Child counselling through play, with a registered counsellor. Gold Coast home visits or online, for children aged 3 and up.
Most kids can't tell you they're anxious. They'll show you instead, in their play, their behaviour, their sleep. I'm Jas, a registered counsellor and play therapist on the Gold Coast, and play therapy is how I help children work through worries, changes and big emotions in the language they already speak.
There's no referral needed and no waitlist. Play therapy is available as a home visit across the Gold Coast, or online for families further away.
Child counselling through play, with a registered counsellor. Gold Coast home visits or online, for children aged 3 and up.

Play Therapy for Children

Most kids can't tell you they're anxious. They'll show you instead, in their play, their behaviour, their sleep. I'm Jas, a registered counsellor and play therapist on the Gold Coast, and play therapy is how I help children work through worries, changes and big emotions in the language they already speak.
There's no referral needed and no waitlist. Play therapy is available as a home visit across the Gold Coast, or online for families further away.
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  • What is play therapy?

    Play therapy is counselling for children. Sitting across from an adult and explaining your feelings is a lot to ask of a six year old, so instead we use toys, sand, art, games and stories. A child might replay something that happened to them with figurines, or bury a worry in the sand tray, without ever needing the grown-up words for it.

    To a parent watching, it can look like ordinary play. Underneath, it's grounded in child development and how young nervous systems work, and every session has a purpose.

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How play therapy helps

Development & relationships.
The regulation, confidence and connection skills children practise in session carry over into home, kindy & school.
Processing real events. Pretend is safer than real. A child who can't talk about the scary thing can often play about it, that distance lets them work through it at their own pace.
Communication. Play gives children a way to say things they don't have words for yet. Often the tantrums and tummy aches settle once the worry underneath them gets heard.

  • How does play therapy work?

    Your child plays, and I pay very close attention. Through toys, art, sand and stories, children show what's going on inside and practise new ways of handling it. I'm down on the floor with them, not behind a desk.

  • What can play therapy help with?

    Big worries and anxiety, big behaviour, family separation, grief and loss, starting school, friendship troubles, and adjusting to change such as a new sibling or a house move. If you're not sure whether it fits, just ask.

  • Is play therapy evidence based?

    Yes. Play therapy is a well-established, research-supported approach grounded in child development and attachment theory. Like all therapy, though, a lot rides on whether your child clicks with their therapist, which is why the early sessions focus on building that relationship.

  • Does play therapy help with anxiety?

    Yes, anxiety is one of the most common reasons families come to play therapy. Children learn calming tools through play, like grounding and breathing games, that they can reach for when worries feel big.

  • Is play therapy covered by NDIS?

    Self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants can use their funding for play therapy with me, priced to the NDIS price guide. Agency-managed plans can't be supported at this stage.

  • How much does play therapy cost?

    Home visits are $140 plus travel. Private health rebates may apply with some funds, and NDIS participants are welcome.

  • Does my child need a psychologist, or is a counsellor enough?

    Plenty of children do really well with counselling, and you don't need a referral or a diagnosis to start. I'm a registered counsellor (ACA Level 4), not a psychologist, and I'll tell you honestly if I think your child needs a different kind of support.

  • Can parents sit in on sessions?

    For little ones, often yes to start with, and we'll work out together what helps your child settle. Either way, you'll get regular check-ins about how things are going.

Child counselling on the Gold Coast

Parents searching for a child counsellor on the Gold Coast are often surprised to learn that for younger kids, good child counselling mostly happens through play. With older children I blend talking with play and creative approaches, depending on what they respond to.
I work with children from age 3, and with the parents and carers around them, because counselling for kids works best when the adults in their world understand what's going on too. You'll never be left in the dark about how sessions are going.
Home visits mean your child gets support at home, where they already feel safe. If you're outside the Gold Coast, online sessions work well for older children and teens.
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Play therapy is available for NDIS participants who are self-managed or plan-managed, priced to the NDIS price guide. Support coordinators are welcome to refer via the NDIS intake form.

NDIS play therapy

NDIS INTAKE FORM