Supporting children, young people and young adults in a different way
Play Therapy Melbourne helps make sense of what’s happening underneath behaviour, using a neuroscience-informed and play-based approach to support children and young people to feel safer, more regulated and more able to engage in everyday life.
ABOUT PLAY THERAPY MELBOURNE
Evidence-based support for lasting change.
When children and young people are overwhelmed, anxious or struggling to participate, it can feel confusing and exhausting for families.
We support children, young people and young adults, along with the families and systems around them, across home, school and community settings.
We offer in-clinic and telehealth services across Melbourne and Australia.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Our Services
We support children, young people and the systems around them through a neuroscience-informed and play-based approach.
Early Intervention and Family Support
Practical, strengths-based support for children, young people and families.
Therapy and Clinical Services
Play-based and therapeutic supports including NDIS-funded services and private options.
Assessments
Neuroaffirming assessments to support understanding, planning and next steps.
Programs and Groups
Structured programs for children, young people and parents through our Thriving Futures Programs.
Educator and School Support
Training, consultation and support within education settings.
Structures support
Stronger futures.
Thriving Futures Programs provide structured support for children, young people, families and educators. Includes parent programs, group programs and training.
GIVING BACK
Support that's
accessible.
We believe support should be accessible, especially for families who may not otherwise be able to access it.
Through our Giving Back Program, we offer low-cost and accessible supports, including online parent programs and group-based support.
This includes:
Parent support
and coaching
Supporting children following family violence
Supporting children through grief and loss
As we expand our online programs we are committed to increasing our capacity to give back.
What We Believe
We believe people thrive when they feel understood.
When I founded Play Therapy Melbourne, I wasn’t trying to create another therapy practice.
I wanted to create the kind of place I would hope every family could find when they needed support. A place where people felt genuinely heard, where strengths were recognised alongside challenges, and where therapy was guided by curiosity, compassion and evidence rather than assumptions.
That vision continues to guide us today.
At Play Therapy Melbourne, we believe every child, young person, individual and family has their own story, their own strengths and their own way of experiencing the world. Our role is not to define people by a diagnosis, behaviour or difficulty, but to understand who they are, what matters to them, and how we can help them move towards the life they want to live.
We believe meaningful change begins with relationships. Before we can support growth, we need to understand the person in front of us. We listen before we lead. We seek to understand before we intervene.
We recognise that no one exists in isolation. Children, young people and adults are shaped by their relationships, families, communities, schools, workplaces and life experiences. We believe the most meaningful outcomes are achieved when we work collaboratively with the people who know them best, respecting their values, experiences and goals.
Our work is grounded in contemporary research across neuroscience, human development, attachment theory, trauma-informed practice and evidence-informed therapeutic approaches. Research provides the foundation for what we do, but every person who walks through our doors reminds us that no two journeys are ever the same.
One of the greatest privileges of my role is watching our multidisciplinary team come together around the people we support. Whether through Play Therapy, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Positive Behaviour Support, Counselling or family work, each clinician brings their own expertise while sharing a common purpose: helping people build confidence, strengthen relationships and move towards the life they want to lead.
As our practice continues to grow, our commitment remains unchanged. We are committed to creating a place where people feel welcomed, respected and supported from their very first conversation with us. A place where families are partners in the therapeutic process, where clinicians are encouraged to reflect, learn and grow, and where every interaction is guided by kindness, curiosity and integrity.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about who we are.
Whether you are seeking support for your child, yourself or someone you care about, it is a privilege to be considered as part of your journey.
Warm regards,
Christine Harkin
MANAGING DIRECTOR & FOUNDER
GETTING STARTED
Ready to take the next step?
Submit an enquiry
Complete the general enquiry form and tell us a little about your child, young person or family member.
Speak with our team
We'll review your enquiry and be in touch to talk through the best next steps.
Book an initial
parent consult
If appropriate we'll arrange an initial consult to better understand your needs and recommend the right support.
About Us
Evidence Based Approach
Committed to an evidence-based approach
Our Services
Child Centred Play Based Therapy
Our approach is non-directive. That means we don’t ‘guess’ what therapeutic activity will be most helpful for a child. Instead we let each child guide us, through their play and ways of interacting, to the exact source of their issue.
Psychological & Diagnostic Assessments
Whether you have questions regarding neurodivergence, developmental differences, or educational needs, conducting an assessment can equip you parents and caregivers with the information needed to make informed decisions about child’s wellbeing.
