that they can stay connected and responsive to the child’s needs during the session.
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Some reads on Aggression Play:

⚔️ Aggression in Play Therapy by Lisa Dion

⚔️ Understanding and Treating the Aggression of Children: Fawns in Gorilla Suits .a.crenshaw

⚔️ Polyvagal Power in the Playroom (chapter by Lisa Dion and David Crenshaw)

03/02/2026

ANIMAL ASSISTED PLAY THERAPY (feat. Winnie)

There are many benefits when an animal is present in a therapeutic environment. Not only does it help with anxiety relief in attending a session but can also support a multitude of intervention outcomes.

🐶 Trained animals can offer unconditional positive regard (UPR) in Rogerian and humanistic approaches.
🐶 Emotional and physical regulation for somatic and nervous system support.
🐶 Hormonal adjustments with increased Oxytocin (connection) and reduced Cortisol (stress).

’s (you may have heard her from Filial Play Therapy/Family Play Therapy) pioneering work in AAPT demonstrates how including animals in play-based interventions can facilitate profound changes with autistic children, those with traumatic experiences and developmental differences.

The NDIS also continues to be receiving and building strong evidence and support for animal assisted interventions with reported improvements in social engagement and emotional wellbeing.

https://dataresearch.ndis.gov.au/research-and-evaluation/early-interventions-and-high-volume-cohorts/evidence-review-early-interventions-children-autism/animal-assisted-interventions

Sometimes the best co-therapist has four paws! 🐾

02/02/2026

INTERNATIONAL PLAY THERAPY WEEK 2026

Evidence is available.
We are sharing it as we believe in it! Play therapists are actively communicating the evidence to government, to funding bodies, to schools, in conferences so that greater access to this therapy can be available (and sustainable).
It’s not a fad or trend. It has been a formalised practice since the 20th century but play has been used in self expression and healing across many cultures throughout history.

We will be sharing more through the week but feel free to ask us any questions you have about the vital need for play for the psychological, emotional and developmental needs of all children.

23/01/2026

Get to know STEPH >>>> Scroll across to find out more!

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Hi, I’m Steph!
I’m very excited to be completing my final placement of my Master in Mental Health (Art Therapy) at The Greenhouse Therapies. After completing my Bachelor of Human Services in 2018, I have worked in various roles as a community worker and have also gained experience practicing art therapy in a grief and bereavement setting.

At home, I have two sweet cats. I love spending time in nature, reading, being with friends and making art. I think art is a fantastic tool for people to express our inner worlds, regulate emotions and find meaning in our experiences.

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We are so happy to have Steph join us this year and to offer some additional art therapy support here at the Greenhouse.

If you are interested in finding out more about the supports Steph can help with, feel free to reach out through our contact page on our website and we will be in touch!

Address

Tulmur Walk, 8 Nicholas Street
Ipswich, QLD
4305

Opening Hours

Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+61493759401

Website

http://linktr.ee/thegreenhousetherapies

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KitKen CARES
Mudgeeraba 4213

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