Therapy Through PLAY and Relationships

21/11/2025

“We think that when you are overstimulated by sensory input, you compensate by dialing up your brain’s inward-focused networks to gain self-control. You also dial down your outward-focused networks to minimize sensory input,”

New research reveals a distinct brain activity signature in children who become overwhelmed by sensory input such as noise, touch, or bright lights.

20/11/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BUiAmFZHX/

07/11/2025

"True independence is always rooted in fulfilled dependence."
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D6avY1Y8n/

06/11/2025

02/11/2025

Play Therapists recomend -...“readiness cues, behavioural change tools, storytelling, sensory supports, hygienic wipes and a play-based structure all in one”.
Monica explained that while many systems focus on just one piece — whether that’s the potty design, rewards, training pants or timers — her system approaches the “full emotional and developmental journey”

Shoppers can’t get enough of it.

29/10/2025

".....play facilitates communication, fosters emotional wellness, enhances social relationships, and builds personal strengths. These capacities touch nearly every aspect of mental health, including self-esteem, stress regulation, learning, empathy, and resilience."

"Play isn’t just a frivolous pastime for children. It’s a powerful, even essential, tool for healing," writes Cas Holman.

25/10/2025

Please welcome a wonderful new tenant at our Caulfield clinic.
Liat is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (PACFA), Developmental Educator, and Art Therapist (ANZACATA) with over a decade of experience supporting children, teens, and families.
Her work is child-centred, trauma-informed, and family-focused, with a strong emphasis on supporting the whole family system. She takes a holistic and systemic approach, recognising that a child’s wellbeing is deeply connected to the wellbeing of their family.
Liat brings a solid background in working with neurodivergent children with developmental needs, and values close collaboration with other allied health professionals, teachers, wellbeing staff, and families to ensure consistent and meaningful support.

✨ Liat can help with:
✔ Emotional regulation & anxiety management
✔ Big emotions & behavioural challenges
✔ Building social skills & confidence
✔ Support for neurodivergent children & their families
✔ Working within the NDIS framework & disability support
✔️ Private Health Insurance
🌍 Culturally inclusive & multilingual
📅 limited availability

💬 to schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation to discuss your child’s needs and explore how Liat can support your family visit :
www.liart.com.au

08/10/2025

"The findings suggest that supporting maternal bonding and mental health may help improve children’s sleep and overall family well-being."

A large Finnish study has found that mothers who struggle to bond with their infants are more likely to have children with sleep problems that persist into toddlerhood.

17/09/2025

Brain, sleep and learning

17/09/2025

Researchers discovered that reciprocity experience also enhanced empathy, with rats showing stronger emotional contagion toward partners.

Importantly, oxytocin signaling in the orbitofrontal cortex was crucial: rats lacking oxytocin were more likely to free-ride and less likely to reciprocate.

These results highlight oxytocin as an internal mechanism for stabilizing cooperation beyond external punishment.

The findings suggest a biological basis for fairness, empathy, and social trust.

Researchers developed a fully automated cooperation task showing that rats engage in true reciprocity, not just mutual benefit.

07/09/2025