Evolving Minds Counselling
and Psychology
Play Therapy and Art Therapy
in Sydney and the Sutherland Shire
Children and teenagers don’t always have the words to explain what’s going on. Drawing, art and play can give them other ways to express themselves. Sometimes, a simple activity like building a tower together leads to a conversation about family, friendships or what happens when things don’t go as planned.
At Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology, our psychologists and counsellors provide play-based and art-informed therapy for children and adolescents across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. Appointments are available in person at our Menai practice in the Sutherland Shire and online across Australia.
What is Play and Art Therapy?
In play-based and art-informed therapy, sessions may include creative and sensory activities, symbolic play, visual expression, structured reflection and emotional regulation strategies. The focus is not on artistic ability but on providing different ways for children and adolescents to express and explore their experiences.
For children and young people, play-based approaches provide a developmentally appropriate way to explore emotions, relationships and experiences. Children often communicate through play more readily than through words, particularly when something feels overwhelming or difficult to name.
Theraplay is a structured, interactive therapeutic play approach involving a child and their parent or caregiver. It uses play-based interactions to support connection and the parent-child relationship. Vanessa Allen has completed Theraplay Levels 1 and 2 training and may draw on Theraplay-informed approaches where appropriate.
When can Play and Art Therapy help?
Play-based and art-informed therapy may be helpful for children and adolescents experiencing:
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Difficulty expressing or regulating emotions
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Anxiety or low mood
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Adjustment to significant change or transitions
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Friendship difficulties or difficulties within family relationships
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Difficult or distressing experiences
Depending on each child's needs, these approaches may also be drawn on within broader child and adolescent counselling, family counselling or reparative parenting.
Play and art-informed therapy in Sydney and the Sutherland Shire
If you have been searching for play therapy near you, a play therapist, children's play therapy or art-based therapy, our psychologists and counsellors provide play-based and art-informed therapy for children and adolescents across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire.
Appointments are available in person at our Menai practice in the Sutherland Shire and online across Australia.
If you’re unsure where to begin, our Client Care Team can assist. Call 02 8519 4197 or use the button below to request an appointment.