Play Therapy Melbourne

Play Therapy Melbourne has four convenient locations across Melbourne.

Moonee Ponds, Frankston, Briar Hill and Geelong!

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.

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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.

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Assessments

Neuroaffirming assessments to support understanding, planning and next steps.

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Programs and Groups

Structured programs for children, young people and parents through our Thriving Futures Programs.

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Educator and School Support

Training, consultation and support within education settings.

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Structures support
Stronger futures.

Thriving Futures Programs provide structured support for children, young people, families and educators. Includes parent programs, group programs and training.

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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.

NDIS Registered Provider

We work with families and support co-ordinators to deliver plan-managed and self-managed NDIS supports.

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About Us

Evidence Based Approach 

At Play Therapy Melbourne, we use an evidenced-based approach to help children understand and re-wire their nervous systems. Our dedicated team of qualified mental health professionals are guided by their understanding of how children’s brains and bodies engage with their world and the other people in it. Click here to learn more about the science behind our approach.
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Committed to an evidence-based approach

Our Services

Child Centred Play Therapy
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.

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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.

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Animal Assisted Play Therapy
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.

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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.

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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
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.

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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.

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We are here to help you

Primary Services

Parent Support Sessions

Parent Support Sessions

Play Therapy Melbourne clinicians can work with parents and carers to help resolve their parenting concerns and increase parenting confidence.

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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.

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Adolescent Counselling

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.

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Kids Wellbeing Therapy

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.

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School readiness

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.

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We can support children with many concerns, including but not limited to:

  • angry or aggressive behaviours
  • attachment concerns
  • attention deficits and hyperactivity
  • autism spectrum disorders
  • bullying
  • chronic illness
  • depression
  • divorce and separation
  • school avoidance
  • emotional regulation
  • family changes
  • gender variance
  • generalised anxiety
  • grief and loss
  • low self-esteem
  • medical anxiety
  • neglect
  • social issues
  • oppositional behaviours
  • physical abuse
  • selective mutism
  • separation anxiety
  • sexual abuse
  • school difficulties
  • sleeping difficulties
  • toileting issues
  • trauma

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.

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  • I highly recommend Christine and the team at Melbourne Play Therapy. They have been absolutely amazing in helping my daughter to manage her anxiety, which was affecting her day-to-day life. Since seeing Christine my daughter’s confidence has grown and she is now able to self-regulate and is learning how to manage her anxiety, and is even attending kindergarten unaided, which is wonderful. My daughter loves seeing Christine and can’t get up the stairs quick enough to start her session!! It has changed our lives.

    Lauren

  • My daughter does a lot of laughing in session and re-emerges just that little bit fuller and taller in herself. I highly recommend the clinic to other parents and carers. Play therapy is a gentle, holistic and child lead practice and the resultant personal growth in my daughter is a testimony to Christine's skills as a play therapist. I think the other thing to note is that my daughter is a teenager, she’s almost 18. The term Play therapy implies that it’s only appropriate for young children and solely involves toy based activities. My daughter also has an intellectual disability and autism and I believe that being free to explore her feelings, experiences and uncertainties in a safe and nurturing manner has been instrumental to her growth. Play therapy enables my daughter to work through what she needs to, on her terms and without solely relying on verbal acuity. Christine's skill lies in guiding her to express herself, ponder, integrate and often resolve her own questions about herself and her place in the world. The beautiful thing is that my daughter is able to grow at her own pace in a manner that complements her strengths, is intrinsically empowering and allows her the dignity of guiding her own development as a unique young woman and not someone who is “broken” or “defective”.

    Denise

  • My daughter (aged 11) looks forward to their weekly sessions. Christine has been an amazing support for my daughter in helping her understand her anxiety, worries and behaviour concerns while providing the tools for self-regulation. Christine has also been a wonderful support for me as a parent through gentle guidance and source of information.

    Michelle

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.

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Dr. Dan Siegel discusses the 'YES' brain approach to parenting
Dr. Dan Siegel discusses the 'YES' brain approach to parenting
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Autism, the Brain, and How Play Therapy Can Help Your Child
Autism, the Brain, and How Play Therapy Can Help Your Child
Read article
Dr. Dan Siegel discusses the YES brain approach to parenting 
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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.
Melbourne City Mission
Elizabeth Morgan House

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.