Animal Assisted Therapy
We are proud to offer animal-assisted therapy in the clinic, schools and outreach programs across Melbourne. We use therapy dogs to complement and enhance group therapy through interaction and play.
Group Therapy
Play Therapy Melbourne’s groups provide children with a supported, controlled and consistent environment in which their challenges can be worked through in real time. Children are placed in groups with peers of similar ages or with similar concerns.
Supporting children and families since 2010
Why Play Therapy Melbourne
At Play Therapy Melbourne, our dedicated team of clinicians are committed to helping your child reach their full potential and are passionate about children’s counselling.
NDIS Registered Provider
Evidence Based
A small, dedicated team
Supporting Families across Melbourne
NDIS Registered Provider
We work with families and support co-ordinators to deliver plan-managed and self-managed NDIS supports.
Psychological healing through play
Help your child reach their full potential
Play within a positive environment has been proven to help children explore their feelings, process their experiences and reach their full potential.
Because the brain keeps growing and forming new neural links, positive experiences can help heal trauma and improve other conditions including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety and depression – by improving neural integration.
One of the most effective ways to provide that positive support for children is through non-verbal activities, like play.
Our approach is non-directive. That means we don’t ‘guess’ what therapeutic activity will be most helpful for a child. Instead we let each child guide us, through their play and ways of interacting, to the exact source of their issue.
Partnering to Support Children & Families
Professional Referrals
We welcome referrals from Support Coordinators, Plan Managers, allied health professionals, educators and medical practitioners.
Play Therapy Melbourne provides evidence-based, child-centred therapeutic support tailored to each child’s emotional, behavioural and developmental needs. We value collaborative relationships and work closely with families and professionals to ensure integrated, goal-focused care.
Whether your client is NDIS-funded or privately funded, our team is here to support timely access to high-quality therapeutic services.
We are here to help you
Primary Services
Parent Support Sessions
Play Therapy Melbourne clinicians can work with parents and carers to help resolve their parenting concerns and increase parenting confidence.
Diagnostic Assessments
If your child is struggling with learning, cognitive or diagnostic assessments can be very helpful in understanding why. Education and health professionals often recommend them.
Adolescent Counselling
Parents often express their frustration about their teen’s reluctance to engage with support. We try and make this as manageable as possible by facilitating both in-clinic and online sessions.
Teletherapy
Play Therapy Melbourne recognises there is a lack of child and adolescent therapy services in many areas of Australia. We also know some people are reluctant to get to – or just can’t get to –appointments. In those situations, having access to teletherapy services can be invaluable.
School Readiness
Play Therapy Melbourne’s groups provide children with a supported, controlled and consistent environment in which their challenges can be worked through in real time. Children are placed in groups with peers of similar ages or with similar concerns.
We can support children with many concerns, including but not limited to:
Play Therapy Melbourne is in four convenient locations across Melbourne. Moonee Ponds, Frankston, Briar Hill and Geelong!
We also offer outreach and community based support across wider regions in schools, educational settings, organisations and homes.
Research
Latest Research
Meta-analytic findings clearly confirm the effectiveness of play therapy, specifically CCPT approaches that encourage parents and caregivers to be actively involved in the child’s treatment.
Dr. Dan Siegel discusses the 'YES' brain approach to parenting
Autism, the Brain, and How Play Therapy Can Help Your Child
Professional Referrals
We are proud of the work we do with many incredible organisations, and thank them for their ongoing support and recognition of Play Therapy Melbourne being the lead provider of Play Based and Other Therapies, providing healing through play across Melbourne.
On 3 October 2024, changes to NDIS legislation came into effect. This includes the new definition of NDIS supports, and the allowable NDIS supports list.
Play Therapy Melbourne is committed to supporting NDIS participants, their families and carers to understand these changes and reassure families that all of our clinical team working directly with children in therapeutic interventions meet AQF (Australian Qualification Framework) Level 7 (or above) in a Mental or Allied Health field, and are recognised allied health professionals, registered with an approved governing board.
Our Community & Key Worker Team likewise all meet AQF Level 7 or above, and demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge to meet our strict standards in relation to competency and experience, so that they are deemed suitable to engage in professional work in this area.
We reassure you that as NDIS Registered Providers we have always focused on ensuring our team have the relevant experience and skills to support children and families and that there will be no impact with the changes in your support services.